Children's home run by Cornerways Children’s Services Limited in Reigate and Banstead

Interim inspection report children’s home: SC014848 1 SC014848 Registered provider: Cornerways Children’s Services Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is one of two children’s homes owned and run by a private company that also operates a fostering agency and a school. It has accommodation for up to six children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The service also provides support from therapists to individual children.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted on 15 December 2017.

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Judgement at last inspection: good

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 sustained effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the registered manager has continued to develop the culture of the home and the staff team. He has kept the focus of this work on the children and their experiences, and how the staff can make a positive difference to their lives. To do this, the staff have had the opportunity to reflect on their practice and are supported to understand and use the theoretical model that underpins it.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the group of children living in the home has changed. Following the positive planned moves of two of the children, two new children have moved in. The management team carefully considered all the information available before agreeing to Interim inspection report children’s home: SC014848 2 these placements, including the compatibility of the children and the timing of these moves. On one occasion, the supporting document explaining the decision was not completed until after the child had moved in.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The recent change in the group of children has presented the staff with different challenges; however, with support they have managed this well. Challenges have included an increase in children going missing and an increase in the use of physical intervention. Acutely aware of these changes, the registered manager has monitored the situation closely and has provided the staff with clear guidance and strategies to reduce the number of incidents.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff work closely with the children to understand the reasons behind their behaviour and use key-work sessions effectively to help them address it. This behaviour includes children going missing. However, the registered manager has not always encouraged or challenged the placing authority to arrange independent return home interviews for the children. Over the past few months, there have been two occasions when children have complained about staff conduct. These issues have been taken seriously and fully investigated by the registered manager. In one instance it was very clear that the complaint had been resolved and action taken to prevent a reoccurrence. However, in the second instance records did not show that the child had been given an explanation as to why the complaint had not yet been resolved. This could result in them feeling that they had not been listened to.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Records do show that the registered manager takes appropriate action to address poor performance. When necessary, this includes restorative work being done to repair relationships between children and adults.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

More recently, the registered manager, supported by the management team, has begun to implement new initiatives as part of the home’s development plan. Although these changes have not yet been fully embedded into practice they are already contributing to real improvements.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/06/2018 Full Good 20/02/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/03/2017 Full Good 19/10/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Interim inspection report children’s home: SC014848 3

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Recommendations

 When a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority must provide an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

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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.

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Information about this inspection

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’. Interim inspection report children’s home: SC014848 4

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cornerways Children’s Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Ashcombe Court, Woolsack Way, Godalming, Surrey GU7 1LQ

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Inspector

Amanda Harvey, social care inspector Interim inspection report children’s home: SC014848 5 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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