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

Inspection report for children’s home: 1266838 1 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

A private provider operates this home. It is registered to provide care for up to three children. At the time of the inspection, there was one child living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager post has been vacant since December 2020. A manager was appointed in April 2023. However, at the time of the visit, they had not yet submitted an application to register with Ofsted.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1266838 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/08/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 08/03/2022 Full Good 11/12/2019 Interim Improved effectiveness 30/07/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1266838 3

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improvement to be good

The manager and staff provide the child with consistent care. The manager’s plans are understood and followed by staff. However, he does not have the local authority care plan or placement plan for the child. This is a missed opportunity to inform his care planning to provide the child with individualised care.

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improvement to be good

The manager and staff have successfully supported the child into a new school. The manager works closely with educational professionals. Positive feedback was shared from a teacher, who said, ‘The home has been brilliant at supporting us. I feel we are working very well together, and communication is very good.’

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improvement to be good

Staff prioritise children’s health and well-being and encourage them to attend routine health appointments. This supports the child to remain healthy and ensure their health needs are met.

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improvement to be good

Staff build positive relationships with the child. The inspector observed caring relationships between the staff and the child. The child’s views, wishes and feelings are taken into consideration, which allows them to make choices and decisions about their care.

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improvement to be good

Staff support the child to see their family members regularly. This helps the child to maintain relationships with people that are important to them.

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improvement to be good

A child has moved on from the home in a sensitively planned way. This has supported the child to settle well into their new home. The manager should ensure that the register of children book should detail where the child has moved from and where the child has moved to.

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improvement to be good

The home is in good repair, and there are lots of photos of the child on display. The child has personalised their own bedroom. The home would benefit from a redecoration to the lounge, vacant bedroom and the downstairs bathroom and door. This would make the rooms more inviting for the child to use.

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improvement to be good

The manager and staff have a good understanding of the child’s risk-taking behaviours and follow robust plans to reduce risk. However, the manager has not received relevant documents from the local authority and the police. This means he is unable to assure himself that required actions around the safety of the child have been addressed.

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improvement to be good

On occasion, the child has gone missing from care. The staff have been proactive in Inspection report for children’s home: 1266838 4 their approach to try and locate the child and return the child home safely in line with protocols. Independent return home interviews are offered. Staff speak to the child to look for triggers to enable strategies to be put in place to reduce the risk.

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improvement to be good

Staff have not had to physically intervene to manage the child’s behaviour. Staff have been able to de-escalate any negative behaviour effectively due to the positive relationships they have with the child. Staff are trained in physical intervention and de-escalation in case the need arises.

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improvement to be good

Staff have not been trained in some risk-taking behaviours that are relevant to the child, such as knife crime and gang affiliation. This does not support staff to manage the specific risks or ensure they continue to be able to meet the needs of the child.

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improvement to be good

Motion sensors are installed on the staircase. They are used to support the staff to safeguard the child. The management team has not ensured that written consent from the child’s social worker or the child is in place. This has not been regularly reviewed.

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improvement to be good

The management team has not notified Ofsted in a timely manner of a significant incident that took place. The incident was managed effectively. However, this does not allow for effective monitoring and scrutiny by the regulator.

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good

The new manager has been in post since April 2023 and is yet to apply to be registered with Ofsted. He is enrolled on the relevant management qualification. Staff say they feel supported by him, and he is making some positive changes.

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good

One staff member said, ‘I would like to express my confidence in the management and the adequacy of care provided.’ The manager has identified some shortfalls with the leadership and management of the home and has adequate plans in place to address these.

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good

Staff do not receive regular supervision. Staff have not had their performance appraised or have attended regular team meetings. This does not allow the staff time to reflect on their practice or allow the manager to evaluate their performance to ensure they continue to meet the needs of the child and continue their professional development.

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good

Induction to the home is thorough, which supports new staff in their role. However, the manager has not received an induction, nor has he had supervision from the responsible individual since commencing in his role. This does not allow the responsible individual to assure herself that the manager is managing the expectations of the role.

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good

External monitoring of the home by the independent visitor has not been robust or consistent. The management team has taken action to address this shortfall and has Inspection report for children’s home: 1266838 5 identified a new visitor to carry out the role.

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good

The children’s handbook was not up to date, and it required the details of the Children’s Commissioner for England. This would enable the children to make contact to be supported in promoting their rights.

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good

A review of the quality of care in February 2023 lacks feedback from parents, staff and children. It is not evaluative or analytical of the care provided for the previous six months. It lacks a robust action plan. This does not allow the manager to plan and develop the home and staff team effectively.

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good

The manager is in the process of developing a monitoring and evaluation system to support the home’s development. This will enable the manager to have a clear understanding of the home’s strengths and weaknesses and to take swift action when shortfalls arise. Inspection report for children’s home: 1266838 6

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1) (2)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

This is specifically in relation to the redecoration of the lounge, children’s bedroom, the downstairs bathroom and bathroom door. 6 August 2023

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

This is specifically in relation to staff receiving training on risks relevant to the children and the registered provider having strategy meeting minutes on file so any actions can be acted on. 6 August 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 1266838 7 The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires, and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(g)(i)(h)) 6 August 2023

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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

that each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This is specifically in relation to the registered provider having the children’s relevant care plans from the local authority to inform their planning. 6 August 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

the child’s placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance;

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Requirement Due date

so far as reasonably practicable in the light of the child’s age and understanding, the child is informed in advance of the intention to do the monitoring or surveillance. 6 August 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 1266838 8 (Regulation 24 (1)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

ensure that each employee completes an appropriate induction.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (1)(a) (4)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This is specifically in relation to all staff and the manager. 6 August 2023

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Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are kept up to date. (Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This is specifically in relation to the register of children. 6 August 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child —

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Requirement Due date

is instigated; or 6 August 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 1266838 9 concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives, and persons working at the home as the independent person requires; and

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Requirement Due date

to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home’s records (except for a child’s case records, unless the child and the child’s placing authority consent) as the independent person requires.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit (“the independent person’s report”) which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person’s report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to—

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Requirement Due date

HMCI. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a)(b) (4)(a)(b) (5) (7)(a)) 6 August 2023

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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 quality of care provided for children; 6 August 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 1266838 10 the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities, and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

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

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (“the quality of care review report”).

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed. (Regulation 45 (2)(a)(b)(c) (3) (4)(a))

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the children’s guide helps children to understand how to contact the Office of the Children’s Commissioner. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 24, paragraph 4.22)

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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: 1266838 11

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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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Inspector

Julie Elder, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1266838 12 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 after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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