Children's home run by Cornerways Care Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2583142 1 Registered provider: Cornerways Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to three children with complex behaviours.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2022.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2583142 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/06/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2583142 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There were three children living at the home at the time of this inspection. Since the last inspection, five children have moved into the home and three children have moved on from the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child is currently sitting his GCSE exams. The child has improved attendance in education and is making good progress. Two children had long periods of time out of education before moving into the home recently. One child is being tutored at the home, and tutoring has been offered to another child. Education places are being explored for both children. Staff understand the importance of education and the barriers to learning. Children are helped to re-engage with education and learn at a pace that is suitable for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have good relationships with children. Staff are kind and nurturing. They have developed creative ways to communicate with a child with complex needs. Children are helped to make choices and are building trusting relationships with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff meet children’s health needs. One child has a medical condition and struggled to manage this before moving to the home. The child has, along with staff, attended training provided by a qualified nurse. The child and staff understand how to manage the condition, and the management of the condition has improved. Associated risks of not regularly taking medication have reduced and the child’s overall health has improved as a result.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to spend time with their families and friends. A parent said that ‘the staff are amazing’. The manager has advocated for one child to be able to spend time with his girlfriend. Children spend increasing time with their families when it is appropriate.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children take part in a range of activities, including day trips, boxing and minigolf. Children have weekly opportunities to request different activities, which the staff facilitate. Children experience enriching activities and opportunities to try new things. They are helped to develop their confidence and self-esteem.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The manager has ensured that staff have appropriate safeguarding training and understand safeguarding procedures. Staff confidently spoke about whistle-blowing. Staff are well equipped to manage safeguarding incidents and understand how to apply procedures to everyday practice.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff benefit from trauma-informed behaviour-management training. Behaviour- management techniques are very proactive and help staff to recognise when to intervene before known behaviours escalate. Children have input into their Inspection report for children’s home: 2583142 4 behaviour support plans. They are supported in ways that they find helpful. Physical interventions are used minimally.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

One child, who was regularly misusing substances, has been helped through discussions and key work to understand the impact of substance misuse on their health and their future. The child has significantly reduced their substance misuse.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

There have been a high number of missing-from-home episodes. The manager has individual missing-from-home protocols for children and works closely with external professionals, including social workers and the police. The staff manage incidents well, which has resulted in a notable decrease in frequency.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Allegations are managed promptly, and actions are taken to keep children safe. However, on one occasion, the manager did not record all correspondence with the local authority designated officer. Children are kept safe; however, not all records are accurate.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Generally, staff hold key-work sessions with children on safety. However, following the review of two significant incidents, the previous manager did not ensure that all actions identified had been completed. Important key work or discussions have not taken place with a child to understand the reasons behind the behaviours, understand risks, or to explore the impact on themselves and others. The child has not been helped to understand how to keep themselves safe on these occasions.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager left the home in November 2021. The deputy manager oversaw the home and applied for the registered manager’s post. He was registered by Ofsted in May 2022 and is working towards a relevant level 5 diploma.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive individualised training to enable them to meet children’s needs. The manager and staff benefit from regular consultations with a clinical psychologist. The consultations provide a safe space for staff to explore their thoughts and feelings. Children’s histories and presenting concerns are discussed and useful strategies and ideas are created to inform staff’s practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff either hold a relevant level 3 diploma or are working towards gaining this qualification. Staff are enrolled on the qualification course once they pass their probation. All staff are within time frames for achieving the qualification.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff said that they have regular and effective supervisions. Staff feedback and ideas are listened to. Staff feel valued, supported and respected by managers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

On two occasions, the manager has received limited information about children moving into the home. Children have displayed behaviours that were previously unknown to professionals. This has resulted in two children being moved on from the home sooner than initially planned for safety reasons. The manager completed a lessons learned exercise and has identified and implemented several improvements Inspection report for children’s home: 2583142 5 in moving children into the home. The improvements will help to ensure that children are suitably matched to the home. The plans include encouraging children to be more invested and involved in the planning of moves into the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager’s monitoring of the home is generally good. The responsible individual and the manager undertake separate monthly audits. The manager writes a six- monthly report to review the home and make continuous improvements. However, he has not included feedback from children, their parents or external professionals. Consequently, opportunities are missed to make further improvements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has not always notified Ofsted of significant incidents promptly. On two occasions, the previous manager delayed notifying Ofsted until being prompted by the independent person or the Ofsted inspector and on one occasion, the current manager delayed notification. The content of notifications has not always been sufficiently detailed. Delaying notifying Ofsted and failing to provide all relevant information reduces Ofsted’s ability to monitor the home effectively. Inspection report for children’s home: 2583142 6

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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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that children who have been involved in unsafe or risky behaviours are helped to understand how to keep safe and that any actions the manager identifies following the review of incidents are completed. 8 June 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there; or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager must ensure that significant incidents are notified to Ofsted without delay and include all relevant information. 8 June 2022

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that any allegation of harm or abuse is addressed in line with the home’s child protection policy. Specifically, ensure that consultations with the local authority designated officer are recorded. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 44, paragraph 9.17) Inspection report for children’s home: 2583142 7  The registered person should ensure that there is a system in place which allows them to monitor the matters set out in regulation 45 at least once every six months. Undertake a review that focuses on the quality of the care provided by the home, the experiences of children living there and the impact that the care is having on outcomes and improvements for the children. Include in the review direct feedback from children, parents and other professionals. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64,

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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: 2583142 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cornerways Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Eastway Enterprise Centre, 7 Paynes Park, Hitchin SG5 1EH

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Inspector

Amy Miles, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2583142 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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