Children's Home run by Courtyard Care Limited in Bolton

Inspection report for children’s home: SC389823 1 SC389823 Registered provider: Courtyard Care Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private company owns this home. The home is registered to provide care for up to five children with a wide range of mental health disorders, including learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager resigned in July 2021. There is currently no registered manager in post.

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Inspection date: 17 February 2022

Date of last inspection: 19 October 2021

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Inspection date: 17 February 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 17 February 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC389823 2

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judged that it has sustained effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

General improvements to the home have included the fitting of secure and suitable locks to the inside of windows. Window locks are not restrictive, but provide essential security for children. Staffing arrangements have been adapted to ensure that a member of staff is on hand for each child in placement. Bedrooms are now tidy and redecoration of each room has begun.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is without a registered manager. A requirement is made to address this. An experienced senior staff member has stepped into the position of ‘house’ manager. She is supported by an equally experienced member of the team. Managers are transparent and honest about the current staffing levels but are confident the home is sufficiently staffed. Staff cover additional shifts to ensure stability for the child.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One child has remained in the home. She has lived in the home for nearly three years and has made good progress. The child is working towards a move to semi- independent living, as she is turning 18 and will soon be leaving the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The inspector spoke to the child about her daily lived experience in the home. Despite several changes to the management of the home, and now being the only resident, the child said she is happy and loves living at the home. She reported an improved atmosphere and feeling more settled. Although apprehensive about moving on, she has planned several activities with staff that will ensure a positive end to her placement.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This child is in full-time education and exploring further options to continue with her education. She will require guidance and support as a child leaving care to ensure that all post-18 funding options have been explored. This ensures that the child can make a fully informed decision if she wishes to progress to further and/or higher education.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A recommendation is made to ensure that the child’s independence plan covers a wide range of areas to focus on to fully equip the child for independence. This may include areas such as how to access emergency services, or how to get legal advice should homelessness become a factor.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A recommendation is made to ensure that a multi-agency professionals meeting takes place to coordinate a clear transition plan. Inspection report for children’s home: SC389823 3 Measures have been introduced to develop and improve the internal systems. Managers have brought in a monitoring system that helps to track the overall progress and development of the child’s care plan. Risk management plans and behaviour management plans are not up to date, as they are not reflective of the current risks.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers were unable to distinguish recent incidents from older incidents. A chronology of incidents would help to identify the current and most recent presenting concerns. A requirement is made under the leadership and management standard.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Behaviour management plans do not clearly evidence the behavioural models and strategies used to help manage challenging behaviours, and would benefit from a therapeutic overview to help manage complex behaviours. This would help staff have a greater awareness of strategies that are effective in addressing the child’s emotional presentation.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Missing-from-home incidents are clearly recorded and all key people notified. One recent episode, linked to another child from a sister home, resulted in a recording error whereby the police did not include the child missing from this home. Although there were no serious safeguarding concerns, oversight to ensure correct information is recorded is important for each child.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is required to produce an internal monitoring report to track the progress and development of the home. Although a detailed document, the review of the quality of care report does not meet regulation, as it does not capture the views of children, professionals or key stakeholders. A requirement is made to address this matter.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Overall, the home has been making some progress since the last full inspection. Managers have reflected on areas to improve and are making some positive steps forward. Inspection report for children’s home: SC389823 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/10/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 12/02/2020 Full Outstanding 12/06/2018 Full Good 14/12/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC389823 5

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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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and 30 May 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC389823 6 feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home; and

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Requirement Due date

is not, or does not intend to be, in day-to-day charge of the home.

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Requirement Due date

If the registered provider appoints a person to manage the home, the registered provider must, without delay, give HMCI notice of—

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person so appointed; and

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Requirement Due date

the date on which the appointment takes effect. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii) (2)(a)(b)) 30 May 2022

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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; and

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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. 30 May 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC389823 7 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”).

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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; and

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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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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that each child is fully prepared for any move from the home. This should include a detailed transition plan co-ordinated with the local authority social worker and leaving care service. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 17, paragraph 3.27)

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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

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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.’ Inspection report for children’s home: SC389823 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Courtyard Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Siskin Drive, Middlemarch Business Park, Coventry CV3 4FJ

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Inspector

Kamal Bhamra, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC389823 9 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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