Children's Home run by Your Chapter Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC489416 1 SC489416 Registered provider: Your Chapter 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 owned by a private provider. The home provides care for up to four children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The previous registered manager left their role in August 2023. A new manager has been appointed and has applied to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

Four children were living in the home at the time of this inspection. All four children were seen and spoken to by the inspector.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 28 February 2023

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC489416 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/02/2023 Full Outstanding 09/02/2022 Full Outstanding 16/09/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 30/04/2019 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: SC489416 3

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outstanding

Children benefit from living in a caring and nurturing home. They make excellent progress due to the consistently high standards of care provided by a highly skilled and committed team. Children say that living in the home has changed their lives for the better. One child said, ‘I have changed now; that’s because of the staff and a lot of motivation.’

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outstanding

Children’s moves into the home are carefully planned and positive. Before children move in, the manager consults with staff and children already working and living in the home to seek their views. The manager carefully considers how children’s individual needs will be met. Managers and staff travel significant distances to visit children before they move into the home, which helps to promote positive relationships.

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outstanding

The home environment is decorated nicely and has a relaxed atmosphere. Children are supported to decorate their bedrooms to reflect their own interests and identities. This supports children to have a sense of belonging.

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outstanding

Children are making significant progress in their education from their starting points. Managers and staff work closely with education professionals to identify and overcome any barriers to learning. Children who had previously not attended school before moving into the home now attend full time and are proud of the targets they are achieving. This means children’s educational predictions for the future have considerably improved.

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outstanding

Children are encouraged to pursue their hobbies and interests, and they attend a variety of different activities in the local community, including the gym, cinema and music studios. Managers and staff have supported children to go on holiday together and have created a video to capture their memories. Staff are not risk-adverse, and risk assessments are completed to support the children to have time away from the home. This further enhances children’s experiences and develops their independence skills.

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outstanding

Children’s health needs are important in this home. Staff proactively encourage and support the children to attend all routine health appointments. Staff worked closely alongside medical practitioners for one child when the child suffered a seizure. This ensured that the child received the medical and emotional support to put strategies in place to reduce the risk of further seizures. This has had a significant and positive impact for the child.

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outstanding

The managers and staff encourage the children to spend time with people who are important to them. Staff members travel significant distances to support the children to have meaningful time with family in their family home. One child said, ‘Staff help Inspection report for children’s home: SC489416 4 me see my family and drive me there, or I stay in a hotel and staff stay too.’ This supports children to maintain their sense of identity.

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outstanding

Staff understand the importance of supporting children to maintain and develop their cultural and religious beliefs. Staff, children, and professionals came together to support one child to take his Shadah. A social worker said, ‘It was lovely to see so many people show up for [name of child].’ Managers, staff, and children spend time together learning about each other’s heritage and faith. Diversity is celebrated in the home.

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outstanding

Children are happy and safe in the home and enjoy spending time with the manager and staff. Children are protected by a highly trained, knowledgeable and competent staff team. A child said, ‘I feel safe when I am here; it’s a safe home.’

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outstanding

Relationships between staff and children are positive and are built on trust and affection. They provide a solid base for children to thrive. Due to the nature of the relationships, staff are able to support children to manage their emotions and feelings effectively, including those that may result in conflict.

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outstanding

Children have individual risk assessments that are consistently reviewed and updated by managers and staff. Staff have a comprehensive knowledge of children’s risks and vulnerabilities and take time to talk to children and educate them about risk. ‘Research into practice’ sessions are embedded into everyday practice at the home. Discussion groups support the learning and development of children and staff. As a result, children’s risks around exploitation, substance misuse and missing-from-care have greatly reduced.

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outstanding

There are minimal missing-from-care incidents. Staff are proactive when children go missing from their home. Managers and staff search for children in a thorough way and liaise effectively with relevant professionals to ensure that children are supported to return home safely. There are robust missing-from-care protocols in place that are fully understood by staff.

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outstanding

Staff implement clear boundaries, routine and structure that create a space for the children to feel emotionally safe. One child said, ‘We have got a structure here, which helps a lot.’

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outstanding

Positive recognition and praise outweigh negative consequences. The manager evaluates consequences, ensuring that they are proportionate and restorative.

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outstanding

The recruitment of staff is comprehensive and ensures that all necessary background checks have been conducted. This means that the adults caring for the children are safe to do so. Inspection report for children’s home: SC489416 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is managed by a dedicated, caring and ambitious manager who advocates for the children. She is working towards gaining a leadership and management qualification. The manager ensures that she is present in the home and accessible to staff and children. Children are extremely fond of her, and she speaks about the children with warmth and enthusiasm.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children receive outstanding care, support and guidance from a highly committed, competent and nurturing staff team. The stable and settled staff team promotes consistency and strong attachments for children. A staff member said, ‘Everyone has worked hard to build an ethos around open conversations and dealing with difficult emotions and situations in a positive way.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children’s records are well organised, up to date and detailed. Each child has an outcome file. This demonstrates children’s achievements, progress and experiences. The information in the files demonstrates the significant and continued progress that children make living at this home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The management and staff team are committed to achieving the best outcomes for the children and ensuring that they receive a high level of care that meets their individual needs. The manager recognises the importance of the staff’s need to feel valued, trusted and listened to. The manager actively encourages staff to implement new ideas to improve the outcomes for children. One staff member said, ‘[Name of staff] has truly been a leader that leads.’ Staff are happy in their roles, which helps them to provide excellent care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive ongoing support, supervision and constant guidance from leaders and managers. Staff team meetings are regular and effective. They focus on children’s well-being and progress. These meetings encourage staff to reflect on their practice. In addition, managers and staff complete a range of training that focuses on meeting children’s individual needs. Staff apply their learning effectively in their day-to-day work with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has a comprehensive understanding of the strengths and areas for development of the home. The manager has close oversight of the children’s progress and any changes needed. Internal and external monitoring of the home is effective. However, the location risk assessment could be further enhanced by seeking consultation from relevant people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There is good multi-agency working. The manager and staff maintain excellent levels of communication with other professionals. One social worker said, ‘Staff communicate amazingly with me.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The management team, staff and children can clearly demonstrate the positive impact that living in the home has had on enhancing the children’s lives. A social worker said, ‘[Name of child] is like a different child, and the weight of the world has been lifted off his shoulders.’ Inspection report for children’s home: SC489416 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that they review the appropriateness and suitability of the location and premises of the home. When conducting the review, the registered person must consult, and consider the views of, each relevant person. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.1)

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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: SC489416 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Your Chapter Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Hobart House, 3 Oakwater Avenue, Cheadle Royal Business Park, Cheadle SK8 3SR

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Inspector

Stacey Ilaboya, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC489416 8 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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