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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC025417 1 SC025417

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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 partnership. It provides care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 7 March 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, four 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: 14 January 2025

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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: SC025417 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/01/2025 Full Good 12/02/2024 Full Outstanding 31/08/2022 Full Good 30/03/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC025417 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one child has moved into the home, and one child has moved out. Both children had planned moves. Staff listen to children to ensure that any moves are positive experiences and aligned with each child’s individual needs. All children who live in the home spoke with the inspector and shared their experiences about living there. Children enjoy living in the home, and say that they are cared for, kept safe and supported by staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have positive experiences of living at the home and share nurturing and trusting relationships with staff who know them well. Staff have meaningful and effective conversations with children that help them develop the ability to make positive choices and navigate challenges. However, on one occasion, staff did not fully explore the reasons a child wanted a change in professional involvement and assumed they knew what was best for the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support and promote children’s education. When there are barriers to children attending school, the manager and staff work with external agencies to identify how this can be resolved. They employ and encourage the use of a tutor to support children’s academic progress while children are not attending school. As a result, one child, who had not been in education for a significant period, made significant progress in their learning prior to being reintegrated into formal provision.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote children’s relationships with their family and friends. This includes going out with the children on activities to make their time together enjoyable. The manager and staff regularly communicate with the children’s family members and external professionals to support the child’s individual needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has been redecorated. It is large and well-furnished and is thoughtfully personalised with photos of the children and staff. Children have decorated and personalised their bedrooms to reflect their own tastes. This fosters a sense of belonging for the children.

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

Risk assessments and behaviour support plans include clear strategies to manage children’s risks and vulnerabilities. Staff know what to do in practice to reduce the risk of harm to children.

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

All the children who live in the home like to spend time doing online gaming. There are robust controls in place to ensure that this is monitored, and risks mitigated. However, for one child who has previously been at risk online, this is not clear within their individual plans and records. This leaves them vulnerable of further risk online. Inspection report for children’s home: SC025417 4 Staff help children to understand the risks they may be exposed to in the community and online. Key-work sessions are carried out to help children learn about situations as they arise and risks that they may be vulnerable to or exposed to in the future.

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

Incidents in the home are rare, and children’s risks are reducing. Staff focus on building positive relationships with children. All the children share that they feel safe and can talk to staff if they are worried. There have been no incidents when the children have been missing from home. However, risk management plans are in place in case there are any incidents. These plans include clear guidance for staff to follow in practice.

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

The use of physical intervention is minimal and only used when necessary to protect the children or others. All instances of physical intervention are thoroughly recorded, reviewed, and monitored by the manager. The views of the children involved are always sought, ensuring that their experience of the incident is considered for future practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is suitably qualified and experienced. He plans to leave this home to work in another home within the same organisation. He has developed and supported the deputy manager, who intends to become the manager. Together, they are extremely child focused and aspirational, and this is embedded in staff practice when caring for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff are consistent people in the children’s lives. There have been no changes to the staff since the last inspection. The use of a regular and small bank staff team also supports continuity of care for children. Staff are extremely positive about the manager and feel well supported to undertake their roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff communicate regularly with external professionals and parents. This ensures that all relevant people are kept updated on the child’s progress and that any changes are known or concerns are quickly resolved.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have systems in place to ensure that the oversight and monitoring of the home is effective. However, some documents require review as they are outdated and, as a result, inaccurate. The manager states that some of this is planned to be reviewed as part of the handover with the deputy manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has taken action to address the recommendations identified at the last inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: SC025417 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. Where there are safeguarding concerns for a child, their placement plan, agreed between the home and the child’s placing authority, must include details of the steps the home will take to manage any assessed risks on a day- to-day basis, specifically in relation to online safety. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 42, paragraph 9.5)  The registered person should ensure that the children’s views are considered and shared with whom it is relevant. The registered person should oversee the welfare of the children in their care through observation and engagement with each child, the home’s staff and professionals involved in the care or protection of each child, including their social worker and Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO). (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 54, paragraph

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Recommendations

10.23)  The registered person should actively seek independent scrutiny of the home and make best use of information from independent and internal monitoring to ensure continuous improvement. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 55, paragraph 10.24)

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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: SC025417 6

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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

Nicola Rutherford, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC025417 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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