Children's Home run by Active Ark Limited in Cumberland

Inspection report children’s home: 1233899 1 Registered provider: Active Ark Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a private home. It provides care and accommodation for up to two young people who have behavioural and/or emotional difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 6 and 7 September 2017

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has declined in effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The previous registered manager has moved to be registered manager for two of the company’s other homes. A new manager has been appointed to this home but has yet to make an application to Ofsted to become the home’s registered manager.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Management arrangements have been poor. The new manager has not been briefed about the home’s previous inspection and is unfamiliar with the requirements and recommendations made to support improvement. Additionally, the home’s statement of purpose has not been reviewed and updated to take account of these changes.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Despite the number of shortfalls identified at this inspection, young people are safe and Inspection report children’s home: 1233899 2 well cared for and are making good progress from their starting points. Staff act as good advocates for young people. They make sure that young people understand their rights and assist them to access independent advocacy services as needed.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Three requirements were made at the last full inspection of the home in September 2017. However, these have not all been successfully met. Internal and external monitoring arrangements are well established. The independent person regularly provides Ofsted with reports that are detailed and provide good evaluation of the care young people are receiving. However, although the previous registered manager completed a quality of care review report, this was not received by Ofsted. Additionally, the report did not successfully evaluate the quality of care provided and failed to conclude with a plan for the six-month period ahead.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

One requirement is being repeated as there has been a further occasion when Ofsted has not been notified of a serious incident that has required police involvement. These shortfalls fail to promote transparency with Ofsted and other partner agencies.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Two recommendations also resulted from the last inspection. Again, one is being repeated as the manager has not acted to improve the recording of fire drills. Consequently, incomplete information is available about practice evacuations. This is not routinely monitored, so their effectiveness in keeping young people safe is not assessed.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Improvements were identified in maintaining young people’s records and ensuring that they are up to date. They provide a good account of young people’s plans, day-to-day activities and achievements. They also successfully reflect the manager’s monitoring activity in checking on their progress and staff practice in supporting them.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people share positive relationships with staff and say they enjoy living in this home. The new manager has implemented clear rules and boundaries, which young people accept to be fair.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

For young people moving into the home, their move is well planned. Opportunities are provided for them to visit the home prior to their move and they are made to feel welcome. Staff also prepare and plan well for those young people moving on from the home. They make sure that introductions are gradual and well supported, making sure that young people feel ready and experience a smooth transition.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people rarely go missing from this home. There has been one recent occasion when this has happened. However, this was managed well by staff who worked in partnership and in good cooperation with the police to ensure the young person’s timely and safe return to the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are encouraged to enjoy many of the activities and opportunities that the home can offer. Young people enjoy attending army cadets and a local youth facility. They are also encouraged to follow their own individual interests, such as music and horse-riding. Inspection report children’s home: 1233899 3 Young people regularly attend local mainstream schools and are making good progress in their learning. For one young person, it has been predicted that she should achieve good results in her GCSEs later this year.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff say that they are well supported by the new manager and have good access to training. However, staff supervision does not occur with sufficient frequency or regularity. Equally, when it does occur it is sometimes with other managers working for the company. These arrangements are not sufficiently effective to support staff in their roles. As a result of the responsible individual’s absence due to ill-health, the new manager also had not had sufficient support through regular professional supervision to help her in her new role.

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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, 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 registered person must keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (3)(a) and (b)) 01/05/2018

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Requirement Due date

If the registered provider appoints a person to manage the home, the registered provider must, without delay, give HMCI notice of the name of the person so appointed; and the date on which the appointment takes effect. (Regulation 27 (2)(a) and (b)) 01/05/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)) 01/05/2018 Inspection report children’s home: 1233899 4 This refers to all staff working in the children’s home, including the home’s manager. The registered person must maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4. (Regulation 37 (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to maintaining a register of children as detailed in schedule 4 (1). 01/05/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)) 01/05/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed. (Regulation 45 (4)(a)) 01/05/2018

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Recommendations

 Ensure staff continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. This relates specifically to making improvements in recording of fire drills to identify the time and duration of evacuations so that their effectiveness can be reasonably monitored. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5.)  Decide what each six monthly review should focus on based on the specific circumstances of the home and any areas of high risk to children. The review does not need to address every part of the Quality Standards but should clearly identify any actions required for the next 6 months of delivery within the home and how those actions will be addressed. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.4.)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and young people and their families. In addition, the inspectors have tried to understand what the children’s home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people whom it is trying to help, protect and look after. Inspection report children’s home: 1233899 5 This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

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’.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Armstrong Watson, Birbeck House, Duke Street, Penrith CA11 7NA

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Inspector

Gillian Walters, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1233899 6 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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