Children's Home run by Cornerstone Children’s Homes Limited in Stockport

Assurance visit report: SC394478 1 SC394478

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to three young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since June 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 28 January 2020

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Requires improvement to be good

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Information about this visit

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), Ofsted suspended all routine inspections in March 2020. As part of a phased return to routine inspection, we are undertaking assurance visits to children’s social care services that are inspected under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF).

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Information about this visit

At these visits, inspectors evaluate the extent to which:  children are well cared for  children are safe  leaders and managers are exercising strong leadership.

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Information about this visit

This visit was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000, following the published guidance for assurance visits.

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Information about this visit

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills is leading Ofsted’s work into how England’s social care system has delivered child-centred practice and care within the context of the restrictions placed on society during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Findings from the visit

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit. Assurance visit report: SC394478 2

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The care of children

Young people make good progress in relation to their individual starting points. They benefit from well-planned, personalised care that promotes their needs effectively.

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The care of children

A social worker reported, ‘I am most certainly very happy with the service that the [young person] is being provided [with]. [The young person]’s key worker goes above and beyond. She has offered to help deliver life story work with myself, so he feels safe and supported.’

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The care of children

Young people and staff experience positive relationships with each other, as staff provide young people with consistent care. A young person reported, ‘It’s cool. The kids and staff are not annoying. During lockdown it wasn’t too bad. I wouldn’t change anything. I actually feel it’s alright here. I have no complaints. I would rate the home a decent eight out of 10.’

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The care of children

Young people’s progress in education remains inconsistent. One young person is doing well, and he attends school on a full-time basis. However, the other young person is informally educated at the home. The registered manager has escalated the lack of formal education with the child’s placing authority to ensure that a school or suitable alternative education provision is identified for them. Additionally, some plans need to be updated to promote young people’s educational achievements.

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The care of children

A young person reported, ‘I like this house. It’s really good because the staff are helping me a lot and the manager’s nice. I go to school now full time and I’m enjoying it. My social workers are proud of what I’ve done.’

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The safety of children

Both young people confirmed that they are kept safe and feel safe living at the home. There are no current safeguarding concerns, and there have been no complaints or allegations. Episodes of young people going missing and incidents of restraint have reduced considerably. The behaviours of young people are managed safely and effectively by staff.

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The safety of children

Appropriate risk assessments are in place to promote the safety and well-being of young people. Significant incidents have reduced, and there are fewer incidents, as young people learn to self-regulate their own feelings and behaviour. The use of consequences to address negative behaviour is fair, balanced and proportionate.

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The safety of children

A young person gave the inspector a guided tour of their home. The home was observed to be physically safe and appropriately maintained. Private living accommodation is provided in accordance with the views, needs, wants and wishes of young people. Assurance visit report: SC394478 3

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Leaders and managers

A stable staff team is now employed to meet the needs of the young people living at the home. A newly registered manager is now in post. He exercises strong and effective leadership of the day-to-day operations of the home. Staff benefit from regular practice-related supervision.

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Leaders and managers

There are effective external systems to monitor the conduct and performance of the home. The manager makes good use of the home’s external monitoring activities to secure the home’s continuing improvement. The contents of the registered manager’s quality of care review could be improved. The report lacks consideration of the views of stakeholders and could be more evaluative and less descriptive.

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Leaders and managers

The home has adapted its practice to support young people throughout the pandemic. There were regular COVID-19 meetings held between senior leaders, management and staff to promote the safe operations of the home and the well- being and safety of young people and staff.

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Leaders and managers

All the recommendations and requirements from the last inspection have been met and addressed.

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Recommendations

 Children should be in full-time education whilst they are of compulsory school age, unless their personal education plan contained within the care plan or other relevant plan states otherwise. The home must aim to support full time attendance at school unless the child’s relevant plan indicates this is not in their best interests. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.14)

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Recommendations

 Ensure relevant plans are obtained from the placing authority (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.1). This relates specifically to obtaining revised personal education plans and care plans for young people who require them.

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Recommendations

 Regulation 45 sets out requirements for the registered person to have a system in place which allows them to monitor the matters set out in the regulation at least once every six months; also see regulation 13(2)(h) (the leadership and management standard). The registered person should undertake a review that focuses on the quality of the care provided by the home, the experiences of children living there and the impact the care is having on outcomes and improvements for the children. Reviews should be underpinned by the Quality Standards as described in regulations 5 to 14 (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.2). This Assurance visit report: SC394478 4 relates specifically to the improved content of the review and evidence of the views of stakeholders.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cornerstone Children’s Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: City Heliport Liverpool Road, Eccles, Manchester M30 7RU

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Inspector

Anthony Kyem, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC394478 5 to 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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