Children's Home run by Active Ark Limited in Westmorland and Furness

Inspection report children’s home: 1266838 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 provides care for up to three children and young people who have social and/or emotional difficulties. The manager has been in post since May 2018, and registered with Ofsted in September 2018.

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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 improved effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has successfully acted on the requirements made at the last inspection. This has resulted in improved record-keeping and monitoring of sanctions. This promotes good practice and ensures that such measures are equitable, fair and proportionate.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, one young person has left the home and is now living independently. Despite this occurring somewhat earlier than planned, due to the availability of suitable accommodation, his transition was effectively planned and well managed. Staff provided help in furnishing his flat and making it homely and comfortable. They are also providing some ongoing outreach support for several months, to ensure that he is fully settled. Inspection report children’s home: 1266838 2 Staff share solid, trusting relationships with children and young people, and work hard to create a warm and homely environment. Accordingly, children and young people develop a strong sense of belonging in this home and enjoy their time here.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children and young people are safeguarded and protected effectively. Behaviour management and safe restraint practice are well understood by staff. However, there have been no incidents involving children and young people that have required any physical intervention. Additionally, the home reported that there have been no incidents of children and young people going missing.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff actively promote relationships between children and young people and their siblings and friends outside of the home. Because of this, children and young people living in this home share very positive relationships with each other, become more resilient and know that their friends and family members are welcome in this home. Children and young people enjoy good experiences that enable them to socialise and maintain those relationships that are most important to them.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children and young people continue to make good progress. They are healthy and their attendance at school, college and work placements is excellent. Because of this, they are achieving good educational outcomes and growing in confidence.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff encourage children and young people’s learning and their involvement in a variety of interests and activities outside school. For one child who is separated from his sibling, this has resulted in the two of them regularly enjoying fun times together, which is helping to rebuild their relationship.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff display genuine care and affection for the children and young people they support. Although the staff team is small, team members are well motivated and work cooperatively together to ensure that children and young people receive consistency and good continuity of care. Consequently, children and young people feel safe and well cared for by staff.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Social workers spoke highly of the home and identified that children and young people have made measurable progress since the last full inspection. One social worker commented, ‘He feels well supported. It is great that they are providing some through care. He has really good relationships with staff. They have made such a difference in his life. It means a lot to him and me.’

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The arrangements for internal and external monitoring are good, and are proving to be effective. However, on occasions, Ofsted has not received reports from the independent person, and there has been a delay in others being received. This reduces transparency between the home and Ofsted. Inspection report children’s home: 1266838 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/07/2019 Full Good 08/03/2019 Interim Improved effectiveness 06/06/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 12/04/2018 Full Inadequate

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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 independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to HMCI. (Regulation 44(7)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to ensuring that Ofsted receives each monthly report and receives reports within the agreed timescale. 29/02/2020

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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 Inspection report children’s home: 1266838 4 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: 1266838 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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