Children's home run by Active Ark Limited in Cumberland

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC465634 1 SC465634

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Active Ark Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private company. It provides care for up to two children and young people with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

A new manager has been appointed, following the former registered manager’s resignation in December 2019. There was some delay in the manager registering with Ofsted, but this was achieved in January 2021. The new manager is currently working towards a Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was deemed necessary as the home has not been inspected for well over a year. This is due to Ofsted suspending full inspections and, more recently, assurance visits during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. Until recently, the home has been without a registered manager for a period in excess of six months.

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This monitoring visit

The child currently accommodated has lived at the home for more than two years. He is extremely settled in the home. He enjoys good continuity of care from a small, dedicated staff team. He shares positive relationships with staff and has developed a real sense of belonging at this home.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have been proactive to ensure that the child understands the significance of the COVID-19 pandemic and is familiar with the measures being taken to reduce personal risk. Recently, a staff member isolated with the child at the home when they both tested positive with the virus. This was very reassuring to the child and avoided the introduction of unfamiliar staff.

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This monitoring visit

The child has thrived since the last full inspection in August 2019. His school attendance has been maintained, which has allowed him to continue to learn in a Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC465634 2 ‘bubble’ with his peers. Staff clearly support and encourage his learning at school, which allows him to also socialise with peers, building and maintaining friendships, which would have been impossible if he was solely home schooled.

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This monitoring visit

Staff show positive regard for the child’s mental health and well-being, as well as physical health. Staff support the child to have regular time with siblings, using telephone and video technology when actual visits have not been possible. Being able to attend school each day has also ensured that he is not restricted to only adult company. Occasional bike rides have also encouraged the child to have some extra physical exercise.

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This monitoring visit

Leadership and management of the home have been strengthened with the appointment of a new permanent manager who recently registered with Ofsted. The registered manager is working effectively with staff to promote a high standard of care and to ensure that good communication is maintained between staff and other professionals.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager has established clear systems for the regular monitoring and review of the quality of care offered by the home. However, six-monthly reports have not been received by Ofsted since the previous manager left. This shortfall was not picked up during the home’s external monitoring activity.

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This monitoring visit

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to minimise visitors to the home, external monitoring is largely being conducted remotely by the home’s independent visitor. These arrangements are not providing the same level of scrutiny or challenge and therefore are of poorer quality than prior to the pandemic. The independent person’s reports have also not routinely been received on a regular monthly basis.

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This monitoring visit

Social workers and other professionals speak extremely positively about the home and the progress of the children and young people who have been accommodated there since the last inspection.

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This monitoring visit

The shortfalls in internal and external monitoring together have reduced transparency with Ofsted. Requirements and recommendations made as a result of this visit deal with these matters. One recommendation is repeated from the home’s last inspection as the home still does not have a workforce plan.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 05/08/2019 Full Good 03/10/2018 Full Good 16/10/2017 Full Good 21/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC465634 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 registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires;

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Requirement Due date

to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home’s records (except for a child’s case records, unless the child and the child’s placing authority consent) as the independent person requires. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a)(b)) 30 April 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it;

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (“the quality of care review report”). 28 May 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC465634 4 The registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

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;

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Requirement Due date

make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5))

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the independent person makes a rigorous and impartial assessment of the home’s arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children. This includes scrutinising documentation to support the evaluations made during the assessment. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.5)  The registered person should ensure that a workforce plan is completed. The plan should be routinely updated to include any new training and qualifications completed by staff, including the home’s manager. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC465634 5

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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 for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC465634 6 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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Inspector

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