Children's home run by The Together Trust in Stockport

Inspection report for children’s home: SC025740 1 SC025740 Registered provider: The Together Trust Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is operated by a charity. It is registered to provide care for up to six children. The home provides care for children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Four children lived in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2019.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account good

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Overall experiences and progress of

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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Overall experiences and progress of

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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Overall experiences and progress of

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

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Overall experiences and progress of

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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Overall experiences and progress of

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC025740 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/03/2023 Full Good 08/03/2022 Full Good 09/03/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness 04/06/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC025740 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are child focused, and children’s needs are central to their practice. Children’s care plans are clear and written in consultation with children to include the child’s point of view. This helps children have a real voice in their care. As a result of this careful care planning, children are making good progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from stability of placement, and all say they like living at the home. One child said, ‘It’s good here; all the staff are nice and I get on well with them. They all make me laugh.’ Another child said, ‘We get to do lots of good things. We all care about one another, and it feels like home.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote education for all children and work in partnership with education providers. As a result of this support, all children attend school on a full-time and regular basis. They are making good progress in line with their individual education plans. One school representative said, ‘The staff at the home promote education incredibly well and demonstrate excellent interest and understanding in the progress of the child. Communication between the home and school is a particular strength, and this means the support provided for the child is consistent and effective.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff fully support children’s physical, emotional and psychological health. The links with the in-house therapy department and external health care professionals further support and underpin health care needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work in partnership with professionals and with parents. Children’s family time is promoted in accordance with agreed care plans.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to have their friends come over to the home. Staff promote a range of hobbies and activities in line with children’s interests. For example, children take part in clubs, such as cheerleading, rangers and cadets, as well as using community facilities, including the local gym.

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

Detailed individual risk assessments form part of the overall planning for children. These risk assessments are monitored and kept up to date. Staff have a good understanding of safeguarding and follow care plans and risk assessments to safeguard children.

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

There has been one incident of a child missing from home since the last inspection. At the time of the child going missing, staff were initially unaware of him leaving the building early in the morning. The landing alarm had not been activated to alert staff to the child leaving the building. The child was returned by police within a short time frame. The manager has taken appropriate measures to address the activation of the Inspection report for children’s home: SC025740 4 landing alarm during the night to ensure extra safety procedures are in place for the children.

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

Children say they feel safe and happy living at the home, and they are confident in being able to speak with staff if they have any concerns or worries.

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

Comprehensive behaviour plans provide clear guidance to staff in relation to supporting children manage their feelings and emotions. Staff focus on the de- escalation of negative behaviours. As a result, the need for physical holds has decreased, with only five occasions of minimal intervention since the last inspection. These have been appropriate to safeguard the child when they were in crisis.

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

Recruitment and selection processes follow safer recruitment guidance. These measures ensure that only people suitable to work with children are employed.

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

The home is maintained to a good standard, providing the children with comfortable and homely accommodation. The only area that requires attention is the conservatory, which the children use for arts and crafts. Due to the glass structure, it can become very warm or cold depending on the external weather conditions. At times, this restricts the use of the conservatory. This was raised at the last inspection. The organisation is in the process of addressing this in the home’s maintenance plan.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A suitably qualified and experienced registered manager manages the home. She is supported by a deputy manager, who is also qualified and experienced. Together, their management styles complement one another and provide inspirational leadership, with both having high aspirations for children living at the at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staffing at the home has remained consistent, with the home only using bank staff who the children already know. There has been one new member of staff recruited, and introductions have been made to the children in a planned and supportive way. All staff say they feel supported in their role and share the managers enthusiasm, including aspirations for the children, ensuring the care is provided in a sensitive and supportive way.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home operates in accordance with its statement of purpose. This document provides information about the home, it’s ethos and overall aims and objectives. It is made available to placing authority social workers and other interested parties. The children’s guide contains information for children moving into and living at the home. This is written in a child-friendly way to help children have a full understanding about the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

All staff receive appropriate training and further development opportunities. This ensures their practice and skills remain current. Staff say they receive regular supervision and team meetings, which enable them to reflect on their practice individually and as a team. External professionals are highly complimentary about the Inspection report for children’s home: SC025740 5 care delivered by the team. One social worker said, ‘The care provided has enabled [name of child] to make far greater progress than anyone could have predicted or hoped for. This is a view held not only by me but by his guardian and independent reviewing officer.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager retains good oversight of the home and makes effective use of external and internal monitoring systems. Any recommendations made are fully considered and acted on to continue to improve the overall care and support the children receive. The requirement made at the previous inspection in relation to the conservatory being made more appropriate for use has yet to be completed. However, plans are in place for this to be addressed. Therefore, this requirement remains in place. Inspection report for children’s home: SC025740 6

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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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this refers to taking steps to ensure that the conservatory used by the children for arts and crafts and play is accessible irrespective of weather conditions. 30 October 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: SC025740 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Together Trust Centre, Schools Hill, Cheadle SK8 1JE

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Inspector

Sarah Oldham, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC025740 8 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 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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