Children's home run by The Together Trust in Stockport

Inspection report for children’s home: SC025715 1 SC025715

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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 owned and managed by a charitable organisation. It is registered to care for up to three children with physical or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

Three children were living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since February 2020.

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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: 30 January 2024

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC025715 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/01/2024 Full Outstanding 03/01/2023 Full Good 05/10/2021 Full Good 11/02/2020 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC025715 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a range of fun activities such as swimming, walking and visiting theme parks. They benefit from spending time with staff who know them extremely well. Holidays and activities strengthen relationships and support children to build their self- esteem and build trusting relationships with staff. One child has gradually developed their confidence and now attends the gym with support from staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children participate fully in their daily lives and are cared for by staff who are experienced and skilled. Staff communicate with children depending on their individual needs, and use a range of communication methods including visual aids. Staff complete training when new communication approaches are introduced.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are attending school and the manager will confidently challenge any decisions made that are not in children’s best interests. One child has made exceptional progress due to the consistent approach between staff and teachers. The child has now moved to a higher achieving class and their confidence is excelling.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to understand their plans. A stable staff team allows children to discuss their wishes and any fears or anxieties they may have. The manager and staff have effective relationships with professionals to ensure that the right plans are in place and are specific to each child’s needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are treated with dignity and respect. Staff have a detailed understanding of individual children’s faiths. One child is supported to take part in religious celebrations such as Eid with family and the community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children spend time with family, friends and other people who are important to them. Staff understand the value of these relationships and arrange innovative and creative activities, so the time spent together is meaningful. One child, supported by staff, is now able to spend extended time with family members, which has included going on holiday together.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s memories are captured creatively. Children have their own device for videos and photos, which they enjoy looking at to see their progress.

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

Children are safe. Staff understand their roles and responsibilities in safeguarding children.

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

Restrictive measures, such as safety clips for travelling in a car, are used with the consent of family members, social workers and other professionals. One child, through Inspection report for children’s home: SC025715 4 regular review and careful planning, is now able to spend time in the community without the use of a harness.

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

When children have made an allegation, safeguarding processes are followed, and advice is sought from the local authority designated officer. However, on one occasion, staff had not ensured that a child was seen by their social worker in a timely manner. This caused a delay in decision-making and could have placed the child at risk of harm. Children are supported to understand the outcome of any allegations and staff can reflect on incidents and review their practice.

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

Physical intervention is rare and only used when there is a risk to a child’s safety. The manager has clear oversight of incidents and any actions taken by staff. The manager has a tracker in place that considers any themes and patterns. This is used to review staff practices and ensure that care is safe.

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

Children and young people are supported to manage their feelings safely. Clear boundaries are in place. Children and young people are sensitively supported to understand what is safe and acceptable. Staff ensure that children and young people are provided with support, such as counselling, without delay.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is suitably skilled and experienced. They are aspirational and ambitious about children’s futures. The manager has high expectations of the staff team and leads by example.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager develops staff practice and development. Staff have completed or are working towards the relevant qualification. One staff member is completing an aspiring leader’s course, and another has completed mental health first-aider training to support colleagues.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that staff receive training, so they have the necessary skills to carry out their role. A strong learning culture means that staff complete additional training specific to the needs of individual children, including pathological demand avoidance.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The consistent staff team works cohesively to provide stability for children and young people. Staff are dedicated to their role and are motivated and feel valued and supported. Staff benefit from numerous opportunities to reflect on practice such as learning reviews, supervision and team meetings. As a result, positive practice thrives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager holds regular meetings with staff, health professionals and a specialist education support worker. These meetings are used to review and revise plans, so that they reflect the changing needs of individual children. This means children are making excellent progress from their starting points. Inspection report for children’s home: SC025715 5 The manager involves parents in children’s care, including attendance at meetings when children feel overwhelmed. Parents receive daily reports about their children’s achievements. When talking about the daily reports, one parent said, ‘They are lovely to read and hear what [name of child] has been doing. [Name of child] is progressing so much in a way I could never support.’ Inspection report for children’s home: SC025715 6

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Recommendation

The registered person should ensure that staff understand the processes for reporting allegations, specifically, to inform the social worker and arrange for them to visit and speak with any child making an allegation. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’ page 43, paragraph 9.13)

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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: SC025715 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Together Trust Centre, Schools Hill, Cheadle, Cheshire SK8 1JE

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Inspector

Nicola Forrester, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC025715 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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