Children's home run by Active Ark Limited

Inspection report children’s home: 1263126 1 Registered provider: Active Ark Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private company. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two children or young people, irrespective of gender, who have social and emotional difficulties.

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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 declined in effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The judgement in this inspection largely reflects the home’s failure to deal with most requirements and recommendations made at the home’s last inspection in May 2018. Because of this, three requirements and one recommendation are repeated.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Ofsted has not received a copy of the home’s statement of purpose or the children’s guide that was to be updated to deal with some factual inaccuracies and errors previously identified. These documents were also not available to the manager in the home during this inspection. Consequently, Ofsted, as well as staff, young people, their parents and professionals, does not have access to current and essential information.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Ofsted has not routinely received six-monthly quality of care review reports from the Inspection report children’s home: 1263126 2 registered manager. One report that was received by Ofsted was undated and did not identify the period that it covered. The report’s content was informative rather than evaluative. Additionally, it contained some inaccuracies and omissions and did not provide a plan for the six-month period ahead. It is unclear how well the registered manager truly understands the strengths and weaknesses of her home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, a change in the home’s external monitoring arrangements has been made to improve the quality of scrutiny in the home. However, there was a three- month gap before a new independent person was appointed and started visiting the home. Ofsted did not receive any reports during this period. This reduced transparency between the home and Ofsted during this time. Equally, the registered manager did not have the benefit of external scrutiny to assist her own monitoring and improvement of the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people have had a variable experience during this time. Most young people settle into the home’s routine, share good relationships with staff and make good progress. Staff encourage young people to participate fully in a wide range of activities, such as attending the gym, swimming and other outings, to promote their health and emotional well-being. Young people are also helped to learn new skills, such as knitting, baking and cooking, that will be of use to them as they move towards adulthood.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

However, some young people have been less settled and have proved more challenging to staff. This has at times resulted in some young people causing considerable damage to the home and the home’s vehicles. Managers identified a lack of confidence among some staff to intervene and manage behaviour as it has been escalating. This has been appropriately dealt with by further training and support in behaviour management and use of physical intervention techniques. The company has also trained two of its managers to deliver behaviour management and restraint training. With in-house trainers, staff can easily access more frequent sessions to maintain and develop their skills.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff continue to benefit from regular supervision and regular team meetings that provide good opportunities to reflect on staff development and young people’s progress and planning. However, the registered manager was unable to demonstrate that she also benefits from regular professional supervision. Because of this, there is no certainty to believe that she is receiving the full support required to fulfil her role.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/05/2018 Full Good 07/03/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report children’s home: 1263126 3

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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 children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who— take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— ensure that staff— keep the children’s guide and the home’s complaints procedure under review and seek children’s comments before revising either document. (Regulation 7 (1)(c) and (2)(c)) 31/05/2019

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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)) 31/05/2019

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Requirement Due date

A responsible individual must have the capacity, experience and skills to supervise the management of the home, or the homes, in respect of which the responsible individual is nominated. (Regulation 26 (7)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, this refers to ensuring that the registered manager is provided with regular professional supervision. 31/05/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month. (Regulation 44 (1)) 31/05/2019

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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)) 31/05/2019

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Recommendations

 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 six months of delivery within the home Inspection report children’s home: 1263126 4 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.

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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’.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Active Ark, Unit E, Baron Way, Kingmoor Business Park, Carlisle CA6 4SJ

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Inspector

Gillian Walters, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1263126 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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