Children's Home run by Homes for Support in Cheshire East

Inspection report for children's home: 2638736 1 Registered provider: Homes for Support Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is operated by a private organisation. It provides care for up to two children who may have social and emotional difficulties. One child lived in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operating without a registered manager.

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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 inadequate

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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

Date of last inspection: 5 September 2022

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2638736 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/09/2022 Full Good 19/01/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2638736 3

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improvement to be good

Children’s progress is limited. This is because systems are not in place to ensure that children can develop to their full potential.

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improvement to be good

Education attendance and attainment are inconsistent. Despite regular communication with educational providers, not all children are provided with the correct help and support to aid their return to education. Likewise, opportunities to undertake educational courses at home are not arranged to support children’s engagement in informal education.

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improvement to be good

Positively, one child has undertaken GCSE examinations. Although he no longer lives at the home, he invited the acting manager to go along with him to collect his results. The acting manager and responsible individual rewarded his educational efforts with a bike.

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improvement to be good

Children form trusting relationships with staff. A child said, ‘I get on with the staff, and I like them. I can talk to them if I need to.’

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improvement to be good

Children reaching the age of 16 are placed on a programme of independence. However, an initial assessment of independence skills is not undertaken to evaluate the child’s strengths and areas for development. This results in children choosing to only undertake tasks they are comfortable with, such as independent travel and preparing food with staff support.

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improvement to be good

Most children are supported to have quality time with their families. When families request additional support, staff are on hand to provide it. However, the acting manager does not consistently make attempts to build relationships with all children’s families. This leads to missed opportunities to share a child’s progress, achievements and areas where they need additional support.

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improvement to be good

Staff encourage and support children to take part in activities. Children enjoy board games and spend time with staff playing a range of different games. They also enjoy football, snooker and spending time with friends and family.

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improvement to be good

Consultation with children takes place daily and in the weekly children’s meetings. Children are confident in expressing their views and opinions and are kept updated on any changes because of the consultation with them.

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improvement to be good

Children are provided with financial rewards for undertaking everyday tasks such as keeping their bedroom tidy and looking after their personal hygiene. The financial reward is in addition to weekly pocket money, activity money and personal care Inspection report for children’s home: 2638736 4 money. This system of reward creates unrealistic expectations for children and has triggered challenging behaviours when finances are restricted.

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improvement to be good

Individual assessments take account of children’s known behaviours and the triggers that serve to escalate behaviours further. However, strategies to successfully support children and de-escalate behaviours that may challenge adults are used inconsistently.

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improvement to be good

Consequences are not restorative and do not reflect the behaviours exhibited. Children frequently do not accept the consequences. Therefore, opportunities to enable the child to learn about the impact of their behaviour on themselves or others are missed.

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improvement to be good

Staff take appropriate action to follow the missing-from-home protocols to ensure the children’s safe return to the home. However, visits by an independent professional to conduct a return home interview do not take place consistently. Consequently, opportunities to gain information from the child are lost.

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improvement to be good

Children who access substances such as cannabis are provided with external support and counselling to help them understand the impact of substance misuse. When children are identified as having consumed cannabis, access to finances is quickly restricted. However, there are occasions when children access substances from known individuals. The acting manager has taken action to raise this with the placing social worker and police. However, when insufficient action is taken, the acting manager has not escalated her concerns.

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improvement to be good

Children are cared for by staff who are appropriately vetted before starting to work in the home. Records of staff recruitment confirm that safer recruitment policies are consistently adhered to.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The home has operated without a registered manager for a period of nine months. Attempts to recruit a manager to register with Ofsted have been unsuccessful. There is currently an acting manager in place.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The acting manager’s internal monitoring is deficient. This is because when shortfalls are identified, the action to address them is not clearly identified. Furthermore, the biannual fails to provide an evaluative analysis of the care provided and whether this is having a positive impact on children’s lives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Children’s case records, including assessments of risk, are monitored. However, records are not updated to indicate if the agreed measures are effective or if additional support measures are required. This means that staff do not consistently Inspection report for children’s home: 2638736 5 receive effective guidance in the management of behaviours that may challenge them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

On one occasion, the acting manager did not carefully consider the potential impact on a child moving into the home. This resulted in increased disruption in the home and children going missing from home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Overall, the staff are provided with regular supervision. Records of supervision taking place indicate that there have been opportunities to reflect on disruptions in the home. Therefore, staff are provided with some opportunities to reflect on their practice to aid their continued development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff are provided with both online and face-to-face training. Records of training are updated, and opportunities for future training are discussed in team meetings and individual supervision sessions.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

A number of new staff working in the home do not have relevant experience of working with children. They have undertaken mandatory training and are on target to complete their probationary period. The inexperienced staff work alongside experienced staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

An independent person undertakes external monitoring. The external review is deficient. Consultation with children, parents and professionals is not routinely completed. Therefore, crucial feedback is not gathered to form an overall analysis of the quality of care or areas for further development. Inspection report for children’s home: 2638736 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 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; and

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, consistently review the effectiveness of risk management strategies and take effective measures to amend them as appropriate. 13 October 2023

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Requirement Due date

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

promotes their welfare. 13 October 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2638736 7 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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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

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; 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)(a)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the acting manager should develop a system to record the actions taken to address the shortfalls identified in the care provided and review if the actions taken have addressed the deficit.

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study; 13 October 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2638736 8 understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

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Requirement Due date

raise any need for further assessment or specialist provision in relation to a child with the child’s education or training provider and the child’s placing authority;

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Requirement Due date

help each child who is above compulsory school age to participate in further education, training or employment and to prepare for future care, education or employment; and

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Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vii)(ix)(x))

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone; 13 October 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2638736 9 communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop the understanding and skills to recognise or withdraw from a damaging, exploitative or harmful relationship; and

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Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vii)(ix))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that children are helped and supported to develop positive relationships and to understand the impact of their choices on themselves and others.

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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 children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

In particular, when children are moved between homes, ensure that this is carefully considered to avoid disruption and to avoid children moving out in an unplanned way. 13 October 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2638736 10

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the biannual review of the quality of care includes consultation with stakeholders, staff and children and an overall analysis of the care provided in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the standards,’ page 65, paragraph 15.4)  The registered person should ensure that the independent person consistently consults with children, families and social workers in assessing the care provided in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the standards,’ page 65, paragraph 15.9)  The registered person should ensure that when a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority provides an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. The home should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in

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Recommendations

place to protect each child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the standards,’ page 45, paragraph 9.30)  The registered person should ensure that consequences used are restorative in nature, to help children recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves, other children, the staff caring for them and the wider community. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the standards,’ page 46, paragraph 9.38)

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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: 2638736 11

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Homes for Support Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Homes for Support, Northern House, 3 Kennerleys Lane, Wilmslow SK9 5EQ

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Inspector

Maria McGranaghan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2638736 12 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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