Children's home run by Cherry Trees Care Ltd

Inspection report for children's home: 2676061 1 Registered provider: Cherry Trees 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 registered with Ofsted in April 2022. The home provides care for up to three children who may have experienced childhood trauma and have social and emotional difficulties or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 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: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2676061 2

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Recent inspection history

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children's home: 2676061 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This is the first inspection since the home opened. Two children are living at the home. Children have settled quickly and made progress from their starting points. Children said that they like the home and that the staff support them well. Professionals are very pleased with children’s early success and said that this has exceeded their expectations.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children either attend school or have home-school education programmes. The manager has worked creatively to supplement informal learning with high-quality activities to encourage children to learn. This includes opportunities for work experience and joining creative art groups. These opportunities build children’s confidence and encourage new friendships. Children keep chickens; caring for animals encourages ownership and responsibility. The staff are helping children to return to mainstream school and gain qualifications in line with their aspirations.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are strongly focused on helping children lead a healthier lifestyle. Staff provide mentoring to encourage children with personal hygiene and healthy eating. Children learn to cook and plan meals. Children have started to take regular exercise, with one child looking for a suitable gym membership.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children who have been isolated from their communities and unable to use local facilities are growing in confidence. The manager and staff help children to explore new activities. Children are seeking new opportunities which will bring enjoyment and positivity to them. One child recently enjoyed a break in Rome to explore the history and culture.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are respectful and kind to children’s friends and families. Staff make sure that children’s time with families is planned well and results in a positive experience. Families appreciate the kindness and respect shown by staff when supporting children at their home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The house is welcoming, well decorated and furnished to very high standard. Children personalise their own spaces. There is ample space for children to have privacy from one another, in addition to bedrooms. The garden is large and well kept, for children to play and exercise outside in the fresh air.

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

Children said that they feel safe, and that staff support them to feel stable and secure. Staff have extensive training in safeguarding and understand the risks to children previously exposed to exploitation. Staff are confident and clear about who to report concerns to. Inspection report for children's home: 2676061 4 Recent safeguarding incidents have been managed well. The staff keep clear records that help professionals to investigate incidents and establish the level of risk for children. However, two of these incidents were not notified to Ofsted as required. This prevents Ofsted from having clear oversight of safeguarding events at the home.

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

Staff understand the risks to children who go missing from home and the importance of being vigilant. Specialist professionals who support children at risk of exploitation said that staff have helped reduce the number and duration of missing- from-home incidents. The manager works very closely with the police, who are reassured by the way the staff protect children at risk of exploitation.

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

Risk assessments are very comprehensive and include the professional views of specialist support workers. These are regularly updated after each incident. The manager provides comprehensive updates to social workers each week on children’s progress and behaviour. Staff are very knowledgeable about the risks of self-harm and counter these risks with positive support when triggers are observed.

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

The manager has systems to help children stay safe online and when using their smartphones. Children’s internet access is individually assessed and measures are balanced to support children’s independence and enjoyment with their safety.

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

Staff understand the impact of children’s past trauma and attachment disorders and how this may affect their behaviour. Staff are trained in behaviour management and use these skills to encourage positive behaviour. The staff use consistent boundaries and rewards to give children incentives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has quickly established positive working relationships with the local authority, police and children’s professionals. Professionals all speak very highly of the skills and approach of the manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is admired by staff and children alike. They trust her and her ability to keep children safe. A relative of one child said, ‘[Name of manager] goes above and beyond to keep [name of child] safe. I couldn’t ask any more of her. We are really grateful.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has worked hard to build a new staff team that shares the home’s purpose and ethos. The staff and children have all settled quickly and established warm and trusting relationships. The manager creatively gains children’s views. This has helped children overcome anxiety and start to share their opinions and thoughts.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the home opened, the manager has reviewed the monitoring systems. This has resulted in significant changes to systems. The provider has invested in new systems for training and for recording information to improve monitoring. Inspection report for children's home: 2676061 5 Staff receive comprehensive induction and training. New staff spend several days working alongside experienced staff who know the children well. Supervision sessions are of high quality and include helping staff to reflect on incidents. Staff who have supported children during intense periods are supported with additional supervision sessions. This improves staff practice and ensures that they feel supported.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and responsible individual have reflected on the first six months since the home opened and have set goals for future development and improvement. This includes development for staff and enhanced training. This will help develop the wider management team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The independent visitor visits the home as required, however, the reports are not always of suitable detail and depth. The views of professionals and children are not consistently sought. This fails to provide objective feedback that helps to improve the home. Inspection report for children's home: 2676061 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 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 any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(e) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)) 30 November

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that any individual appointed to carry out visits to the home as an independent person must make a rigorous and impartial assessment of the home’s arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children in the home’s care. In particular, ensure that the views of children, their families and external professionals are consistently sought. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.5) Inspection report for children's home: 2676061 7

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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: 2676061 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cherry Trees Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: c/o DPC, Stone House, 55 Stone Road Business Park, Stone Road, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 6SR

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Inspector

Jamie Cousins, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2676061 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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