Children's Home run by Active Ark Limited in Westmorland and Furness

Inspection report for children’s home: SC439956 1 SC439956 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 operated by a private provider. It is registered to provide care for one child who may be experiencing social and emotional difficulties.

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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 requires improvement to be good

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: 27 September 2022

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

This home was judged to be inadequate at the last full inspection on 27 and 28 September 2022. Following this inspection, four compliance notices were issued under section 22A of the Care Standards Act 2000. These related to regulation 12, the protection of children standard; regulation 13, the leadership and management standard; regulation 32, fitness of workers; and regulation 35, behaviour management policies and records. At the monitoring visit on 27 October 2022, the provider had demonstrated progress in meeting the steps in the four compliance notices. Inspection report for children’s home: SC439956 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/09/2022 Full Inadequate 08/03/2022 Full Good 30/04/2019 Full Good 25/09/2018 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC439956 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last monitoring visit, the child has moved out of the home. A detailed plan was devised to support a positive transition to a new home. Staff arranged for the child to visit their new home and meet the new staff team. This ensured a positive ending.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Before leaving the home, the manager arranged for the child to attend outstanding appointments to meet her health needs. A detailed health plan was devised, and a copy was provided to the child’s new placement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff supported the child, before their move, to re-engage in educational activities. A home tutor was provided, and incentive charts were devised to promote education and learning. Due to the support provided, the child engaged well and had made progress in her educational outcomes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager worked with the staff team to develop age-appropriate boundaries and routines. This developed positive responses to the child’s behaviour, which helped to improve the child’s behaviours.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff supported family time for the child with their family members, and this was in line with the local authority’s care plan.

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

Risk management plans have been reviewed and now include clear strategies for staff to follow. This ensured a consistent response for the child.

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

Risks had reduced, and although there had been some missing-from-care incidents, these had been managed well.

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

The use of physical intervention has significantly reduced. On the occasion where it was necessary, appropriate action was taken to reduce the risk, and documentation was clear. However, the manager was involved in the incident and signed off all the documentation, including for the debrief with the child, as appropriate with no independent oversight. A requirement has been made to address this breach.

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

Positive behaviour is now consistently promoted using praise and positive rewards. The child’s views were sought on what incentives and rewards would support them. This inclusive approach supported a reduction in incidents in the home. Inspection report for children’s home: SC439956 4

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good

There is no registered manager in the home. This has impacted on the judgement for the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The current manager applied to register with Ofsted but has recently withdrawn their application. However, during her time as the manager, she has shown strong leadership skills and implemented detailed audits and monitoring tools to strengthen care practices.

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good

Since the last full inspection, managers have made improvements to the quality of supervision. Staff are consulted through regular supervision and team meetings, and they feel well supported by managers. Leaders and managers are keen to make continuous improvements to the service that they provide.

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good

Staff members who were spoken to talked positively about the improvements in the support from leaders and managers. This support has improved staff practice.

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good

Staff work hard to cover the gaps in the rotas. Staff from other homes have been used to cover the shortfalls, and the rotas are carefully planned to ensure that there is continuity of care for the child.

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good

Staff have access to a range of training and development sessions. Training sessions are regular and well attended. The sessions cover a range of issues relating to the child. Staff also have an opportunity to look at research in relation to their practice. This provides staff with the essential skills and knowledge for their roles. Inspection report for children’s home: SC439956 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 prepare and implement a policy (“the behaviour management policy”) which sets out—

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Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must keep the behaviour management policy under review and, where appropriate, revise it.

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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 the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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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 name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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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; 6 March 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: SC439956 6 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 spoken to the user about the measure; and

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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 5 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 (1)(a)(b) (2) (3)(a)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii) (b)(i)(ii)(c))

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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: SC439956 7

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspectors

Michelle Edge, Senior His Majesty’s Inspector Claire Deary, Regulatory Inspection Manager Inspection report for children’s home: SC439956 8 regulates and inspects 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 looked 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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