Children's home run by Your Chapter Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 1240844 1 Registered provider: Your Chapter Holdings Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a private company. The home provides care for up to two children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2021.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 30 November 2021

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1240844 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/11/2021 Full Good 29/10/2019 Full Good 18/09/2018 Full Good 16/02/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: 1240844 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, the same two children have remained living at the home. Children told inspectors that they are happy and settled. Both children describe positive relationships with the staff team and each other. Children living in the home receive care from a consistent and passionate staff team.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both children attend education and are making progress. One child is working on a traineeship and hoping to apply for an apprenticeship. He told the inspector that he enjoys living in the local area and has established positive friendships. He said he would like to remain living in the local area when he moves to semi-independent accommodation. This demonstrates how settled and happy he is living at the home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children’s health needs are met and staff support children to attend health appointments. Staff help one child understand the importance of brushing his teeth, as advised by the child’s dentist. Children are eating healthy, home-cooked meals. One child said that the food is ‘really good’. Children are also encouraged to make their own meals and develop their independence skills.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff advocate for the children in their care. One staff member has worked closely with the child’s placing authority to ensure that the child spends time with his siblings. The staff support this and travel a long distance to ensure that the child can spend quality time with his family members. This ensures that children build and maintain relationships with their close family. The child told the inspector how much he enjoys visiting his family and how important it is to him.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children engage in different activities, such as go-karting and going to the local arcades. One child enjoys mixed martial arts and staff support and encourage the child by attending events that he competes in. The child won a trophy, which is proudly displayed in the lounge. The children recently enjoyed a holiday to Spain and photos of the holiday are displayed in the home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is warm and homely. However, one child’s bedroom is not well maintained and was untidy and unhygienic. Additionally, staff do not always close windows and turn off the computer when no one is in the home, leaving the home and information insecure. The responsible individual immediately addressed these concerns when they were raised at the inspection.

p.3

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

Children living at the home said that they feel safe. Children’s risks have reduced. For example, there have not been any incidents of children going missing from home, and this risk has significantly reduced for one child. Inspection report for children’s home: 1240844 4 The manager and staff understand the risks to the children. Risk assessments and behaviour management plans are updated regularly. These plans include clear strategies for staff to follow to reduce risks. However, staff do not consistently read and sign children’s plans.

p.3

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

Staff use a strong relationship approach that is helping children. Children have positive relationships with staff and staff talk to children to help them understand how to keep safe.

p.4

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

Staff use lots of praise and rewards to support children’s positive behaviour. When consequences have been used, they are proportionate and discussed with the children. However, one consequence was put in place a significant time after an incident occurred. The delay had an impact on the child because he did not know that this was happening. The child said that this was unfair. Records do not demonstrate that there was a clear rationale for this decision.

p.4

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

Staff spoken to demonstrate that they know how to keep children safe. They understand children’s vulnerabilities and the risks that they face. However, leaders and managers need to ensure that all staff understand their responsibilities in reporting any concerns they may have. On one occasion when concerns were raised, there were shortfalls in the manager’s oversight. This was discussed with the responsible individual at the inspection and she put plans in place to address this.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has achieved the required leadership and management qualification. This helps to ensure that he continues to develop his knowledge and supports his professional development.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager was on annual leave during the inspection and the responsible individual led the inspection. The responsible individual knows the children well and she has good oversight of the care provided to children.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and the responsible individual ensure that there is a consistent and suitably qualified staff team working in the home. Staff complete regular training to develop their skills and meet the individual needs of the children.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff recruitment procedures are robust. Staff are thoroughly checked before they work at the home. Safer recruitment procedures ensure that children are protected, by preventing unsuitable people from working in the home.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision. Supervision records demonstrate that the manager uses supervision to test staff’s knowledge of the children’s needs, risks and the legislation that underpins their work. The staff feel supported by the manager. One staff member described the manager as ‘calm and measured’, and said he is ‘creating a great culture’. Inspection report for children’s home: 1240844 5 Staff meetings are frequent and well attended by staff. Children are the focus of the meetings, which provide staff with the opportunity to share good practice and raise any concerns.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff work effectively with external agencies and professionals to ensure children’s needs are met. One professional provided positive feedback about the quality of communication and transparency from managers. However, one child has experienced uncertainty about his long-term plan. This is due to several changes in social worker. The manager has not escalated this with the local authority to help the child understand the plan and timescales.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Monthly monitoring systems help the manager to have oversight of the quality of care being provided. The manager provides oversight and evaluation, which helps promote staff learning and progression.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The provider has developed a new electronic rota system to ensure that there is a clear record of staff who are working at the home and the exact hours worked. This meets regulation and provides a clear audit trail if there are any safeguarding concerns. Inspection report for children’s home: 1240844 6

p.5

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, the 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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

p.6

Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished, and maintained to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(v)(d))

p.6

Requirement Due date

The provider needs to ensure that staff understand how to report any concerns in relation to the care provided to children.

p.6

Requirement Due date

Additionally, the provider must ensure that the home and information stored are always secure, and that children’s bedrooms are maintained to a high standard. 25 November

p.6

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—

p.6

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. 25 November Inspection report for children’s home: 1240844 7 (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

p.6

Requirement Due date

Managers need to ensure there are clear records in relation to consequences and that staff review and sign updated documentation.

p.7

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: 1240844 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Your Chapter Holdings Limited

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Hobart House, Oakwater Avenue, Cheadle Royal Business Park, Cheadle SK8 3SR

p.8

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Virginia Perkins

p.8

Inspectors

Suzanne Birchall, Social Care Inspector Catherine Fargin, Social Care Regulatory Inspection Manager Inspection report for children’s home: 1240844 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.

p.8

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.9

Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.9