Children's Home run by Parallel Parents Ltd in Derbyshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2624934 1 Registered provider: Parallel Parents 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

This privately owned home provided care for up to five children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager was not in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

There were five children living in this home at the time of inspection.

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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: 8 November 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: 2624934 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/11/2023 Full Good 18/01/2023 Full Good 07/12/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2624934 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit greatly from the warm and trusting relationships that are built with staff. There is an ethos of mutual respect in the home, and staff are consistent and available to the children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are happy and enjoy living at this home. The high-quality and spacious environment provides children with lots of opportunities to play and relax. The home is well presented. Photos of children are displayed in communal areas. There is space where children can spend time alone if they wish, and there are separate rooms where they can engage in social activities with peers, friends and family members.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children’s engagement in activities that can enhance their life experiences. Staff capture precious moments of children taking part in activities in a memory book designed for each child. This allows children to keep these special memories for the future. The staff are creative and thoughtful in their approach to creating children’s memory books because they understand how important these are for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Daily opportunities are provided so that children can share their views, wishes and feelings, for example during key-work sessions and children’s meetings. Children are listened to and responded to by staff. Staff use fresh ideas and creative approaches to keep children engaged. This helps children to feel listened to and supports their relationships with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are only admitted to the home following an assessment that considers the risks and impact of them joining the home on themselves and other children. When children are leaving the home, the manager and staff ensure they have a positive move because they understand the gravity of such life-changing moves.

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

Observations of children and staff reflect the good relationships that exist between them. These relationships contribute to children feeling safe and cared for. Staff have a calm and relaxed approach with the children. Over time, a family and homely environment has been established. This is very positive for the children. It has allowed them to feel safe and protected in their home. The children know that the staff care for them and that they are trusted adults.

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

Due to children’s ages and needs, they are supervised at all times by staff, this includes while at home and out in the community. Children are not able to access the community alone, which reduces the risk of children going missing from care.

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

Staff have a clear understanding of risks and their potential impact for children. Staff use their knowledge and experience to recognise risks and take immediate action to reduce Inspection report for children’s home: 2624934 4 them. All children have a detailed risk assessment that is updated regularly. Staff have a good understanding of safeguarding procedures. Staff know what action to take if they have any concerns about a child.

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

Positive and nurturing relationships, alongside clear expectations, help children to reduce behaviours that challenge. Staff know how to use their skills and positive relationships to support children to de-escalate behaviours. When the use of physical interventions has been necessary, it has been as a last resort to keep children safe. There are appropriate debriefs with children and a good level of management oversight. However, on one occasion, the manager’s oversight was not thorough, and details of the incident were not clearly documented. This does not support staff so that lessons are learned.

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

All the children attend education. Staff are positive about education, and they work very closely with education professionals. Staff provide additional education support and weave this throughout the activities to encourage learning.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has been successful in creating a culture of high aspiration for the care and support the children receive. As a result, children are making good progress with their health, development and social skills.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is an established team of staff who are very experienced. Staff retention is very good, which means that children receive consistent care from familiar people. The manager is supported by a competent and equally passionate assistant manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children’s records are of a good standard and give details of the care provided to them. This supports children to make progress and achieve their goals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have regular and effective one-to-one supervision and monthly team meetings. They said their supervisions and team meetings are of good quality and provide a platform in which they are able to contribute openly. Staff are provided with learning opportunities in their supervisions and team meetings. Staff are provided with opportunities for career progression; the manager is supporting two senior members of the team to become assistant managers in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Working relationships with partner agencies ensure the best possible care and experiences for children. The team works closely with social workers and education and health professionals. Feedback from stakeholders consistently praises highly effective communication and partnership working. One professional said: ‘They truly look after the children and make them believe in themselves and encourage independence, fairness and positives attitudes in the face of adversity.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 2624934 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff provide accurate details of physical interventions. In particular, staff should record when holds are released. (Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.59)

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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: 2624934 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Parallel Parents Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Lansdowne House, 85 Buxton Road, Stockport SK2 6LR

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Inspector

Corline Parker, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2624934 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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