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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC005589 1 SC005589

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Registered provider: Care Today Children’s Services

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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 run children’s home offers care for up to two children who may have social and emotional difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in 2001, and the manager registered in August 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC005589 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/08/2023 Full Good 30/08/2022 Full Good 28/04/2021 Full Good 06/08/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC005589 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both children have continued to live at the home since the last inspection. They continue to make good progress, which has been assisted by the trusting relationships they have with the staff and manager.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive education based on their individual needs, which helps to ensure that their education needs are met. Consequently, children’s school attendance is good, which helps them to increase their chances of reaching their full academic potential.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy good health, and they have access to specialist services and support to promote their physical and emotional well-being. They are encouraged and supported to attend routine health appointments. Appropriate arrangements are in place for the safe administration and 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

Staff ensure that children can have their say, raise issues and have discussions about matters affecting them. This is through children’s meetings. As a result, children’s wishes, feelings and requests are then acted on by the staff caring for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The physical environment of the home is welcoming and well maintained, which creates a homely atmosphere. Children are encouraged to personalise their bedrooms to suit their wishes and interests. When repairs are needed, the registered manager takes quick action to ensure that work is carried out in a timely fashion.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to spend time with their families and friends when it is safe to do so. This helps the children to have a sense of belonging and enables them to have positive experiences and maintain links to significant people in their lives.

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

Children live in a home where they have trusted adults who keep them safe. Staff are nurturing in their approach, which means that children feel able to go to them when they are upset or need help.

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

Children’s risks and vulnerabilities are well known by staff and detailed in their individual plans and risk assessments. Staff are proactive in identifying risks to children and review these risks regularly.

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

The positive relationships that the children have with the staff members mean that the need for physical intervention is rare. This is because staff are experienced in using distraction techniques and using approaches to ensure that situations do not escalate. Children benefit from this, and it contributes to their positive experiences. Inspection report for children’s home: SC005589 4 Children are educated about the importance of online safety. Clear boundaries are set, and staff discuss this topic in key-work sessions.

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

Children live in a home that is physically safe and secure. Regular environmental safety checks are undertaken, and staff and children regularly practise emergency evacuation procedures.

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

Children are protected by the organisation’s effective recruitment practices. Staff are vetted and assessed as suitable before any appointment is confirmed. This helps to prevent unsuitable adults from working with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is committed to the home. He is ambitious for staff, children and the functioning of the home. Staff speak very positively about the manager and say that he is supportive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff access a wide range of training that provides them with the skills and knowledge to be able to care for the children effectively. All staff are qualified or are working towards gaining a relevant qualification for their role.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager uses staff meetings and supervision well to communicate the positive ethos of the home. Staff report that they find supervision helpful and supportive. Annual appraisals are used well to ensure that staff are provided with appropriate development opportunities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff and manager have established good working relationships with a range of agencies and external professionals who are involved in children’s care. Staff work closely with teachers, social workers and the police. This ensures that appropriate support is in place to encourage children’s progress and maximise their potential.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager submitted their six-month review of the quality of care at the home to Ofsted. However, this report lacked consultation and analysis of specific areas, including staffing information and children’s education. The quality of care review does not provide an accurate account of the quality of care provided and the way the home is managed. Inspection report for children’s home: SC005589 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 complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (“the quality of care review report”).

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3) (5))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to ensuring that the review of quality of care report includes evaluation and analysis of specific areas, including education status for all the children, staffing information and views of children and stakeholders. 25 November Inspection report for children’s home: SC005589 6

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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: SC005589 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Care Today Children’s Services

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2nd Floor, Lansdowne House, 85 Buxton Road, Stockport, Cheshire SK2 6LR

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Inspector

Dave Carrigan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC005589 8 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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