Children's home run by Care Today (Childrens Services) Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2672559 1 Registered provider: Care Today ( Childrens Services ) Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a private provider. It offers care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 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: 12 December 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: 2672559 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/12/2023 Full Good 04/01/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2672559 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of this inspection, two children were living at the home. Both children have lived here for over 12 months and continue to make good progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are enthusiastic about the children’s progress, and this is evident in the ambitions and aspirations they hold for them. Staff have built good relationships with children because they have spent time getting to know them. They observe behaviour, acknowledge the children’s previous history and implement consistent boundaries. This approach has led to a significant reduction in incidents in the home, specifically around management negative behaviour.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have detailed health plans and are registered with the relevant primary healthcare services. This ensures that they can access services and receive treatment without undue delays. Appropriate arrangements are in place for the safe management of medicines to promote the safety and well-being of children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The support from staff for children’s education is a continued strength in this home. Regular school attendance is part of the home’s daily routine. This promotes improved outcomes for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy regular and positive time with their families and significant people. This keeps them connected to the people who are important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are offered a good range of constructive leisure activities in the local community, which strengthens their sense of belonging. Individual interests and talents are actively encouraged and supported by staff, which increases children’s self-esteem and confidence.

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

Staff receive regular safeguarding training and have a good understanding of their duties in promoting children’s welfare. This ensures that staff are confident in the procedures to follow should any concerns arise. Staff make sure that risk management plans are in place to make it safer for children.

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

Staff know the children well and understand their behaviours. Staff are proactive in identifying potential issues and staff practice focuses on diversion and de-escalation techniques. The combination of staff knowledge and the children’s positive relationships with staff has resulted in a decrease in challenging behaviour in the home.

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

Staff undertake key-working sessions with children. These sessions help children to understand themselves and make positive changes to their behaviour. This has led to a reduction in the need to physically hold children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2672559 4 Children live in a safe environment. There are effective health and safety systems in place. Regular practice evacuations ensure that children know how to exit the building safely and quickly in case of an emergency.

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

Staff are vetted and assessed as suitable before any appointment is confirmed. These procedures promote children’s safety.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has been in post since April 2022 and is undertaking a level 5 qualification in leadership and management. All members of staff spoken with gave positive comments about the manager’s supportive leadership of the service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have the necessary qualifications and skills to fulfil their roles. There is a training matrix in place to ensure that staff training is up to date and current. All staff are qualified or working towards their level 3 diploma in residential childcare. This ensures that staff keep their skills and knowledge up to date and are competent in looking after children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff do not receive effective supervision. Staff supervision is not evaluative or reflective, as it contains no detail on the member of staff’s performance or development. This is a missed opportunity to improve standards and develop the staff’s knowledge and experience in their role.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has established effective working relationships with external professionals, including the police, education professionals and placing authorities. This partnership approach means that children are benefiting from the full range of support and guidance provided by other professionals to promote their safety and well-being. Inspection report for children’s home: 2672559 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 registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)(c)

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that the manager and staff receive good quality focused one to one supervision. 27 July 2024

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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: 2672559 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Care Today ( Childrens Services ) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Care Today Childrens Services, 2nd Floor, Lansdowne House, 85 Buxton Road, Stockport SK2 6LR

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Inspector

Dave Carrigan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2672559 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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