Children's home run by Cherish Children’s Care Limited

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2732651 1 Registered provider: Cherish Childrens Care Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a private children’s home registered for up to two children. The home’s statement of purpose states that children living in this home may have a range of social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2023. He is suitably experienced and qualified.

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Information about this children’s home

There was one child living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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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: 2732651 2

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Findings from the inspection

This inspection was carried out because of an external complaint that was submitted to Ofsted in relation to the care and safety of the children living in the home. The inspector 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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Findings from the inspection

The inspector found that serious incidents have been responded to appropriately by the staff team. Records demonstrate that staff use de-escalation strategies to support children. The police are called as a last resort to promote the safety of everyone involved. The manager oversees all incidents and uses reflective discussion to make improvements to practice and, when required, staff are provided with training refreshers related to any lessons learned.

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Findings from the inspection

On one occasion, a serious allegation involving police involvement has not been notified to Ofsted to enable the regulator to monitor the incident. In addition to this, the associated records do not include clear or organised chronologies to evidence the course of action that has been taken in response to the allegation made by the child. That said, the inspector found that the prompt action had been taken by the provider to safeguard the child and to notify all other professionals.

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Findings from the inspection

Despite the challenging times children have experienced since the last inspection, staff have supported them to manage their emotional well-being. Consequently, children’s self-injurious behaviour has reduced. Staff undertake direct work with children to help them to make safer choices and to understand how to manage their emotions.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s individual risk assessments contain up-to-date chronologies and preferred strategies so that staff understand the risks for children and how those risks should be managed.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have acted to improve the effectiveness and continuity of communication with the neighbours and local community. A designated point of contact is now in place should anyone from the neighbourhood need to report any concerns. In addition to this, the senior leadership team has taken a proactive approach by going out into the community to meet with the neighbours to develop positive relationships.

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Findings from the inspection

For one child, their move out of the home was planned as best as it could be, given the changes to the circumstances of their placement. Leaders and managers have worked closely with the placing authority to find the child a suitable new home and to involve the child in the planning at a point which was deemed safe to do so.

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Findings from the inspection

The staff team’s approach to understanding children’s barriers to learning and helping them to actively access further education services or employment has not been proactive. The manager does not always ensure that, while children are Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2732651 3 supported through trauma, they are equally encouraged to consider options for career planning as they approach independence.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager’s review of the quality-of-care report does not include or consider feedback from parents and staff in order to provide a full evaluation of the impact of the service on children’s experiences. In addition, the manager has failed to send the report to Ofsted and so the inspector has been unable to monitor the manager’s oversight of the home.

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Findings from the inspection

The home requires some damage to be repaired, some areas to be redecorated and to be made more homely. The manager is in the process of planning for this to be actioned. This was a recommendation at the last inspection and so has been restated. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2732651 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/08/2023 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2732651 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, 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 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

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

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

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the manager should ensure that safeguarding records include clear and organised chronologies to evidence the course of action that has been taken in response to an allegation made by a child. 31 January 2024

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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 31 January 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2732651 6 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

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;

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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; 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; and

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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)(a)(b)(c) (3) (4)(a) (5)) 31 January 2024

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the environment children live in is homely and any damage caused is repaired or redecorated. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2732651 7  The registered person should ensure that while children are supported through severe trauma, they are equally actively encouraged to consider options for career planning as they approach independence. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 26, paragraph 5.3) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2732651 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cherish Childrens Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 8, Skyways Commercial Campus, Amy Johnson Way, Blackpool FY4 3RS

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Inspector

Cheryl Field, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2732651 9 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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