Children's home run by Platform Childcare Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2754808 1 Registered provider: Platform Childcare Ltd

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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 home is privately owned. It is registered to provide care for up to six children with learning and physical disabilities and sensory impairment.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, there were two children living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is led by a registered manager.

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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 outstanding

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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: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2754808 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are happy at this home. Comprehensive care planning ensures that the children’s complex needs are well understood and met by staff. One social worker said, ‘She [the child] has settled so well to the point of calling [name of home] her home. She has told me she loves living there.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work closely with health professionals to meet the children’s health needs. Health plans are detailed and address the individual needs of each child. Staff are trained in specific tasks, such as more specialised feeding arrangements and personal care. They know how to respond when emergency services are required. As a result, children have received the specialised health care required.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is seen as very important for the children. One child has been supported to remain at the school she loves, which is not close to the home. This has provided consistency for the child. The manager has advocated for a child without a current school. This ensures that the child will have access to learning when their health allows them to attend.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand and respond to each child’s way of communicating. This is clearly recorded in the child’s care plan. The staff know how the children express their wishes and feelings. There are creative versions of the children’s guide to the home. This includes one with simple phrases and symbols. There is also a lovely and welcoming video guide of the home with staff commentary.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The general environment of the home could be improved in some areas. The kitchen is not currently easily accessible for children who use a wheelchair. The garden also needs to be developed into a useable space for children to enjoy. However, the children’s bedrooms have been personalised. They also have specialist equipment to meet the children’s needs, such as hoists.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have effective discussions with children. These are recorded well and show how the time has been playful, accepting, curious and empathetic. This helps staff to know how to spend time with children that is both helpful and fun.

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

Staff understand risks to children. Risk assessments identify known and potential risks specific to each child. How to recognise and respond to the risks are clearly explained. Therefore, staff are informed of how to manage risks and minimise the impact on the child.

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

Children benefit from very detailed support plans. They highlight any potential behaviours and how staff should manage these. Staff are also trained in de-escalation Inspection report for children’s home: 2754808 3 and safe physical intervention. A member of staff is an assessed trainer and provides refresher training to other staff. Behaviour is managed well by staff and there have been no incidents at the home.

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

The manager takes any complaints or allegations seriously. They are responded to comprehensively. External safeguarding professionals are involved appropriately. Any safeguarding concerns are reported to the right agencies. Safeguarding procedures are followed to ensure children remain safe while investigations take place. Children do not go missing from the home. They always have one-to-one support from staff to ensure they are helped and protected. However, there are plans and protocols in place for if a child should go missing.

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

The manager uses safe recruitment practices for all new starters at the home. This ensures that staff who work with children with complex disabilities are assessed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is a dedicated leader of the home. She is aspirational for children and staff. She shares her experience of management and working with children with disabilities. Professionals praise the work of the manager and her communication with them. A community nurse said, ‘Amy escalated all [child’s name] needs to every available professional. Communication has been perfect.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager knows the children very well. She is fully aware of their complex needs. She is extremely positive and caring in the way she talks about them. She speaks warmly about their personalities and how incredible and loving they are.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

One-to-one supervision of staff has been difficult. Staff have been working directly with the children at hospitals. This has meant that formal sessions with staff have not been as regular as the manager would normally provide. This is acknowledged by the manager and sessions planned. However, single subject supervisions have been used well and have addressed any practice issues or concerns.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager ensures that staff receive a thorough induction to the home and company. This is supported by a comprehensive training programme. It includes training specific to meeting the additional needs of the children. Staff speak highly of these programmes and feel equipped with the skills to undertake their roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager uses thorough monitoring and quality assurance processes. She knows the importance of observing staff practice and spending time with the children. A detailed monthly audit is completed. Case records are reviewed quarterly. There are a range of additional daily and monthly checks, such as medication recording. As a result, the manager has excellent oversight of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Two exceptional development programmes have been devised by the manager. One is for deputy managers and the other for senior support workers. They are creative and go above and beyond in supporting and developing staff in their roles. In addition, there are Inspection report for children’s home: 2754808 4 excellent workforce and home development plans and folders. Research on topics important to the children’s needs are made into learning booklets. There is evidence in team meetings of these being used to help staff provide evidence-informed practice. Inspection report for children’s home: 2754808 5

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Recommendations

 The design of the home should include any necessary adaptation to meet the needs of the children with disabilities or specific health issues. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 17, paragraph 3.24)  The registered person must have systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)

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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: 2754808 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Platform Childcare Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Platform Childcare, Suite 2 Millennium Court, First Avenue, Burton-on-Trent DE14 2WH

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Inspector

Shaun Caplis, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2754808 7 regulates and inspects to 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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