Children's home run by The Partnership of Care Today

Inspection report for children’s home: SC005042 1 SC005042 Registered provider: The Partnership of Care Today

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Full inspection 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 children with social and emotional difficulties. The children’s home can care for up to eight children. At the time of this inspection, two children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has recently taken up their role in the home and has applied to be registered with Ofsted. He holds a level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management and brings relevant experience to the role.

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Information about this children’s home

This home is located on the same site as a school. This is registered with Ofsted separately and was not inspected as part of this inspection.

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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: SC005042 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/06/2024 Full Good 27/02/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 15/11/2022 Full Good 08/02/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC005042 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, two children have moved out of the home and one child has moved in. Managers and staff work proactively to ensure that children’s experiences of moving into and out of the home are positive. For example, children are given the opportunity to meet staff before moving in and receive welcome gifts. These thoughtful actions help children feel welcomed and support them to settle quickly into their new home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children speak positively about their experiences of living in the home. Both children spoke with the inspector and described staff as fun, approachable and caring. These positive relationships help children to feel valued and emotionally secure.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff actively support children to maintain meaningful relationships with their families and loved ones. They provide practical assistance, such as transport, and advocate strongly for children to spend time with those who matter most to them. This commitment strengthens children’s sense of identity and promotes their emotional well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both children attend the on-site school daily. There is effective partnership working between care staff and educational professionals. Children’s attendance is good, and they are making progress from their individual starting points.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have access to a wide range of enjoyable activities. They speak enthusiastically about playing football with staff, going on go-karting trips and bike rides. These opportunities promote physical exercise, build confidence and strengthen relationships between children and staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to attend regular health appointments. However, safe arrangements were not in place for one child’s inhaler when they were away from the home. On another occasion, staff did not respond promptly to a change in a child’s medication dosage. Although the impact was minimal, improvements are required to ensure that children’s health needs are consistently met in a safe and timely manner.

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

Children say they feel safe living in the home. They have trusted adults they can talk to and understand how to make a complaint if needed. This helps children feel listened to and contributes to their overall sense of safety.

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

Incidents are well managed, and staff maintain detailed records. When physical intervention is required, it is used as a last resort to ensure safety. Managers Inspection report for children’s home: SC005042 4 maintain oversight of all incidents, and opportunities are provided for both staff and children to reflect and learn from them.

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

Children are supported to share strategies that help staff understand how best to support them. However, these individual behaviour strategies are not consistently included in risk assessments. This can make it more difficult for new staff to respond effectively to children’s needs.

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

When children raise concerns about staff, these are taken seriously and fully investigated. However, on one occasion, staff did not follow the organisation’s safeguarding procedures, resulting in a delay in reporting a concern that could have placed children at risk. Managers have reflected on this incident and have worked with staff to prevent a recurrence.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has recently joined the home from another setting within the organisation. He is supported by an assistant manager who knows the children well. Together, they speak passionately about the children and demonstrate high expectations of children and staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel well supported in their roles and take pride in children’s achievements. One staff member commented, ‘We want nothing but the best for the children.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has introduced ‘Feel Good Friday’ well-being checks with children. This provides a regular opportunity for children to talk about how they are feeling. Additionally, this enables the manager to monitor children’s well-being and identify any further support they may require.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is effective multi-agency working with professionals and parents, who speak positively about the managers and staff. One child’s social worker commented, ‘Communication is good; staff know [name of child] well.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision, which provides opportunities to discuss each child’s needs. Supervision includes reflective practice, and managers support staff to set personal development targets to enhance their skills and improve the quality of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings are used effectively to provide staff with opportunities to share their experiences and knowledge. Regular upskilling on key topics, such as whistle- blowing, strengthens staff’s understanding and builds their confidence. Inspection report for children’s home: SC005042 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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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

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff understand their roles and responsibilities in relation to safeguarding, report concerns without delay and follow the home’s child protection policies. 28 November

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that medicines are administered in line with medically approved protocols and that suitable arrangements are in place to manage and administer medication. This specifically relates to ensuring that children receive medication as prescribed and that there are safe arrangements for managing inhalers when children are away from the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.15)  The registered person should understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. In particular, guidance to reduce risk should include individual support strategies. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Inspection report for children’s home: SC005042 6

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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: SC005042 7

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Children’s home details

Provision sub-type: Residential special school

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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

Kirsty Truesdale, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC005042 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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