Children's Home run by Cornerways Care Limited in Bedford

Inspection report for children’s home: 2737310 1 Registered provider: Cornerways Care Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home was registered by Ofsted in September 2023. The home provides care for one child with social and emotional difficulties.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2737310 2

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Recent inspection history

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children’s home: 2737310 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This is the home’s first full inspection since it was registered in September 2023. One child moved to the home from another home owned by the provider when that home closed. The child has made good progress during this time.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Working alongside the child and the placing authority, the provider is supporting the child to return to live at their family home. This reflects a significant reduction in risk and has been a gradual and well-planned process, with the manager and team listening and responding to the child’s wishes throughout.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager challenges other professionals when necessary and advocates for the child. The manager held several meetings to have an education, health and care plan adapted to remove outdated information. This contributed significantly to the child being able to attend their chosen education provision. The child’s parent said, ‘Getting back into school was huge, and [name of child] is established in school now, which I didn’t think was possible.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff have ensured that the child has made good progress in education. Their attendance is 100% and the manager and staff place a great deal of importance on the child attending education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is well maintained and decorated to a high standard throughout. The decor is modern and has a nice, homely feel. The team ensures that the home is well presented and welcoming.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The staff manage behaviour well. The strong attachment the staff have with the child has contributed to there having been no incidents requiring the use of physical intervention. There have also been no incidents of the child going missing from home. This is a significant improvement from the child’s starting point.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff understand the child’s communication. This helps staff to offer appropriate responses when dealing with the child’s distress. The staff know the child well and are attuned to their needs. This helps to show the child that they are listened to and contributes to reducing the level of incidents in the home. The child said, ‘They help me calm down and learn different ways to communicate and deal with my anger.’

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Care plans and risk assessments are clear and identify known risks and vulnerabilities for the child. The staff work closely with external agencies. Regular multi-agency meetings ensure a collaborative approach to dynamically risk-assessing the changing needs of the child. This helps the staff and managers to be aware of changes in risk levels and to safeguard the child effectively. Inspection report for children’s home: 2737310 4 The manager quickly identifies risks and responds in a timely way to keep the child safe. For example, when the child has struggled when visiting their family, staff also visit to support the child, and a separate staff member attends to offer support and reassurance to the family.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities. They know how to raise concerns.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The highly committed and inspirational manager is experienced, qualified and registered with Ofsted. She provides exceptional support to her staff, helping the team to reach collective and individual goals and aspirations by setting high standards and role modelling excellent practice herself.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers are highly effective leaders. When staff are not performing at the highest levels, this is quickly addressed, and measures are implemented to make sure the staff feel supported but also understand the managers’ expectations. This approach has ensured that staff feel supported and are confident to provide highly effective care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is proactive and recognises when the skills in the team need to be widened. They source and provide extra training for staff to improve their knowledge and skills to be able meet the child’s changing needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is confident in speaking out when they feel things are being decided that might not be in the child’s best interests. The manager called a meeting to address the timescale for moving the child to live back with their mother. The manager is confident in professionally challenging decisions and promoting the need to work at a pace that is appropriate to the needs of the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The management team has excellent relationships with the network around the child. The child’s social worker said the home’s managers are ‘really supportive, great communicators. Lots of liaison, connecting different agencies together. They often go above and beyond.’ The child’s mother said, ‘Their communication, the way they are. It’s not just a job, they really care about us. I can’t say a bad word about the management, they are amazing.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The excellent leadership and management have significantly contributed to the strong progress the child has made. As a result of the oversight, leadership, support and challenge, a child who was previously the subject of significant restrictions to their life just one year ago, now has plans in place to return home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There are no requirements or recommendations made as a result of this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: 2737310 5

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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: 2737310 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cornerways Care Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Eastway Enterprise Centre, 7 Paynes Park, Hitchin SG5 1EH

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Inspector

Dan Williams, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2737310 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 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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