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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC005040 1 SC005040 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

The home provides care for up to four children who experience social, emotional and mental health difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, three children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2023.

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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: SC005040 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/03/2025 Full Good 04/03/2024 Full Good 28/03/2023 Full Good 08/09/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC005040 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The inspector spoke with all three children as part of the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, three children have continued to live in the home. Relationships between staff and children are positive and nurturing. Leaders and staff demonstrate a strong commitment to helping children achieve positive outcomes. Children participate in various enjoyable activities, including golf, visits to driving ranges and go-karting. These experiences contribute to a sense of belonging and trust in the adults who care for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress in education. The manager and staff maintain effective communication with education providers, enabling them to monitor children’s progress and respond to emerging needs. Staff provide consistent support, which has led to tangible achievements. For example, one child has successfully passed several GCSEs, while another is regularly earning school points, indicating sustained progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Leaders and staff work collaboratively with external professionals. One professional said, ‘I have generally found the placement to be very supportive of my young person. They are easy to contact and contribute well to care planning.’ This reflects the home’s proactive approach to multi-agency working.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to maintain meaningful contact with their families. The manager ensures that staff are familiar with each child’s family time arrangements, which helps facilitate visits and communication efficiently. One parent commented, ‘[Name of child] has been fine here, and staff are brilliant with them.’ This highlights the staff’s positive impact on family relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is generally warm and welcoming. Children’s bedrooms are personalised and well maintained, reflecting their individual interests. However, some areas of the home require attention, including repainting and repair of a crack in the bathroom ceiling. These issues detract from the otherwise homely atmosphere.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are largely well met. Staff encourage attendance at health appointments and carry out planned work to support children who find it difficult to engage. Children are also encouraged to participate in physical activities that promote good health. However, the minutes from one child’s annual health assessment were not available in the home. As a result, it is unclear how well leaders and staff understand this child’s current health targets.

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

Strong relationships between children and staff contribute to a low number of incidents in the home. Staff demonstrate a good understanding of the risks presented by children, Inspection report for children’s home: SC005040 4 and the manager ensures that clear plans are in place to manage these effectively. Leaders regularly review risk management plans, ensuring that they remain relevant and responsive to children’s needs. As a result, children feel safe, and they are encouraged to engage in positive behaviours. Children have not raised any complaints or allegations since the previous inspection. Leaders and staff provide regular opportunities for children to express concerns, helping them feel that their views are heard and valued.

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

Children are supported in living harmoniously together. Leaders and staff deliver planned work on healthy relationships and anti-bullying, which has contributed to a reduction in incidents and the development of positive peer relationships.

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

Children rarely go missing from the home. When incidents occur, staff respond appropriately in line with individual plans. They work effectively with professionals and family members to promptly locate children and return them home.

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

However, the recording of incidents is not consistently appropriate. In some cases, the language used by staff is opinion-based rather than factual, which detracts from the child-focused nature of the reports.

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

Leaders do not consistently evaluate the use of consequences. Records lack evidence of managerial oversight, including signatures or commentary on the effectiveness of measures used. This makes it unclear whether leaders are assured that consequences are proportionate and appropriate.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by a committed and experienced manager who has a clear and ambitious vision for the service. She works closely with the team of staff to support their development and promote high standards of care. Staff report feeling well supported by the manager. One staff member said, ‘The manager is very approachable and accommodating.’ This reflects the positive culture in the team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A consistent staff team continues to work in the home. Low staff turnover, attributed to the supportive environment, enables children and staff to build and sustain meaningful relationships.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders ensure that staff have access to relevant and high-quality training. The manager arranges bespoke training opportunities on topics such as adverse childhood experiences, the PACE model of care, closed cultures, and enuresis. This equips staff with the knowledge and skills required to meet children’s needs effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular, reflective supervision. Recently introduced therapeutic supervision provides staff with opportunities to explore areas of practice they wish to improve. This contributes to the continued development of the quality of care provided to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Monitoring systems are used effectively to support staff development. The manager carries out monthly reviews, which enable her to identify and address shortfalls Inspection report for children’s home: SC005040 5 promptly. Routine monitoring has contributed to the team’s consistency in delivering good care. Inspection report for children’s home: SC005040 6

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Statutory requirement

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

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(vii)(ii)(c)) 27 November 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Staff should record information about individual children in a non- stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)  The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meets children’s needs. Children’s homes should, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. The home must comply with relevant health and safety legislation, such as alarms and food hygiene. However, in doing so, the home should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than institutional

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Recommendations

impression. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that staff have the relevant skills and knowledge to be able to respond to children’s health needs. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including quality standards’, page 34, paragraph 7.12) Inspection report for children’s home: SC005040 7

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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: SC005040 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

Chanel Bryant, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC005040 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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