Children's Home run by Active Ark Limited in Cumberland

Inspection report for children’s home: 2506856 1 Registered provider: Active Ark Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private company. It provides care for up to three children who may experience social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager was registered on 22 January 2019.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2506856 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/06/2021 Full Good 18/12/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 22/05/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2506856 3

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improvement to be good

Some children make progress when living in the home. However, not all children’s experiences have been positive. Since the last inspection, five children have left the home. Some children’s placements ended prematurely due to significant incidents. This means that children have varied experiences, and some children leave the home with little notice.

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improvement to be good

Before children move in to the home, staff meet with children and support them to be involved in their transition planning. However, some children come to the home without a care plan and other important documentation from the local authority. This means that children’s plans are not clear, and progress is limited.

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improvement to be good

Two children have recently moved in to the home. Despite the short timeframe, both children have made some progress. Both children are re-engaging in education, one child is accessing a local sports club, and one child has had a significant reduction in substance use. A child said, ‘Since being here, I feel better in myself, have more energy and I am eating better.’

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improvement to be good

Children benefit from living in a warm, welcoming and spacious home environment. Children told the inspectors that they like the home and its large grounds, which they play football in. In preparation for Christmas, staff and children have decorated the home with a tree and lights. This helps to give children a sense of belonging within the home.

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improvement to be good

Children are supported by staff to have regular family time with people who are important to them. Staff actively encourage family members to frequently visit the home. This helps children to maintain important family relationships and maintain their family identity.

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

Staff are passionate about getting to know the children. Staff spend meaningful time with children and develop positive relationships with them. Children living in the home told inspectors that staff are friendly and approachable, and said that they feel safe living in the home.

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

Staff are appropriately trained to use physical restraint methods. The use of physical holds has been proportionate. However, when physical holds have taken place, debriefs from the manager do not detail reflections with staff about their practice. This means that opportunities are missed for staff to learn and develop their approach. Inspection report for children’s home: 2506856 4 When children go missing from care, staff follow clear protocols and inform the police. Missing-from-home documentation details known friends, family members and places where children may go when missing. This helps children to be located sooner and reduces the chance of children being exposed to risks outside of the home.

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

Professionals have been positive about the support that children received from staff to keep safe. For one child, staff worked with the local authority and police to support them to stay safe. A deputy manager said, ‘We are happy with how he [the child] was safeguarded. They arranged for additional staff to come in and support him.’

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

When children are considered to be at risk of harm, staff support them and implement appropriate safeguarding interventions. However, not all serious incidents have been shared with Ofsted. This limits the regulator’s oversight of serious incidents in the home.

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good

The home is managed by a suitably experienced registered manager, who has been in post at the home since 2019. The manager is working towards the level 5 diploma and has not completed this within the timeframe set by regulation.

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good

Staff report that they feel well supported by the manager. Staff team meetings are held regularly, are well attended, and afford staff the opportunity to discuss children’s needs and staff development.

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good

Staff report that they benefit from regular supervision. Records of supervision lack reflection in relation to children’s experiences. This means that opportunities are missed to fully consider how children’s experiences of living in the home can be improved.

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good

Impact assessments undertaken by the manager do not fully consider what effect children moving in to the home will have on the children living in the home. There has been no assessment for the two children who recently moved in to the home. This means that the home may not be able to meet the needs of children who move in to the home.

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good

The manager is supported by an independent visitor who provides appropriate challenge and scrutiny. A number of their reports, along with the statement of purpose and a quality of care review, have not been shared with Ofsted within the required period. This restricts the regulator’s oversight of the care to children in the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2506856 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 keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (3)(a)(b)) 18 January 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children;

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Requirement Due date

the child’s placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance;

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Requirement Due date

so far as reasonably practicable in the light of the child’s age and understanding, the child is informed in advance of the intention to do the monitoring or surveillance; and

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(b)(c)(d)) 18 January 2023

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Requirement Due date

A person may only manage a children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (1)(b)(i), a person has the appropriate experience and qualification if the person has—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare (England) ("the Level 5 Diploma"); or a qualification which the registered provider considers to be equivalent to the Level 5 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

The relevant date is— 18 January 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2506856 6 in the case of a person who starts managing a home after 1 April 2014, the date which falls three years after the date on which that person started managing a home; or

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Requirement Due date

in the case of a person who was managing a home on 1 April 2014, 1 April 2017. (Regulation 28 (2)(c)(i)(ii) (3)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within five days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(v)(vii)(viii)(b)(ii)(c)) 18 January 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c)) 18 January 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— 18 January 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2506856 7 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. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(e))

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to—

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Requirement Due date

upon request, the local authority for the area in which the home is located;

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Requirement Due date

the registered provider and, if applicable, the registered manager;

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Requirement Due date

the responsible individual (if one is nominated). (Regulation 44 (6)(a) (7)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, this refers to ensuring that these reports are forwarded to Ofsted within the required timescale, detailing any inaccuracies or recommendations challenged by the registered manager and/or the responsible individual. 18 January 2023

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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 six months.

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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. (Regulation 45 (4)(a)) 18 January 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2506856 8

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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: 2506856 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit E, Baron Way, Kingmoor Business Park, Carlisle CA6 4SJ

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Inspectors

Rob Neild, Social Care Inspector Colin Jones, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2506856 10 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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