Children's Home run by Cherry Care Children’s Home Limited in Essex

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2634954 1 Registered provider: Cherry Care Children’s Home Limited

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned by a small independent provider. It provides care for up to four children aged between 10 and 18 who may have experienced trauma, loss and family breakdown.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager in post since September 2022.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

p.1

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: 2634954 2

p.1

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.

p.2

The care of children

At the time of this inspection, four children were living in the home. All the children have moved in the last year. Since the last inspection, four children have left the home. Some children have returned to family, and some have moved to alternative residential accommodation, when the staff recognised that they were unable to meet those children’s needs.

p.2

The care of children

Before moving to the home, most children had poor school attendance. The staff successfully support children to develop and maintain positive school routines that support their learning. Three children attend school or college. One child, who has recently moved in, receives daily structured learning while waiting to return to formal education. This helps children to overcome barriers to learning and to reach their potential.

p.2

The care of children

The children see and spend time with their families when this reflects the local authority plan for the child. The children have similar interests and life experiences. New children feel welcomed and accepted by their peers. Children develop friendships and their confidence grows. One social worker said that their child’s life has been transformed since they moved to the home.

p.2

The care of children

Children with complex gender identities receive good help. The children can have bespoke therapeutic support. Some children choose talking therapy and others choose art or music therapy. This helps to ensure that children express their feelings in a safe way.

p.2

The care of children

The staff encourage and support a broad range of activities that reflect the children’s talents and interests. The children’s art and craftwork are on display around the house. Active involvement with community support groups and local projects helps transgender and non-binary children to safely develop new skills and share experiences with other people. One child’s artwork has been displayed at a London gallery.

p.2

The safety of children

Safeguarding incidents have significantly reduced in the last six months. Children no longer go missing from the home, and children’s substance misuse has reduced.

p.2

The safety of children

Children who previously were known to be at risk of self-harm receive good help, guidance and support. This has reduced the frequency of incidents of self-harm because the children trust the staff enough to ask for help. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2634954 3 Staff encourage children to reduce their reliance on tobacco and vaping. Detailed assessments highlight the likelihood and severity of risk-taking behaviours. However, the updates to individual risk assessments are confusing and do not provide succinct guidance for staff. This does not help to further reduce potential risks.

p.2

The safety of children

Staff use humour and music to enhance their relationships with the children, which helps to de-escalate challenging behaviours. New monthly meetings to discuss any incidents help the staff to reflect on their practice and identify successful strategies for helping children.

p.3

The safety of children

The staff encourage children to share any concerns about their care. The managers refer any allegations against staff to the local authority designated officer and take effective action to ensure children’s safety when this is necessary.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered manager left in September 2022. The deputy manager has been appointed to manage the home and is in the process of registering with Ofsted. A new deputy manager has been appointed. Combined with the team leaders, there is a clear management structure.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager and deputy manager understand the importance of working with external agencies to meet children’s needs. The staff are good advocates for the children. This helps to ensure that each child receives the support that they need from the agencies involved in their care.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The responsible individual and managers have addressed the shortfalls found at the last inspection. Internal audits help to raise standards. All the requirements raised at the last inspection have been met. There is one new requirement relating to updating risk assessments. There are significant improvements in the decisions about which children move into the home. Staff recruitment procedures and the accessibility of fire equipment have both been addressed. The recommendation in relation to the use of door alarms is restated.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff spend a lot of time talking with children about matters that are important to them. Key-work records help to pinpoint any agreed actions from the discussions. However, the managers’ responses to actions identified from conversations with the children are not always clear in records. This may lead to important information being overlooked.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The use of agency staff has reduced. The managers have recruited a full staff team. Therefore, the number of permanent staff has increased, which offers continuity for the children. New staff say that the induction, training and regular team meetings help to prepare them for their roles in providing good support for the children. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2634954 4

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/04/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2634954 5

p.4

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the updates to children’s individual risk assessments provide clear and accurate guidance for staff. 28 April 2023

p.5

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that any restrictions on privacy are only put in place to safeguard each child in the home. All decisions should be informed by a rigorous assessment of that child’s individual needs, be properly recorded and kept under regular review. In particular, the use of door alarms should be regularly reviewed to ensure that it is required and proportionate. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.10)  The registered person should ensure that managers oversee the welfare of the children in their care through observation and engagement with each child. In particular, actions agreed with children from their conversations with staff should be monitored. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.23) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2634954 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cherry Care Children’s Home Limited

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 47B West Bank, London N16 5DF

p.6

Inspector

Rosie Davie, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2634954 7 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.6

Inspector

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 .

p.7

Inspector

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.7

Inspector

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

p.7

Inspector

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

p.7