Children's home run by Social Care Services Limited in Stockport

Inspection report for children’s home: SC357133 1 SC357133 Registered provider: Social Care Services Limited

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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 operated by a private provider. It provides care for up to three children who have emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, two children were 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

Date of last inspection: 24 September 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: SC357133 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/09/2024 Full Good 12/03/2024 Full Good 08/11/2022 Full Good 03/08/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC357133 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children like living at the home. One child has lived at the home for nearly four years and has made progress in all areas of their life. They are settled and have a strong sense of belonging. One child who previously lived at the home described staff as ‘amazing’ and ‘so supportive’. Staff provide a good standard of care and are focused on achieving the best outcomes for the children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Relationships between staff and children are positive. Staff talk about the children with warmth and enthusiasm. Children feel comfortable talking to staff; they have open discussions with them and feel heard. Children’s wishes and views are sought regularly, and staff respond to any issues or requests. However, opportunities have been missed to ensure that children know how to make a complaint.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children with their education. The manager and staff advocated tirelessly to find appropriate education provisions to meet the children’s needs. Alternatives are in place when children cannot go to school. One child, who had not attended formal education for some time, took their GCSE exams with consistent encouragement from staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are offered a variety of activities. They are encouraged to try new opportunities, and their interests are nurtured. Staff arranged for a child who is interested in making and recording rap music to attend a local music studio regularly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to spend time with people who are important to them. Staff have developed positive relationships with children’s family members and communicate with them regularly. One parent said, ‘The staff are great. They are family orientated and communicate really well with me.’ Staff make children’s friends feel welcome when they visit, which allows children to socialise and have fun in their home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a spacious and comfortable home. There is ample room for children to relax and spend time together or apart. Children’s bedrooms are well furnished and personalised according to their individual tastes. However, paintwork in some areas is damaged, and the external area is unfinished. This is something the manager had identified and planned to rectify before the inspection.

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

Children’s risks and vulnerabilities are known and understood by staff. Their risk and behaviour management plans are personalised and updated regularly. They provide clear information and guidance for staff to help them support children to be safe and secure. Inspection report for children’s home: SC357133 4 Staff work proactively and collaboratively with other agencies to ensure the safety of the children. The children’s social workers said that staff manage the children’s risks effectively.

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

When a child goes missing from the home, staff take swift and appropriate action to ensure that they return home quickly and safely. The frequency of incidents of children going missing from home has decreased recently. Staff are resilient and continually adapt their practice to meet the changing needs of the children to keep them safe.

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

Staff routinely encourage positive behaviour, and children choose their rewards, which they respond well to. Regular discussions take place with children about topics relevant to them and their age and stage of development. An older child is being helped to develop their independence in preparation for when they leave the home. A child who previously lived at the home said the support from staff was ‘amazing’ and the help she received when she moved out was ‘mint’.

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

Staff are trained in a therapeutic model that is used in their day-to-day practice for the benefit of both children. Staff and children are also starting to benefit from the company’s recent appointment of a therapist who is visiting the home regularly.

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

There are clear boundaries and routines in place at the home. Children are helped to regulate and understand their emotions. Consequently, there have not been any incidents of staff needing to hold children to keep them safe.

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

Safer recruitment practices are in place to ensure that only adults who are safe to work with children are employed in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is experienced and child focused. He promotes a therapeutic approach in the home and is highly regarded by the children and the staff team. The manager is supported by an enthusiastic and ambitious assistant manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff enjoy working in the home. They feel valued and supported by the manager. One staff member described him as ‘very professional and easy to talk to’. Another staff member said he was ‘very supportive’. The manager ensures that staff and children are involved in making decisions about the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager works proactively and effectively with other agencies and professionals. He is a strong advocate for the children and routinely works in their best interests to ensure that their needs are met. A social worker said, ‘The manager is really responsive. He updates me regularly, and he is supportive and attentive to the needs of the children and the staff.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have regular supervision sessions and team meetings, which provides them with opportunities to reflect on their practice. The manager often discusses research Inspection report for children’s home: SC357133 5 and new ways of working with staff to continually improve and develop their practice. Staff regularly complete training courses to ensure that their knowledge and skills are kept up to date. This includes specialist training to equip them with the skills to meet the children’s current and emerging needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has good oversight of the home. He knows the strengths and areas of vulnerability and takes action to address any shortfalls. The manager regularly monitors and reviews the quality of care provided to the children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC357133 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home is well maintained internally and externally. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.3)  The registered person should ensure that children are aware of the complaint procedure and how they can make a written complaint. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 22 paragraph 4.13)

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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: SC357133 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Social Care Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Social Care Services Group, 31 Shaw Road, Stockport SK4 4AG

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Annabella Foulkes

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Inspector

Zillah Brooks, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC357133 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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