Children's Home run by Care 4 Children Residential Services Ltd in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2581237 1 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

The home is one of a number operated by a private company. The home provides care for up to eight children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

There were seven children living in the home at the time of this inspection.

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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 good

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: 22 November 2022

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2581237 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/11/2022 Full Good 29/12/2021 Interim Not judged Inspection report for children’s home: 2581237 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Seven children live in the home. Children are happy and have made good progress. The home is spacious, homely and presented to a high standard. Children say that they feel safe in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The relationships between children and staff are positive; interactions observed were very nurturing. Staff speak fondly of the children; they know them well and take pride in their achievements. Children say that they have fun with staff and enjoy living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children are engaged in education. Children have good attendance at school and are making progress. Staff understand the importance of education for children and have high aspirations for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are being met. Staff recognise children’s health needs and take the time to research and understand them. This means that they can support children effectively. Children’s emotional and social well-being are supported. Staff work with a therapeutic approach. Staff carry out meaningful direct work with children in this area.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff consult regularly with children. Children are supported to explore their hobbies and have opportunities to try new experiences. Children have enjoyed trips to gaming centres, ice skating, theme parks, and the cinema.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children move into the home in a well-planned way. Children are invited to visit the home before moving in. Staff arrange activities with children and spend time getting to know them before they move into the home. This helps children to familiarise themselves with the staff and alleviate any anxieties they may have.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff respect children’s relationships with family and friends. Staff support children to develop and maintain relationships with those who are important to them. Staff support children to spend time with family and friends safely. Staff are empathic and understanding of children’s wishes in respect of family relationships.

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

The manager and staff know the children’s risks and understand them. They work collaboratively with professionals and the clinical team to appropriately assess risk. The manager ensures that there are risk management plans in place for each child. One social worker said, ‘The work has been going really well. The overall outcome of all of the work has been positive; risks are reducing for [name of child].’

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

Staff are calm, nurturing, and positive role models to the children. Children respond to frequent praise and reward charts that are in place to help them to achieve. As a Inspection report for children’s home: 2581237 4 result, children are thriving and can identify adults they trust, who they can talk to about any worries or concerns they may have.

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

Investigations into allegations and significant incidents are responded to appropriately. They are managed fairly and in line with statutory guidance. When investigations take place, these are completed by a qualified and experienced manager. Learning outcomes are identified, and actions are implemented.

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

Staff sometimes hold children to keep them safe. This is done as a last resort, and holds are in conjunction with the home’s policies and procedures. Records of interventions are detailed and contain the relevant information. Reflective direct work is carried out with children after each incident. This ensures that children’s views, wishes and feelings are fully considered. Incidents are reviewed and evaluated by the manager, who has excellent oversight. As a result, learning outcomes are identified and incidents are reducing.

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

When children have been involved in accidents, the manager ensures that there is a strong and proactive response. All staff are trained in first aid, and there are clear processes in place to ensure that children are provided with medical treatment as required.

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

The manager ensures that safer recruitment practices are implemented when considering employing new staff to work at the home. As a result, action is taken to address any issues or concerns around employment checks, such as references. This means that only the most-suitable staff work at the home and that it is a safe place for children to live.

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

The systems in place to store and manage medication are safe and effective. The administration records are meticulous, and all staff are suitably trained to administer medication.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager leads by example. She is inspirational, confident, and ambitious for children. She has high expectations for the staff team and their development. The manager is aware of the home’s strengths and areas for development. As a result, staff provide a consistent and stable home for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers nurture positive working relationships with external professionals and family members. They understand the importance of effective partnership working. This contributes to children’s positive experiences in the home. One social worker said, ‘I get regular updates from the manager. She will chase me for updates and documents. She is very proactive in her approach towards children and the care they receive.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is suitably staffed and resourced to meet the needs of the children. The staff team is stable and consistent. Consequently, the children build secure relationships with staff. Inspection report for children’s home: 2581237 5 New staff are supported through an effective induction process. They complete mandatory training and a range of additional training to meet the needs of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision of their practice. Supervision is well planned and structured, and led by a suitably experienced manager or leader. Supervision sessions are reflective and provide a safe environment for staff to reflect on their practice and development. Staff find supervision valuable and supportive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager completes a regular quality of care review. This is detailed and includes evidence of consultation with children and professionals. However, this would improve if the manager analysed and evaluated this information to continually improve children’s care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is confident and proactive in her approach to challenge. She escalates any concerns that she has with other professionals involved in the care of children. Notably, this has been most effective when seeking copies of relevant documents relating to children and their care. Inspection report for children’s home: 2581237 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that when completing a review of quality of care, children’s views are reflectively evaluated. Specifically, to analyse and evaluate the information to continue to make improvements to children’s care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.3)

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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: 2581237 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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Inspectors

Cathy Trengove, Social Care Inspector Kimmy Feeley, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2581237 8 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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