Children's Home run by The Partnership of Care Today in Wolverhampton

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC390576 1 SC390576

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Registered provider: The Partnership of Care Today

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private company. It provides care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2022 and is suitably qualified and experienced.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, three children were living in the home and two children were spoken to.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC390576 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection. Leaders and managers have addressed concerns raised at the last inspection effectively, and four requirements have been met.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, two children moved into the home and two children moved out. One child recently moved on to independent living and was well supported. The child has maintained their relationship with staff and continues to visit the home. While the other child’s move out of the home was urgent due to an increase in presenting risk, the move was planned well. The manager and staff speak to children about their plans. Involving children in their plans helps to ensure that they are well prepared.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have an appropriate understanding of safeguarding procedures. They benefit from a variety of training that is relevant to the children’s needs and respond appropriately to safeguarding incidents. As a result, children are supported by staff who have the necessary skills for the role to keep children safe.

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Findings from the inspection

When children go missing from home, staff respond quickly and follow protocols to try and get children back to the home safely. Staff search for children when they go missing and respond sensitively to children when they return. This means that children who go missing from home understand the actions that staff will take.

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Findings from the inspection

Children have trusting relationships with the staff who care for them. One child said they feel safe and would speak to staff if they are worried. Focused key-work sessions with children help staff to gain a better understanding of what is happening in children’s lives. These sessions help to inform the children’s safety plans and risk assessments. Despite staff’s attempts to meaningfully engage children in these sessions, some engagement is limited.

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Findings from the inspection

Following a safeguarding incident, a referral was made by a social worker to obtain additional support for a child. The manager did not make sufficient attempts to pursue the referral or make additional enquiries to other organisations that may help the child. This means that the child has not benefited from the additional interventions they may have required.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has systems in place for monitoring and evaluating the quality of care. Oversight of the home has improved; however, there are shortfalls in the consistency and effectiveness of these systems. The manager’s oversight of incidents is not robust. The manager lacks curiosity and does not carefully analyse significant incidents in the home to identify relevant trends to support decision- making. This means that opportunities to review the effectiveness of interventions are missed. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC390576 3 The home is currently undergoing decorative work to improve the standard of the home. The current presentation of the home is tired, which detracts from the nurturing environment the manager and staff want to provide children. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC390576 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/07/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 14/06/2023 Full Good 01/03/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 30/06/2021 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC390576 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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose; 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)(a)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that there is good-quality and effective management oversight across all significant incidents in the home to ensure that strategies to minimise risk can be correctly identified. 30 May 2025

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the children’s home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meets the needs of their children. This specifically relates to ensuring that the home environment is updated so as to not appear tired and worn. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC390576 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Partnership of Care Today

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Inspector

Tonia Dubidat, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC390576 7 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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