Children's home run by Country Care Children’s Homes Ltd

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2590408 1 Registered provider: Country Care Childrens Homes Ltd

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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. The home provides care for up to three children who have experienced trauma that has left them with emotional difficulties and associated challenging behaviours.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager holds a level 5 qualification.

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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 inspector 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: 2590408 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

At the time of the inspection, two children were living in the home. The children have made good progress while living in this home and have developed positive relationships with the staff who look after them.

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The care of children

Children are supported to keep in touch with the people who are important to them. Staff are thoughtful about ensuring that children are able to make new friends and get involved in community activities, making sure they are safe and supervised if necessary.

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The care of children

Staff promote the importance of education and support children with their learning. This has led to children who have been out of education returning and making good progress, for example in their reading. School staff spoke positively about the communication between the home and school.

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The care of children

The home is comfortable and welcoming. A large garden gives children the opportunity for outdoor play and one child enjoyed demonstrating their skill on the trampoline.

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The safety of children

Overall, staff are effective at keeping children safe. There are few incidents of children going missing from the home. However, on one occasion, a child was missing for some time before staff were aware they had left the home. Following a review of this incident, measures have been put in place to reduce the likelihood of this happening again.

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The safety of children

Children’s behaviour is managed well by staff. Physical restraint is rarely used, and detailed records are completed following any incidents that do occur. Allegations are taken seriously and reported to the necessary safeguarding authorities.

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The safety of children

Risk assessments contain a lot of historical information about children. Because of this, they are not always helpful in providing staff with the information that they need. Despite this, staff have a good understanding of children’s needs and any risk they may face.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered manager has taken effective action to ensure that the requirements and recommendations from the last inspection have been met. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2590408 3 Since the last inspection, the registered manager has implemented systems to improve her ability to monitor the standard of care in the home. She has also amended rotas to ensure that there is sufficient oversight of staff skills while the staff team is in transition.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The home has had a stable workforce for some time. However, several of the established staff have recently left the home. The registered manager has put arrangements in place to reduce the impact of this on the children as far as possible. She is using a consistent team of staff from the provider’s other homes to cover the vacancies while they are recruited to. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2590408 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/04/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 22/06/2021 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2590408 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff assess risks faced by children. In particular, this is in relation to ensuring that risk assessments are accessible and easy to understand. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 41, paragraph 12.2) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2590408 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Country Care Childrens Homes Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Meadows, Beech Lane, Dove Holes, Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 8DJ

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Inspector

Janet Fraser, His Majesty’s Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2590408 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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