Children's home run by Active Ark Limited in Cumberland

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC465634 1 SC465634

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and operated by a private company. It provides care for up to two children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has been registered since May 2014. There is currently no registered manager in post.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 16 November 2022

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspectors evaluated:

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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: SC465634 2

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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.

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The care of children

There is one child currently living at this home. They are being provided with a homely and nurturing environment. This is helping them to feel secure enough to make good, sustained progress.

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The care of children

Since the last inspection, the registered manager has implemented a system to ensure that important documents are attained from the placing authority in a timely manner. This ensures that staff have all the information they need to care for the child.

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The care of children

The child is making good progress in education. Staff support the child to have good attendance at school and provide opportunities for learning outside of the classroom. Staff communicate well with education providers about the child’s learning needs. The child is provided with a consistent approach to education, both in school and at home.

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The care of children

The child’s health needs are being met. Staff understand the child’s physical and emotional health needs. They support the child to attend all necessary appointments and have made referrals to relevant specific health services for additional support.

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The care of children

The child trusts the adults caring for them and feels listened to. Staff have got to know the child and they support them to engage in a range of social activities. This helps the child to build positive relationships with staff.

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The safety of children

The manager has made significant improvements to the quality of risk assessments. These assessments are now individualised to the needs of the specific child. However, plans still do not consistently reflect the current risks for the child. Additionally, staff do not always sign to confirm that they have read and understood the child’s risk assessments. This has the potential to have an impact on the child’s safety. This requirement remains unmet.

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The safety of children

The quality of key-work sessions completed with the child has improved. The manager provides staff with a plan of the work which needs to be completed with the child. The manager has also put together a file of useful resources for staff to use in supporting the child’s learning around risk. However, written records do not Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC465634 3 always provide a clear reflection of the work that staff have undertaken. This is a missed opportunity for staff to track the child’s progress in relation to them understanding risk. This requirement remains unmet.

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The safety of children

The registered manager appropriately notifies all partner agencies of safeguarding concerns. Staff follow safeguarding procedures and keep good records to reflect the actions taken to keep the child safe. This allows safeguarding matters to be addressed quickly to improve the child’s safety.

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The safety of children

Staff use effective de-escalation techniques to prevent the use of physical intervention. A clear system of rewards and consequences is consistently used by the team. Leaders and managers have good systems of oversight in place to review staff use of consequences. This ensures that the child receives consistent care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager of the home is not yet registered. The acting manager has been in post since September 2022 and intends to apply for registration. The manager has a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of this home and has put together a clear plan of development for the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The home is now fully staffed. Before staff come to work at this home, robust checks are completed so that children are only cared for by safe adults.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff now receive regular, good-quality supervision sessions. These are reflective and child focused. Staff feel supported by leaders and managers. This allows leaders and managers to have good oversight of staff practice and performance.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager has updated the statement of purpose. However, this document has not been sufficiently personalised to clearly show how this home is equipped to meet children’s needs. This document does not assist placing authorities in understanding the individual care being offered by this home. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC465634 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/11/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 23/02/2022 Full Good 05/08/2019 Full Good 03/10/2018 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC465634 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

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

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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;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that children’s risk assessments accurately reflect the current risks for the children and include robust strategies for staff to follow.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 29 May 2023

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans; 29 May 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC465634 6 help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand, in a way that is appropriate according to the child’s age and understanding, personal, sexual and social relationships, and how those relationships can be supportive or harmful;

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Requirement Due date

understand and communicate to children that bullying is unacceptable; and

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to recognise incidents or indications of bullying and how to deal with them; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(b) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iv)(xii)(xiii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that staff undertake regular direct work with children to support them to understand the risks that their actions may pose. The registered person must ensure that written records are kept which accurately reflect this work.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should develop and keep under review a ‘statement of purpose’. The home’s statement of purpose should be specific to this home and describe how the home provides individualised care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.5) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC465634 7

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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

Nicola Shaw, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Judith Birchall, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC465634 8 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 after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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