Children's home run by The Partnership of Care Today

Inspection report for children’s home: SC008268 1 SC008268

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Registered provider: The Partnership of Care Today

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A large private provider operates this home. The home is registered to provide 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 manager registered with Ofsted in September 2024.

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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: 7 February 2024

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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: SC008268 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/02/2024 Full Good 25/01/2023 Full Good 16/08/2021 Full Good 19/02/2020 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: SC008268 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one child has moved into the home and one child has moved out. Children’s experiences of moving into the home are positive. At the time of the inspection, one child lived at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is encouraged to engage in education, and staff have high aspirations for them. When the child is struggling with school attendance, the staff give clear and consistent messages about the importance of education. Staff spend time in school to offer additional support when this is needed. This means the child’s attendance at school and engagement in learning are improving.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is registered with local health services, and staff ensure that they attend all routine health appointments. The child is encouraged to eat a healthy and balanced diet. Actions raised in annual health assessments are progressed by the manager. This ensures that the child’s health needs are well met, and they maintain good health.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are working with the child about budgeting, some household tasks and spending time independently in the local area. There are plans in place to support the child to use public transport. The child is developing their independence and learning life skills in preparation for adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have a good understanding of the child’s needs and have developed positive relationships with them. The child is able to identify adults in the home who they can talk to and feel listened to.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is supported by staff to engage in activities, including water parks and theme parks, gaming events and walks in the area. The child enjoys visiting charity shops. Staff have supported this by taking the child to charity shops in different areas rather than just locally. The child makes donations and has also bought things for the home. The child is supported to develop interests of their choice.

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

Staff have a good understanding of the child’s behaviours and associated risks. The manager ensures that risk assessments are detailed, regularly reviewed, and provide clear strategies for managing and reducing risks. Staff implement these strategies, and there has been an overall reduction in risks for the child.

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

Physical interventions are only used as a last resort and are always reasonable, necessary, and proportionate. The manager has oversight of all incidents. The child and staff are offered individual debriefs, which are reflective. The manager challenges staff in situations where the use of a physical intervention could have Inspection report for children’s home: SC008268 4 been avoided. The manager offered alternative methods to help support the child’s behaviour. As a result, there has been a reduction in physical interventions.

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

The child understands how to make complaints. Allegations made against staff are referred to the local authority designated officer and investigated. The manager works collaboratively with professionals. Appropriate actions are taken to continue to safeguard the child. This means the child feels listened to and knows any concerns or worries they have will be acted on.

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

There have been two new staff members join the team. The manager has ensured that safe recruitment practice is undertaken. This reduces the risk of children being cared for by unsuitable individuals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a vision and ambition for the future development of the home. He promotes restorative practice. This places greater emphasis on prevention and de- escalation of behaviours, rather than a reactive approach to managing behaviours.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that staff supervision and team meetings take place regularly. The manager and staff have annual appraisals. However, supervisions are not reflective about the impact of the quality of care being provided for the child. As a result, opportunities to reflect and identify ways to improve practice may be missed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are extensive training opportunities available for all staff. The manager ensures that all staff access training to support them to fulfil the expectations of their roles and meet the individual needs of the child. New staff are supported through an induction. One new staff member said, ‘[Name of manager] has been brilliant; I feel like I can ask him anything and he will always try to help.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is warm and welcoming. It is decorated with the child’s input. For example, the child has purchased decorative items, and these are on show throughout the home. However, the external area requires some attention. There were cracks to the paving slabs, and some were uneven. These were repaired during the visit. The garden wall is cracked and uneven and appears to be unsafe. The manager has identified this and taken action to address it. One recommendation noted in the fire risk assessment remains outstanding, which the manager needs to review.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is well respected by his team. They have clear expectations about the running of the home. This has created positive team morale and staff feel supported. Despite some recent changes to the staff team, staff work well together. One staff member said, ‘We work like a family, because we want it to feel like a family home for [name of child].’ Inspection report for children’s home: SC008268 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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires, and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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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

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(f)(g)(i)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the manager should ensure that staff supervisions and discussions are reflective and include learning opportunities. Staff should be helped to understand the impact on the quality of care being provided for the child and how they can improve practice.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, they should review and address the outstanding recommendation in the fire risk assessment. 20 March 2025

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 20 March 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: SC008268 6 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 (2)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, this relates to the outdoor area at the back and to the side of the home. The wall is currently unsafe due to cracks and is uneven and appears unsafe.

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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: SC008268 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Partnership of Care Today

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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

Sarah Probert, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC008268 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 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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