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

Inspection report for children's home: SC008607 1 SC008607 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 privately run children’s home offers care for up to two children who may have social and emotional difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and the manager registered in 2001.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC008607 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/05/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 19/09/2023 Full Good 24/05/2022 Full Good 24/08/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC008607 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home. Since the last inspection, one child has left the home. The child experienced a well-planned move out of the home. This included visiting their new foster placement and meeting their carers before they moved in with them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child now living in the home has clear health plans and is registered with the relevant primary healthcare services. He has access to specialist and therapeutic input provided by the organisation. There are good links with specialised services, such as mental health services. This means that the child receives specialist input that is tailored to meet his individual needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is not currently engaging with education. Staff remain persistent in their attempts to find activities that will help him to move back to learning. There are clear education plans for the child and staff work in partnership with education providers and other relevant professionals. This means that the child’s education is promoted, while his emotional well-being is understood and addressed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Arrangements are in place that promote time with family and friends that is positive and safe for the child. This ensures that the child continues to build relationships and attachments with those people who are significant to him.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff actively seek the child’s views. They hold children’s meetings and key work sessions and encourage the child to talk about issues related to his care. Staff work hard to ensure that the child’s views are sought and acted on. This means that the child can influence his care.

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

Staff understand the child’s vulnerabilities and the risks that some behaviours may pose to his welfare and safety. Good levels of supervision and support, alongside good quality risk assessments, are used to protect the child and minimise the risk of harm.

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

When the child goes missing from the home, staff make sure that a detailed record is made that reflects a rigorous response. Staff are diligent in their efforts to find the child by searching and contacting family and friends. They contact the police and other relevant agencies to share information and promote the child’s safe return. The child is able to discuss any issues with an independent person. This gives him the opportunity to discuss the reasons why he went missing and for staff to take action to minimise the risk of this happening again in the future.

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

The staff team provides firm boundaries, clear routines and structure. This approach Inspection report for children's home: SC008607 4 helps the child feel secure and safe. Staff know the child well and recognise his changing moods and potential triggers for any behaviours of concern.

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

Staff have good working relationships with other agencies such as social workers, youth justice services and the police. The effectiveness of these relationships helps the child to become safer.

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

Staff ensure that the home environment is safe for the child to live in. A range of health and safety checks are completed to assess whether there are any hazards which could pose risks to the child. The child takes part in regular fire drills to ensure that he knows how to safely evacuate the home in case of an emergency.

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

The child is protected by the organisation’s safe recruitment practice. Staff are vetted and assessed as suitable before any appointment is confirmed. These procedures promote the safety of the child by preventing unsuitable adults from working with him.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A suitably qualified and experienced manager leads the home. He is supported by a team of staff who are committed to helping children and improving their life chances and opportunities. This means that the child in the home is supported by staff who strive to ensure that his experiences are positive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Although there have been some recent changes in the staff team, a core group of staff remain who have continued to provide continuity of care. New staff become familiar with their role and develop the required skills and competencies through induction processes and training.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that staff have the necessary skills and knowledge to care for children effectively. Staff benefit from a wide range of training. This includes training that is specific to the needs of the child living in the home. This ensures that the child is supported by staff who are equipped to meet his needs. New staff undergo a thorough induction programme, and most staff who are through their probationary period are qualified or are working towards the required level 3 diploma in residential childcare.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager submitted their six-month review of the quality of care at the home to Ofsted. However, this report lacked analysis of specific areas including missing-from- home episodes and children’s education. The quality of care review is not sufficiently detailed about the quality of care provided and the way the home is managed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager supports staff through regular supervision and appraisal. This enables staff to talk about the children, reflect on their working practice and discuss their own development needs. However, the manager has not received regular supervision. This means he does not have regular opportunities to have his practice reviewed and appraised. Inspection report for children's home: SC008607 5 The manager and staff work collaboratively with other professionals and family members to ensure that the child receives good quality care. This partnership working results in the child receiving the best possible care to meet his individual needs. A social worker said, ‘I receive regular weekly reports on [name of child] from the placement, and staff are always available to facilitate meetings and visits.’ Inspection report for children's home: SC008607 6

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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 registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that the manager receives appropriate one-to-one supervision. 14 July 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review ("the quality of care review report").

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1)(2)(a)(b)(c)(3)(4)(5)) 14 July 2025 Inspection report for children's home: SC008607 7 This relates to ensuring that the review of care report includes evaluation and analysis of specific areas including the education status of all the children and staffing information.

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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: SC008607 8

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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

Dave Carrigan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC008607 9 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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