Children's Home run by Care Haven (UK) Limited in Stockport

Inspection report for children’s home: SC483828 1 SC483828 Registered provider: Care Haven (UK) Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately operated home provides care for up to five children. The provider states in its statement of purpose that care is provided for children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager post is currently vacant. A manager has recently been appointed but has not submitted their application to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home. The child spoke with the inspector about their experiences of living in the home.

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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 good

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good

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

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC483828 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/04/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 19/10/2021 Full Inadequate 11/03/2020 Full Requires improvement to be good 28/11/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC483828 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child said that they like living in the home and see it as a safe place to be. The child has been supported to develop positive relationships with the staff team. Staff speak positively about the child and clearly care about them. The child said that they want to come back to see the staff after their planned move back to family.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The team understands the importance of supporting children’s transitions into and out of the home. There is a clear process to ensure that, when children move into the home, the needs and impact of children who already live in the home are fully considered alongside the needs of children moving in.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one child has moved on from the home in an unplanned way, as it was recognised that the team was unable to keep the child safe. The regional manager evaluated the reasons for this and made the decision to not admit any more children to the home to ensure the needs of the child living in the home could be met. This demonstrates child-centred practice when making decisions about the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is well supported. The child has maintained attendance at school and is making good progress. The manager has bought age-appropriate and personalised resources to further supplement the child’s learning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child to rebuild and develop their family relationships. This helps the child to maintain positive relationships with people who are important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is included in regular house meetings. Their views contribute to their care and inform decisions about the home. The child knows how to make a complaint and said they feel listened to.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has personalised their bedroom. Recent improvements to the garden have provided a comfortable outdoor space for the child to relax in and enjoy. However, some communal areas in the house are in need of redecoration, furniture in the lounge and bedrooms is tired and in need of replacement, damage to flooring is in need of repair and window fittings are in need of securing to ensure that they are free from hazards. The service manager had identified this but, at the time of the inspection, it had not been addressed.

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

The child said that they feel safe. Their risks are well understood. Risk and behaviour management plans are clear. They provide strategies for staff to follow to keep the child safe. When incidents do occur, the manager and staff reflect and update the child’s plans to ensure that everyone working in the home is clear about Inspection report for children’s home: SC483828 4 any new and emerging risks. The child’s vulnerabilities have significantly reduced while living in the home.

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

Interventions where children have to be held to keep them safe are rare. There was a significant reduction in incidents for children previously living in the home. When interventions are required, these are appropriate, necessary and proportionate. Debriefs take place with children and staff following incidents. Any learning identified is shared with the team through discussions in team meetings.

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

Missing-from-home procedures are well understood. Staff are proactive in locating children and promoting their safe return. Return home interviews are offered to enable children to share their views. Incidents are evaluated by the management team to ensure that any triggers and patterns are understood.

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

The team knows the child well. Staff engage the child in conversations about a wide range of topics, enabling the child to understand the potential risks to their safety and welfare.

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

The home has sufficient staff to meet the child’s needs. There are robust arrangements in place for staff recruitment. Staff are suitably vetted and qualified. The child was involved in the recruitment process for the new manager. This enables them to influence who works in their home.

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

The guidance for staff ion how and when around bedroom door alarms are used at night are unclear and do not consider the child’s individual needs. Risk assessments are in place but are not specific to the child or reviewed frequently in relation to safeguarding risks.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

After the previous manager left, the regional manager stepped into the manager position to ensure that the home was able to operate effectively. A new manager has recently been appointed. He is benefiting from a clear induction plan and is being supported to develop his understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say they enjoy working in the home. They feel supported and valued by the management team. Staff are positive about the new manager. Staff have access to relevant training and, following a period of instability, now receive regular supervision. This supports them to discuss children’s progress and their own development. However, supervision is not reflective. This is something the new manager has started to take action to address.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The regional manager has improved recording systems and developed effective monitoring systems to significantly improve oversight of the child’s progress and practice in the home. Remedial action is taken when shortfalls arise. Serious concerns are notified to Ofsted as required by regulation. Due to an administrative error, the quality of care review was not submitted to Ofsted in line with regulation. Inspection report for children’s home: SC483828 5 Two requirements made at the last inspection have been met. One requirement, relating to the quality of care review, has not been met and has been restated.

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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

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it;

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Requirement Due date

and any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (2)(b)(c) (5))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must review the quality of care in order to drive forward improvements in the home. This includes seeking feedback from stakeholders.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 23 June 2023

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 23 June 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: SC483828 6 ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that the home is decorated and furnished to a high standard throughout, that damaged and worn flooring is repaired or replaced and that external doors and internal window coverings are free from hazards.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that any limits to children’s privacy and access in the home, such as the use of bedroom door alarms, are for safeguarding purposes only. Any limits should be subject to a rigorous assessment of each child’s needs and be kept under regular review. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.10)

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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: SC483828 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Care Haven (UK) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Westminster House, 10 Westminster Road, Macclesfield, Cheshire SK10 1BX

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Patricia Swallow

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Inspector

Colin Jones, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC483828 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 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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