Children's home run by Social Care Services Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2680502 1 Registered provider: Social Care Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private company. It provides care for up to two child who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of inspection, two children were living in the home. They spoke to the inspector about their experiences of living there.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 21 May 2022.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 17 October 2023

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2680502 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/10/2023 Full Good 25/01/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2680502 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children like living in the home. They receive consistent and nurturing care from a stable staff team. One child described the home as ‘good’ and the staff as ‘really nice’. Children are loved and respected and know that staff care about them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support and encourage children to make progress in education and are ambitious for them to do well. The manager has advocated tirelessly to secure alternative education for one child when they could not go to school. Staff have developed effective working relationships with school staff and are highly regarded. One educational professional said, ‘The home is fantastic. Staff are pro-active and communication is excellent’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s interests are nurtured, and they are involved in activities of their choice, including army cadets, rock climbing, dancing, day trips out, and caravan holidays. Photos of these experiences are kept for the children to look back on and cherish. Children are supported to develop their understanding of their own and other cultures and identities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have developed positive relationships with family members who are important to the children. They commit to facilitating regular time for children and family to meet one another. This supports children to maintain trusted relationships and to understand their family identity. One parent described their relationship with the home as ‘brilliant’ and the staff as ‘amazing’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a comfortable home that is furnished to meet their needs. Children’s bedrooms are personalised and decorated based on their choices. However, it was identified during inspection that loose blind cords and broken locks on some windows pose a hazard to some children.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children’s risks and vulnerabilities are well understood. Their risk plans are individualised, thorough, and clear. Plans are updated regularly and detail new or emerging risks. Staff are supporting one child to move out of the home to secure the safety of children and staff.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Direct work is regularly completed with children to help them understand issues relevant to them. Children have many ways to share their views and wishes. They know how to complain, and they feel heard.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children rarely go missing from the home. This indicates that children feel settled and secure at the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2680502 4 Staff are trained in a therapeutic model; however, it is not always evident to others that staff understand and use it in their day-to-day practice. Appropriate and consistent boundaries are in place, and children benefit from a regular routine. Positive behaviour is routinely encouraged and rewarded which children respond well to.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Safer recruitment practices are in place to ensure that only adults who are safe to work with children are employed in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed effectively by an experienced and knowledgeable manager. She is accessible to staff and fully involved in the children’s lives. She has high expectations of staff and is fully committed, along with her deputy, to improving outcomes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff love working at the home. They are satisfied in their roles and feel supported and valued by the manager and each other. The team work well together for the benefit of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is held in high regard by staff, the children, and other agencies. One staff member said, ‘She’s the best manager I’ve ever had’. A social care professional described the manager as an ‘excellent manager and leader’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are provided with regular opportunities to discuss and reflect on their practice, either as and when needed or during team meetings and supervision sessions.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff complete a range of training that equips them with the skills and knowledge to meet the needs of the children in their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has excellent oversight of the quality of care provided to children. She uses internal monitoring systems effectively to review practice in the home. The manager knows the strengths and vulnerabilities of the home and takes swift action to address any shortfalls. Inspection report for children’s home: 2680502 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2) (1) (d))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that windows and window fittings are safe and free from hazards. 14 August 2024

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that they lead and manage the home in a way that delivers the ethos, outcomes and approach set out in the home’s Statement of Purpose. In particular, this relates to the therapeutic model set out in the home’s Statement of Purpose. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.4)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the social care common inspection framework. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. Inspection report for children’s home: 2680502 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Social Care Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 31 Shaw Road, Stockport SK4 4AG

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Inspector

Zillah Brooks, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2680502 7 achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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