Children's Home run by Footsteps a Path to Change Limited in Cheshire East

Inspection report for children's home: SC476008 1 SC476008 Registered provider: Footsteps A Path To Change Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

The home is owned by a private provider. It provides care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

Two children were living in the home at the time of the inspection. The inspector spoke to both children about their experiences of living in the home.

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Information about this children's home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 14 April 2023.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC476008 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/04/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 22/06/2022 Full Good 22/02/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 22/05/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC476008 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are happy living at the home and make good progress. They are cared for by staff who know them well and who understand their individual needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both children are supported to attend education. When one child’s education attendance declined, managers and staff worked with education professionals to support the child to improve their attendance. They ensure that any barriers to children’s learning are addressed positively. One education professional said, ‘[Name of child] is like a different child, and that is all down to the staff.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that children enjoy a variety of activities. They engage children in conversations to explore any new experiences the children would like to try. One child recently enjoyed an overnight trip to London with staff and has a photobook, made by staff, as a record of the trip. This helps children to develop their social and emotional skills and provides them with positive memories of their time living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to spend time with the people who are important to them. Staff have built strong lines of communication with parents. One parent told the inspector, ‘I wouldn’t want [Name of child] at any other home, I trust them with the future of my child’. This ensures that children are helped to develop and maintain positive relationships with significant people in their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has recently been redecorated throughout with the involvement of the children and staff. It is modern and highly personalised to reflect children’s tastes. The children have areas where they can socialise with staff and each other, as well as an outdoor building where they can relax in a quiet space.

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

Children are effectively safeguarded by staff. Staff know how to identify risks to children and have clear guidance to follow to keep them safe. When children are missing from the home, staff work with external professionals effectively to locate the children and support their return. Staff hold conversations with children to understand the reasons why they went missing and help them to understand the risks in the wider environment. This ensures that children are developing important skills to keep themselves safe away from the home.

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

Staff have undertaken training that is specific to the needs of children. Staff access support from a psychologist helping them to understand the triggers related to any risks and develop the strategies they use. This ensures that staff have the skills to support children’s individual needs and vulnerabilities. Inspection report for children's home: SC476008 4 Managers and staff have good communication with external professionals. Staff share information with the professionals in the children’s lives to keep them safe. Staff refer children to external services and support them to attend their appointments. This ensures that children have access to important services in the community.

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

The manager has effective oversight of incidents relating to the children. She evaluates each incident and is proactive in identifying and addressing any areas of development. This ensures that staff practice is consistently meeting the needs of the children they care for.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is supported by a deputy manager, and together they provide consistent leadership and guidance in the home. The registered manager provides staff with a high level of support as well as challenge. She knows the children well and is passionate about achieving positive outcomes for them. Staff enjoy working in the home and work together well. This ensures that the children are living in a positive environment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have a clear vision for the service. Managers promote a reflective culture by completing meaningful supervision sessions and appraisals with staff. Managers hold regular team meetings where the team discuss the progress of the children and explore how they can improve their practice. This ensures that the service is continuously improving the care provided to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have robust internal and external monitoring systems in place. Managers complete regular audits and respond quickly to issues highlighted by the independent person. This enables them to identify patterns and trends and respond accordingly.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers promote the children’s needs effectively. They ensure that children are involved in the planning of their care. When children experience a change in external professionals, managers share information clearly about the child’s views and wishes as well as their needs. This ensures that children feel heard and that professionals are aligned in their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

No requirements or recommendations were made at this inspection. Inspection report for children's home: SC476008 5

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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: SC476008 6

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Footsteps A Path To Change Limited

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Landmark House, Station Road, Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire SK8 7BS

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Children's home details

Responsible individual: Charlotte Davies

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Inspector

Sarah Gilbert, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC476008 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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