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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC005045 1 SC005045 Registered provider: The Partnership Of Care Today 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 provides care for up to three 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 November 2014 and holds a level 4 qualification in leadership and management.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living at the home.

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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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC005045 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/07/2024 Full Good 26/07/2023 Full Good 23/11/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/03/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC005045 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, two children have moved into the home and have since moved on. One of the children returned to live with a relative, and the other child moved on to a more suitable residential placement. One child currently resides at the home and has done so for over three years.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child to make consistent progress in education. Leaders and staff have developed a strong and collaborative relationship with education professionals. Regular communication ensures that all parties have a shared understanding of the child’s needs. One professional told the inspector, ‘This is the best home I’ve ever worked with—very consistent. Excellent communication and I can ring any time.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The health and fitness of each child is actively promoted. For example, staff have supported children to eat balanced, nutritious meals and to engage in physical activity. The child living in the home has recently begun participating in regular walks in the community with staff, resulting in a healthier body mass index and improved overall well- being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Relationships between staff and children are warm and trusting. Staff demonstrate a strong understanding of how to meet the child’s needs effectively. The child currently living at the home has expressed a desire to remain beyond the original care plan, reflecting the sense of safety and belonging they feel. The child told the inspector that they feel safe and happy at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is warm, welcoming and personalised. Children’s bedrooms are decorated to reflect their individual tastes. There is an ongoing redecoration plan to ensure the home remains well maintained and continues to meet children’s needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to develop new skills and interests. One child recently enjoyed a school skiing trip to Italy. Since returning, staff have supported them to purchase their own skis and identified a local centre where they can continue to pursue this interest.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

However, care planning was not effective for one child. There were no clear arrangements in place for how staff should respond if the child left the home without permission. As a result, the child went missing from the home and became involved with the police. The child was discharged from the home the following day. This incident highlights a shortfall in planning and risk management that had a significant impact on the child’s placement stability.

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

There are effective systems in place to safeguard children. Regular team meetings are held to review children’s risk areas, and the manager provides detailed guidance to Inspection report for children’s home: SC005045 4 support staff in managing these risks. As a result, staff are confident in responding to incidents at the home. Children regularly engage in discussions with staff about how to keep themselves safe, which has contributed to a reduction in incidents since the last inspection.

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

Staff promote positive behaviour through strong, trusting relationships with children. These relationships enable staff to create meaningful experiences and offer personalised rewards. When consequences are used, they are proportionate and aligned with each child’s care plan. Leaders seek children’s views following incidents, supporting them to reflect and learn from their experiences.

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

Physical interventions are rarely used and are only implemented as a last resort. When they do occur, they are carried out safely and followed by appropriate debriefs. Children are supported to share their views, which provides leaders with assurance that staff practice remains safe and appropriate.

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

There have been no complaints or allegations since the previous inspection. Leaders and staff ensure that children understand how to raise concerns. The child currently living at the home has expressed confidence in being able to speak to staff if they have any worries.

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

Since the last inspection, leaders have maintained effective communication with the regulator. All notifiable incidents have been reported to Ofsted in a timely manner, ensuring appropriate external oversight of significant events.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by a longstanding and suitably qualified registered manager, who is supported by an experienced deputy. Together, they form a strong and effective leadership team. Leaders have a clear understanding of children’s and staff’s needs, which has contributed to the continuous progress of the child currently living at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff report feeling well supported by the manager, which motivates them to deliver high-quality care and achieve positive outcomes for children. Supervision is regular, reflective and developmental. One staff member told the inspector, ‘I feel highly supported—we all work great as a team.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders regularly review the quality of care provided. The manager has robust systems in place to identify areas for development, which has led to consistency and progress across the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from a range of learning opportunities. Team meetings are held regularly and focus on a variety of topics. Leaders also use quizzes to reinforce learning and ensure key safeguarding principles are regularly discussed. This supports staff to remain confident and clear about their responsibilities. Inspection report for children’s home: SC005045 5 Communication with external professionals is strong. Staff provide regular updates on children’s progress and share effective support strategies, which promotes consistency across services. One professional commented, ‘We are doing more preventative work. If anything does come up, they will let me know. They really do advocate for them— communication is great.’ Inspection report for children’s home: SC005045 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 care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home;

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Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)) 27 August 2025

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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: SC005045 7

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Registered provider: The Partnership Of Care Today

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

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Inspector

Chanel Bryant, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC005045 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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