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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC008271 1 SC008271 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

A large private provider operates this home. The home provides care for up to two 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 holds a level 5 leadership and management qualification in health and social care and was registered by Ofsted in April 2024. The manager was not present on the first day of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

Since the last inspection, the same two children have continued to live in the home. They were both present during part of the inspection and spoke about their experiences.

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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: SC008271 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/10/2024 Full Good 29/08/2023 Full Good 21/06/2022 Full Good 05/01/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: SC008271 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from strong, nurturing relationships with staff, which contributes to their sense of safety and emotional security. Staff demonstrate a consistent commitment to promoting children’s education and personal development. Both children attend school regularly and maintain positive routines.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff read bedtime stories to one child. This practice has contributed to the child developing a love of reading, and there has been a marked improvement in their literacy since moving into the home. The other child has successfully passed a GCSE exam a year early and is preparing to sit additional exams, with clear career aspirations. One child said, ‘Staff have to collect [name of child] from school first, so sometimes they are late picking me up. It is a bit annoying.’ This practice has the potential to cause conflict between children and does not support the child’s emotional well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are in good physical health and attend routine health checks. Staff support children to access universal health services when there is a need. The manager ensures that children access emotional health support through external clinical services when this is needed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are positive about the care they receive. Staff regularly seek feedback and involve children in decisions about meals and activities. They encourage children, through regular discussions, to make healthy lifestyle choices.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to keep in touch with people who are important to them, and respond sensitively when children’s views about these relationships change. This empowers children to make decisions that affect them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is generally well decorated and furnished. However, the conservatory requires maintenance.

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

Children feel safe and are settled, and behavioural incidents are rare. There have been no physical interventions, allegations or complaints since the last inspection. Staff are aware of children’s risks and individual strategies are used effectively to reduce or respond to these.

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

The manager and staff know children well. They understand their childhood experiences. There is a focus on positive reinforcement. Staff recognise children’s progress and achievements. When consequences are used, they are well considered and restorative in nature. Inspection report for children’s home: SC008271 4 Managers and staff respond well when there are concerns about a child’s safety. They implement effective strategies to reduce risk and share information with the relevant people. The manager takes appropriate action when there are concerns about a child’s online safety. Parental controls and supervision are now in place to reduce online risks when children access the internet.

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

Safe recruitment practices are being followed. However, on one occasion, the manager had not identified a gap in a staff member’s employment history.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a strong understanding of children’s needs and has built positive relationships with them. Staffing changes include two new appointments and two departures. Changes in staffing arrangements are managed sensitively, to reduce disruption to children’s care and ensure continuity in relationships.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision and attend team meetings every two weeks, which provide opportunities for reflection and discussion about practice and children’s progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Mandatory training is attended by staff, and additional continual professional development is now provided by managers, tailored to the specific needs of the children in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Monitoring systems are effective, enabling the manager to identify the home’s strengths and areas for development. Inspection report for children’s home: SC008271 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should work to make the children’s home an environment that supports children’s physical, mental and emotional health. In particular, repairs required to the conservatory should be completed without delay. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 33, paragraph 7.3)  The registered person should ensure that the home’s routines do not form barriers to children’s education. In particular, appropriate arrangements should be in place to ensure that children can be collected from school on time. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 29, paragraph 5.18)  The registered person should ensure that they maintain good employment practice. Specifically, they should ensure that recruitment checks include a full employment history, with any gaps explored. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including

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Recommendations

the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)

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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: SC008271 6

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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

Helen Dunn, Regulatory Inspection Manager Inspection report for children’s home: SC008271 7 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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