Children's Home run by Cornerstone Children’s Homes Limited in Stockport

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC394478 1 SC394478

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Registered provider: Cornerstone Children’s Homes Limited

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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 registered to provide care for up to three children who may have social and emotional difficulties. The home is managed and run by a private company.

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Information about this children’s home

There is currently no registered manager.

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Inspection date: 13 February 2024

Date of last inspection: 29 November 2023

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Inspection date: 13 February 2024

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 13 February 2024

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. The inspector 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: SC394478 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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Findings from the inspection

At the time of the inspection, three children were living at the home, all of whom have made significant progress. All the children have lived at the home for more than a year. One child has lived there for over three years.

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Findings from the inspection

The staff are working closely with one child, his family and placing authority as he prepares to move to live with his family. The pace of the plan is being monitored to ensure that appropriate safeguards are tested and that this remains the most appropriate place for him to live. The child is excited to be moving and there was evidence of packing and preparation. On reflecting on his time living at the home, he said that this was ‘the best children’s home ever’ and that he was grateful for his time there and the support he had received from the staff.

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Findings from the inspection

The two other children are in full-time education and making progress. Although there have been many setbacks in the last few months, the acting manager and staff have been relentless in encouraging the children and advocating for them in the education system. During one period when one child was unable to attend school, the acting manager converted a spare room at the home into an education room. This enabled the child to complete his school work with the support of staff.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are supported to enjoy time with family and friends. The work by the manager has led to one child spending part of the half-term holiday with a family member. Plans were in hand for another child to invite his girlfriend home for tea so that she can meet the staff.

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Findings from the inspection

There has been no use of restraint or any consequences imposed since the last inspection. The staff use reward systems and their relationships with the children to encourage appropriate behaviour, which is effective practice.

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Findings from the inspection

No child has been missing from the home since March 2023. The acting manager and staff plan to celebrate this success with the children if the anniversary date is met without any further episodes of children going missing.

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Findings from the inspection

One child was recently a victim of crime. The acting manager followed appropriate procedures and supported the child to manage this and ensure that he was safe and well.

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Findings from the inspection

There has been no registered manager in post since June 2022, although there have been effective interim arrangements in place during this time. The current acting manager is in the process of applying to Ofsted to become the registered manager. The acting manager receives active and practical support from the responsible individual, who visits the home on most days. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC394478 3 The home is fully staffed. Most staff have a range of experience of working with children and bring their individual skills to their work. One child could identify which staff were good at ‘mending things’ and which were the best cooks. Staff receive regular supervision sessions and training and development opportunities. They value the support from the acting manager and responsible individual. One experienced staff member said that working at the home is not like coming to work as it is so

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Findings from the inspection

Most of the requirements and recommendations from the last inspection have been met. The acting manager has overseen a partial refurbishment of the home and further work was evident on the day of the inspection, including work on a new bathroom and refurbished gym.

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Findings from the inspection

The requirement for the provider to appoint a manager and ensure that they apply to register with Ofsted is repeated.

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Findings from the inspection

The acting manager has started work on revising the procedure for considering complaints made by or on behalf of children. The draft document does not differentiate between complaints made by children, neighbours and professionals, and allegations made by children. This means that it is not clear what action the manager and staff should take in each case. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC394478 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/11/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 11/01/2023 Full Good 08/03/2022 Full Outstanding 28/01/2020 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC394478 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 registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home; and

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Requirement Due date

or is not, or does not intend to be, in day-to-day charge of the home.

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Requirement Due date

If the registered provider appoints a person to manage the home, the registered provider must, without delay, give HMCI notice of—

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person so appointed; and

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Requirement Due date

the date on which the appointment takes effect. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii) (2)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered provider must provide details of the acting manager to Ofsted and ensure that the acting manager applies to register with Ofsted.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 31 March 2024

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that any allegation of harm or abuse is addressed in line with the home’s child protection policy and any complaint is addressed through the home’s complaints process, and that the procedures are clearly set out in the two documents. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 44, paragraph 9.17) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC394478 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cornerstone Children’s Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 4th Floor, Centenary House, Centenary Way, Manchester M50 1RF

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Inspector

Helen Humphreys, His Majesty’s Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC394478 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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