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

Inspection report for children's home: 2711294 1 Registered provider: Care Today (Children's Services) 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

The home offers care for up to two children who have experienced childhood instability, resulting in trauma and associated complex behaviours.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager holds a level 5 leadership and management qualification in health and social care and was registered by Ofsted in February 2023, when the home first opened.

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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: 5 September 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: 2711294 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/09/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2711294 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child was living at the home at the time of the inspection. The child speaks positively about staff and says that they are kind. This creates a comfortable environment, where the child feels able to discuss things that are worrying them, confident in the knowledge that staff will help them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home feels like a family home. It is well maintained and has personal touches to make the child feel comfortable, such as family photos.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is registered with appropriate health services, and staff promote a healthy lifestyle. The manager works closely with other health professionals to support the child’s physical and emotional well-being. This ensures that the child’s health needs are well met.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Family members are welcomed into the home and activities are arranged so the child can spend time together. The child recently enjoyed a camping trip with a member of their family. These positive experiences help the child to maintain positive relationships with those who are important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Good daily routines and structures support the child to develop independence skills. These are helping the child to develop confidence in skills such as cooking and budgeting.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has access to an education placement. When there have been concerns about the child’s attendance, staff have worked with the child’s social worker and education professionals to address this.

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

The manager and staff have a good understanding of the child’s vulnerabilities and risks, and they manage these effectively. For example, they have helped the child to talk about things that worry them and have supported the child to understand more about healthy and unhealthy relationships. As a result, the child can identify risks to themselves, and make safer choices about who they spend time with.

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

When the child goes missing from home, staff look for them and seek support from other professionals to ensure the child’s safe return. The child has an opportunity to speak to someone who is independent of the home about why they went missing and what happened while they were away. Staff talk openly with the child about the risks of being missing from home and there has been a reduction in missing-from-home incidents because of this good support. Inspection report for children's home: 2711294 4 Staff manage incidents well and they keep detailed records about what happened. The manager completes reflective work following incidents with staff. This gives staff the opportunity to discuss the incident and identify supportive strategies. The child is also spoken with following incidents and their views help staff to further understand how they can better support them in the future.

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

When consequences are used, these are restorative in nature. Staff talk to the child and work with them to understand the reasons for the consequence given. For example, they are helping the child to understand why vaping is not appropriate and is a risk to their health, why keeping in touch is important when they are out with their friends and if they do not come home on time, people worry about them. This good work enabled children to learn more about socially acceptable behaviour.

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

Since the last inspection, there have been two medication errors, but the impact on the child has been minimal. The manager has taken action to address this with the staff.

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

Staff speak confidently about raising concerns. When the manager has identified delays in reporting concerns, she has addressed this quickly and ensured that additional training and support have been given to staff. This helps staff to keep children safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is also the registered manager of another home in the organisation. She manages her time effectively between the two homes that she is responsible for.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is enthusiastic and has high expectations for the child and staff. Staff work sensitively as a team to support the child and each other.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager knows the child well and speaks confidently about their needs. She uses monitoring systems effectively to review the quality of care given to the child, and is clear about the progress that the child has made.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff speak positively about the manager and feel well supported by her. They receive regular supervision. This provides staff with the opportunity to reflect on the child’s experiences, and discuss any training or development needs that the staff have.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The child receives appropriate care and support from staff who are well trained. For example, staff have received training on the impact of attachment and trauma on children’s development. It is clear that staff use their learning in their care of the child. They have a good understanding of the child’s behaviours and needs and how these are linked to their earlier life experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Strong partnership working contributes to the good care that the child receives. A social worker reported that there is excellent communication with the home’s manager and staff, incidents are shared, and they work together to support the child. Inspection report for children's home: 2711294 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: 2711294 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Care Today (Children's Services) Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Care Today Children's Services, 2nd Floor, Lansdowne House, 85 Buxton Road, Stockport SK2 6LR

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Inspector

Kirsty Truesdale, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2711294 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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