Children's home run by Platform Childcare Ltd

Inspection report for children's home: 1263837 1 Registered provider: Platform Childcare Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private company to provide care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in 2020 and is suitably experienced and qualified.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, three children were living at the home. The inspector met and spoke with each child.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 1263837 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

31/05/2023 Full Good 25/04/2022 Full Good 26/07/2021 Full Good 22/10/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 1263837 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home provides a warm, family-oriented environment where children feel valued and at ease. The property is well furnished and there is a comfortable, homely atmosphere. Personalisation is encouraged, with children given the freedom to decorate their rooms according to their own tastes, fostering a sense of ownership and belonging. Pictures of the children and staff are displayed throughout, enhancing the family feel and reinforcing a sense of community. Although there is currently building work going on as part of an extension, the manager has put effective safeguards in place to ensure children remain safe, and disruptions are minimised.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s happiness and well-being are prioritised. This is shown in children’s positive experiences in the home. Children have developed strong and trusting relationships with the staff. The children express a sense of comfort and safety in their surroundings and have a good rapport with staff. One child commented, ‘The staff are great. You can tell they actually care about you, and we can have a laugh’, illustrating the nurturing and genuine relationships between children and staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children have access to a diverse range of activities, both in the home and in the wider community. Staff are proactive in supporting each child to discover and explore their personal interests, encouraging self-confidence and resilience. This enables children to broaden their experiences, develop new skills and gain a sense of achievement. The home’s approach to activities highlights its commitment to promoting each child’s individual growth and well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Advocacy is a notable strength of the home, as staff consistently work to ensure the children’s voices are heard and their needs are met. Recently, one child did not have an education placement. The manager actively advocated on behalf of the child, resulting in a suitable school placement being secured. This demonstrates the staff’s dedication to addressing barriers to education and ensuring every child has access to opportunities that support their personal and academic development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The importance of nurturing family and social connections is recognised. Children are supported and encouraged to spend time with people who are important to them. This focus on maintaining connections with family and friends reflects the home’s holistic approach to care.

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

Incidents are rare. When they do occur, they are managed with sensitivity, skill and an emphasis on maintaining the child’s dignity and safety. The rarity of such events highlights the effectiveness of the home’s supportive, preventative approach. Staff consistently demonstrate their ability to respond appropriately, ensuring that the children feel protected and well cared for. Inspection report for children's home: 1263837 4 Risk assessments are robust, individualised and carefully tailored to each child’s specific needs. They provide clear, detailed guidance for staff on managing identified risks effectively, contributing to a proactive approach to safeguarding. One risk assessment had a minor gap regarding specific risks, however, this information was covered in other documents, ensuring staff remained well informed and consistent in their approach.

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

Children are well informed about how to raise concerns or make complaints, and they feel confident in doing so. When complaints are made, they are addressed promptly and thoroughly by the manager, ensuring that children feel heard and respected. This responsive approach not only safeguards the children but also fosters a culture of trust, where children understand that their voices matter and that their well-being is a priority.

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

When allegations are made against staff members, they are handled with urgency and sensitivity. Records demonstrate that both the child making the allegation and the staff member involved receive adequate support throughout the process. This careful approach ensures a balanced response, emphasising the safety of the child while maintaining fairness and transparency for all. The home’s handling of such matters reflects its commitment to a safe, open and supportive culture for everyone involved.

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

Restrictive practices are used only as a last resort, strictly when necessary to protect the child or others, and always in a proportionate manner. Each instance is documented, reviewed and monitored by senior leaders to ensure good practice is followed. Children’s perspectives are actively sought and valued, allowing them to share their experiences and insights. This reflective practice helps the home maintain high standards in care and protection while promoting each child’s voice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The leadership and management of this home are exceptional, demonstrating a profound commitment to the well-being and development of each child. The manager knows each child in depth, understanding their needs, strengths and personalities. The manager’s dedication to creating a nurturing, family-like environment is evident. She is deeply passionate about achieving best possible outcomes for the children and her vision permeates all aspects of the home’s operations. This strong, child-centred leadership ensures that each child feels valued, secure and supported.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The consistent and highly skilled staff team is another outstanding feature of this home. Staff have invested significant time in building positive relationships with each child, which has helped create a strong sense of belonging and stability. Staff members unanimously say they feel well supported and highly valued in their roles, which has fostered a culture of dedication and enthusiasm. They describe the home as a family unit and speak warmly about the children, reflecting the deep bonds they have developed. This consistency in staffing has had a transformative impact on the children, who thrive in the secure, loving atmosphere the team has cultivated. Inspection report for children's home: 1263837 5 Professionals who work alongside the home’s staff speak very highly of the care and support provided by the manager and her team. The staff’s communication with external agencies is exemplary, marked by regular, high-quality updates and a proactive approach

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

to collaboration. One social worker said, ‘The support for [name of child] has been excellent. The team always keeps me informed and send detailed weekly reports.’ Such feedback highlights the effectiveness of the home’s partnership with external professionals, reinforcing a shared commitment to the children’s progress and well- being.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff also receive outstanding feedback from children’s families, who recognise the positive impact that the care has on their loved ones. One parent said, ‘It is the best place in the world for [name of child] to be if he can’t be at home.’ This demonstrates the trust that families place in the home and the confidence they have in the manager and her team to provide nurturing, compassionate care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The professional development of staff is a priority, with a comprehensive induction process and ongoing training that equips them to meet each child’s unique needs effectively. The manager actively encourages reflection and learning, particularly following incidents. This reflective culture fosters continuous improvement, as staff are guided to learn from each experience and strengthen their skills. The emphasis on training and reflective practice ensures that the team remains highly competent and responsive to the evolving needs of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager’s systems for reviewing incidents and maintaining oversight are thorough and effective, enabling her to maintain a clear understanding of the home’s daily operations. Her oversight of each child’s file is precise, ensuring that all actions, particularly those related to safeguarding, are well documented and reviewed. This level of diligence ensures a consistently high standard of care and protection, creating a safe, supportive environment where children feel valued and empowered. Inspection report for children's home: 1263837 6

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Recommendation

 Staff should continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. Where there are safeguarding concerns for a child, their placement plan, agreed between the home and their placing authority, must include details of the steps the home will take to manage any assessed risks on a day-to-day basis. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)

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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: 1263837 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Platform Childcare Limited

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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

Lauren Barwell, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 1263837 8 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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