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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2736373 1 Registered provider: Care Today (Children’s Services) Limited

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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 is operated by a private provider. It provides care for up to two children who may experience emotional and/or social difficulties .

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Information about this children’s home

The home and manager registered with Ofsted in September 2023 .

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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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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 23 January 2024

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2736373 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/01/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2736373 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The children say that they are happy and safe in the home and enjoy spending time with the manager and staff. The children are protected by a highly trained, knowledgeable and competent staff team. The staff know the children very well, invest time in them and promote their well-being through shared activities and celebrating their achievements. The children have a strong sense of stability and security. Both children said, ‘I feel safe here.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Moves for children in and out of the home are exceptionally well planned and managed. There are clear plans in place to support the children to move into the home, which demonstrate how their views are considered. For example, when a new child moved into the home, they were encouraged to be involved in developing the staff rota to ensure that they knew which members of staff would be present during their first couple of days at the home. This created a sense of belonging, and the new child settled into the home well.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Care plans for the children clearly set out what is needed to help them progress through their own journeys. Clear plans enhance the life chances of the children. Plans focus on actions and consider the barriers that might hinder the children’s progress and ways to overcome them. The children participate in reviewing and updating their plans. They also undertake focused work with staff to help them to meet the aims and objectives of their plans.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

All children’s healthcare needs are detailed in their plans. Healthcare plans fit together with key-work sessions to assist the children in making informed decisions and choices in relation to their health.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Key-work sessions take place with children about important topics such as substance misuse, education, emotional well-being, safety in the community and personal hygiene. This work helps to enhance children’s lives and improve outcomes for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The manager and staff demonstrate excellent practice that results in sustained improvement for the children. The manager works closely with education professionals to secure the best education provision for the children. All the children attend education full time. The staff conduct focused work with the children to help them to meet the aims and goals of their education plans. One child now has 100% attendance at school following a period of non-attendance before moving into the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The children are encouraged to pursue their hobbies and interests. They attend a variety of different activities in the local community, including cadets, shopping, exploring the community on public transport and go-karting. Inspection report for children’s home: 2736373 4 The home is a nurturing environment where the children’s views are regularly sought, acknowledged and understood. Staff meet with the children to enable them to explore and express their views, wishes and feelings. The children have an active role in the care that is provided for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The children personalise their bedrooms and are settled at the home. Staff ensure that the home environment is welcoming, safe, clean and tidy and feels like a family home. Health and safety checks are conducted regularly and health and safety risk assessments are reviewed regularly.

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

The extremely positive relationships between the staff and children have contributed to there being no physical interventions since the previous inspection. Staff carry out focused work and reflection with the children to help them to identify creative ways to manage their feelings. The children are supported to reduce behaviours that are harmful to them.

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

The children have individual risk assessments that are consistently reviewed and updated by managers and staff. Staff have a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the children’s risks and vulnerabilities and take time to talk to them and educate them about risk. The children are encouraged to contribute to identifying risks and appropriate strategies to reduce them.

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

The manager and staff are not risk averse and balance the need for protection with the need for independence. Staff allow the children to take reasonable risks as part of their growth and development. The children are becoming more independent and enjoy time in the community with friends. For example, one child identified the geographical boundaries for travelling on public transport.

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

Since the last inspection, there have been no occasions when children have been missing from home. The manager ensures that staff frequently revisit children’s missing-from- home procedures and protocols. Therefore, staff are familiar with these risks and are confident about managing any missing-from-home incidents.

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

‘Research into practice’ sessions are embedded into everyday practice at the home. Discussion groups support the learning and development of the children and staff. Research-based help and support sessions enable the children to explore and understand a range of issues that affect their daily lives. This helps to improve outcomes for the children.

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

Staff recruitment is comprehensive and ensures that all necessary background checks have been conducted. This means that the staff caring for the children are safe to do so. Inspection report for children’s home: 2736373 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is managed by a dedicated, caring and ambitious manager who advocates very well for the children. The manager has completed a leadership and management qualification. The manager ensures that he is present in the home and accessible to staff and children. The children are extremely fond of him. The manager speaks about the children with warmth and enthusiasm.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The managers have high expectations of their staff to change and improve the lives of the children. The management team and staff know the children well and invest time in them. The care provided supports and meets the children’s individual needs. This ensures that the children develop a sense of stability, safety and security.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Professionals involved with the children are extremely complimentary about the efforts of the manager and staff to support the needs of the children. For example, the social worker of one child said, ‘The child would not be where they are now if it wasn’t for the home.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager actively promotes tolerance and equality to support the children, who come from diverse backgrounds. This helps children to develop their own identity. For example, the manager calls on an expert in the Muslim faith to support him with understanding the needs of one child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive regular supervision and appraisals that consider the children’s needs and progress. Reflective discussions are evident throughout the records. Where relevant, the manager brings issues to staff meetings to reflect on as a team and develop team learning.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers and staff complete a range of training that focuses on meeting children’s individual needs. Staff apply their learning effectively in their day-to-day work with the children. For example, several therapeutic models of care and practice are used with positive effect.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has a comprehensive understanding of the strengths and areas for development of the home. The manager has close oversight of the children’s progress and any changes needed. Internal and external monitoring of the home are effective. Inspection report for children’s home: 2736373 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: 2736373 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Care Today (Children’s Services) Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Debbie Dawson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2736373 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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