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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC021683 1 SC021683 Registered provider:

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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 privately run children’s home is registered to provide care for up to four children who may have social and emotional difficulties or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

There are three children living in the home. All children spoke with the inspector.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2020.

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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: 17 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: SC021683 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/09/2024 Full Good 20/09/2023 Full Good 27/02/2023 Full Good 04/11/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC021683 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, four children came to live at the home and three left. The three children living at the home are settled and are making good progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff build trusting, respectful relationships with children, creating a stable environment that supports their development and enables each child to make progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children achieve good educational outcomes because they receive tailored support and learn at a pace that suits them. This approach helps them overcome learning barriers and attend school or college regularly. One child has achieved GCSEs, gained access to a college and aspires to study at university. This followed periods of inconsistent attendance before moving to live at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote children’s health by completing statutory assessments and ensuring attendance at medical appointments. Medication is stored securely, and accurate records are kept for its administration.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to maintain contact with family and friends in line with their care plans. This has led to children developing and maintaining positive relationships with family members.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff hold regular key-work sessions covering topics that respond to individual needs for each child. These sessions take place regularly and are revisited to help reinforce learning for children. This results in children feeling valued and listened to.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is generally well maintained, but staff do not always encourage and support children to keep their bedrooms clean.

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

Staff understand children’s risks well. They provide consistent routines and firm boundaries, helping children feel safe and secure.

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

Children receive access to specialist services that help staff to support each child’s individual needs through regular, work-focused support. This is achieved through a multi- agency response and strong communication both with professionals and the children.

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

When children go missing from the home, staff follow established procedures and use Philomena protocols. Response times are tailored to each child’s safety plan and result in children being returned safely to the home.

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

Children benefit from consistent, therapeutic and child-focused care. Staff know the children well and can identify changes in mood and potential behaviour triggers. As a Inspection report for children’s home: SC021683 4 result, staff can de-escalate situations as necessary, which has meant that physical restraint has not been required.

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

Children feel safe, understand what this means for them and speak positively about the care they receive. Each child was able to share what being safe means to them, emphasising that staff make sure they are protected and understand how to be safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is an experienced manager who takes a proactive approach to leadership, staff support and the care provided to children. The manager is supported by an assistant manager with significant residential care experience. Together, they provide good leadership and maintain oversight, which is crucial as the manager oversees two homes under dual registration.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff give positive feedback about the manager’s knowledge and support. Regular updates and constructive challenge ensure that the team advocates for children professionally and fairly. The manager encourages input from staff and the deputy, promoting an open culture focused on improving care quality.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home benefits from a stable staff team, which provides consistency of care for children. The manager works collaboratively with staff through weekly meetings and monthly learning sessions, creating consistency and shared goals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have access to relevant training, including courses tailored to children’s individual needs. Staff receive regular, reflective supervision that considers their needs and those of the children. However, supervision records lack clear actions and measurable timescales.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have good relationships with partner agencies and schools, ensuring that children receive the best care and opportunities. Professionals commend these collaborative efforts.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a good understanding of the strengths and areas of development for the home. However, quality of care review reports lacks feedback from children and staff, which is a missed opportunity to obtain their views on any developments required in the home. Inspection report for children’s home: SC021683 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children.

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, staff should help children keep their living spaces clean. The home should be tidy and personalised for the child. 30 March 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and 30 April 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: SC021683 6 any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (5)

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the manager’s quality of care review must contain and consider feedback from children and staff and include measurable actions.

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Recommendation

 The registered person must have systems in place so that all staff receive supervision of their practice that allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care, along with measurable actions. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)

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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: SC021683 7

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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

Paul McKay-Smith, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC021683 8 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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