Children's home run by Care Haven (UK) Limited in Stockport

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC483828 1 SC483828

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Registered provider: Care Haven (UK) Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately run children’s home. It provides care for up to five children who may have social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in August 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children were living at the home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 20 and 21 April 2022

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspections, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC483828 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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The care of children

Both children living in the home have moved in since the last inspection. The children have different experiences of care. One child, who has never been cared for away from home before, said: ‘I love it here. All the staff are so nice. I haven’t lived in a children’s home before. I have been made to feel so welcome.’

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The care of children

Decision-making in relation to the children coming to live at the home is well considered by the registered manager. As a result, the children develop positive relationships with each other and live in a pleasant family environment.

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The care of children

The quality of care children experience is supported by staff’s understanding of the individual needs of children. Staff have the information they need about children to meet their needs. They also have the time to spend with children to build trusting relationships.

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The care of children

Children’s key-work session records do not always demonstrate that children have actively participated in discussions. Key-work records include reference to the Children’s Homes Regulations. This is not child-centred recording and is not helpful to the child.

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The care of children

Children understand how to raise concerns and make formal complaints about their care. There has been one complaint made in this inspection period. This was responded to swiftly by the registered manager. The child received verbal and written responses. The child told the inspector she was happy with the outcome of the complaint.

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The care of children

Children who are not in full-time education are not engaged in structured activity during school hours. One child has a plan in place, but he is allowed to return to bed. Another child spends positive time with staff, but this is not formalised into a timetable of learning. A requirement was made about this at the last inspection. This requirement is restated.

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The safety of children

Staff are aware of the children’s vulnerabilities. Their practice is underpinned by detailed risk assessments which are regularly reviewed. The registered manager has focused on improvements in practice around assessing and responding to risk. This is evident in children’s care records. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC483828 3 Children’s missing from home plans provide staff with details of significant people and places that children may gravitate towards. This helps staff to focus their time on locating children and bringing them home safely.

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The safety of children

One child is assessed as being at high risk when missing. Ofsted has not been notified of all serious missing episodes in relation to this child. This limits the regulator’s ability to evaluate safeguarding practice. A requirement was made at the last inspection in respect of serious incident notifications. This is restated.

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The safety of children

There have been no incidents of children being physically restrained by staff. This means that children are living in a positive home environment where they can build secure and warm relationships with the adults caring for them. It is further evidence of good decision-making and assessments by the registered manager in relation to the needs of children being admitted to the home.

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The safety of children

There has been one allegation made against a member of staff. There was timely and appropriate information-sharing with the child’s social worker, the local authority designated officer and Ofsted. The matter was responded to in a way which safeguards children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager was registered by Ofsted in August 2022, having been promoted from the deputy manager position in the home. This is her first registered manager role. The registered manager is passionate about delivering a good quality of care to children. Her practice is child-centred and she has high expectations of the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Since coming in to post, the registered manager has begun to address shortfalls in practice identified at the last inspection. She has good oversight of children’s care plans and the progress they are making. The registered manager is continuing to develop her own internal systems to monitor and evaluate practice and the quality of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Arrangements for ensuring that the formal quality of care review report takes into account the views of children, staff and external professionals is still in it’s infancy. A requirement made in relation to this at the last inspection is therefore restated.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff new to the home, or who are new to children’s residential care, are provided with regular guidance and support. Formal supervision and informal practice discussions give staff opportunities to reflect on their progress and seek advice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

When concerns arise about the quality of practice of individual staff, the registered manager addresses these in an appropriate manner. This provides staff with the support they require to make the necessary improvements. It ensures staff have the skills, knowledge and experience to care for children safely. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC483828 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/04/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 19/10/2021 Full Inadequate 11/03/2020 Full Requires improvement to be good 28/11/2018 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC483828 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 registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

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

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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)(b)(c)(e))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 1 November 2022

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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 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.

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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 (2)(b)(c) (5))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must review the quality of care in order to drive forward improvements in the home. This includes gaining feedback from stakeholders. 31 December Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC483828 6 This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(ii)(v))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, that the registered person should ensure that children not engaging in formal education are provided with a timetable of structured, educational activities, which contribute to their ongoing learning.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 1 November 2022

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that information about children is recorded in a way which is helpful and child-centred. Consideration should be given to the removal of references to Children’s Homes Regulations and quality standards in children’s key-work session records. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC483828 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Care Haven (UK) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Westminster House, 10 Westminster Road, Macclesfield, Cheshire SK10 1BX

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Patricia Swallow

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Inspector

Dawn Parton, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC483828 8 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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