Children's home run by Homes for Support

Inspection report for children’s home: 2553274 1 Registered provider: Homes for Support Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned. It is registered to provide care for up to 6 children who may be experiencing emotional and/or social issues and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in February 2020 and the manager registered in July 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection there were five children living at the home.

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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 good

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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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2553274 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/07/2022 Full Good 07/09/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2553274 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children feel supported and well cared for. One child said, ‘I am so grateful and lucky for everything the staff have done for me. I was lost when I moved in, I’ve experienced amazing personal growth. Children in care are scared and hurting, the staff are phenomenal and really go the extra mile for them’. Children say that they feel comfortable to talk to staff and trust they will be listened to.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a large, well-appointed home. The main house is kept clean and tidy and it is well furnished. However, one child lives in a separate annex and there is a noticeable difference in the quality and cleanliness of this area. Also detracting from the homely feel is the presence of signage around the house and locks on the internal doors throughout the property.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand children's physical health needs. Staff make sure that children are registered with all local health services quickly when they move in and support children to go to all necessary health appointments.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children's mental health and emotional well-being is a priority. Staff use a therapeutic model of care and are clearly passionate about ensuring that children receive nurturing care. The manager and staff consult with CAMHS and other external experts to support children's mental health when necessary. Children's emotional wellbeing is supported and improving.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s educational achievements are inconsistent. Some children are meeting their potential in terms of employment, education and training, whereas others do not have a clear plan to support their academic progress. Staff challenge colleagues in education and the local authority appropriately to try to resolve these issues, including escalating concerns when necessary. Staff also offer children who are out of education a range of informal opportunities to learn. Some children have experienced delays in relation to their education needs being met.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children's relationships with their friends and family. Staff are flexible in how they facilitate each child’s time with their family. Each child receives the emotional and practical support they need to develop more positive social relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy well planned moves into and out of the home. Staff start preparing children for leaving the home well in advance. This helps them to experience big life changes in a manageable way. Staff also support children to gain important independence skills. Children are well prepared for the next stage of their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children take part in lots of different recreational activities. Staff think ‘outside the box’ to find things that each child will enjoy. These experiences are well Inspection report for children’s home: 2553274 4 documented in children’s diaries with lots of photos and mementos. Children have fun and develop their social skills.

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

Staff identify and understand children’s individual risks. Each child has a personalised risk management plan. These documents are generally clear and provide staff with some useful strategies to manage risks. Staff are confident in managing children’s complex risks.

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

Staff understand their role and responsibilities in keeping children safe. Staff know what to do in a range of situations, such as when children go missing from home, if they are at risk of exploitation or when there are substance misuse concerns. Staff try to reduce the risks for children and share information about their risks and concerns with relevant others. Children are safer because of the good quality safeguarding practice.

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

Staff know how to de-escalate confrontational situations. The team use the same approach, offering children clear and consistent boundaries. Positive behaviours are always recognised and rewarded. Some children are still experiencing emotional crises, but these incidents are reducing. Staff support children to feel secure and safe.

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

Staff have had to physically hold children for their safety. These holds are only used as a last resort, to prevent children from hurting themselves or someone else. When a child has been held, staff write a detailed record of what has happened and why. The manager evaluates each incident and provides useful feedback to staff and children. This helps to maintain positive relationships between staff and children.

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

Staff are mindful of online risks for children. Staff use appropriate technological safeguards to make sure that they can supervise children’s activities and interactions online. Staff also routinely talk to children about their online behaviour to understand their experiences and provide them with useful information. Children enjoy using the internet and technology safely.

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

Staff have important conversations with children regularly about a range of social issues. Staff provide children with the resources and information they need to understand how to keep themselves safe.

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

The manager has completed an assessment of the risks associated with the location of the home. This is linked to the needs and risks of each child being cared for. This ensures that only children who can be kept safe in this location come to live in this home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2553274 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a suitably qualified and experienced manager leading this home. He gets to know each child well and enjoys spending time with the children in his care. This helps him to make sure that each child’s individual needs are understood and met. Leaders and managers use effective systems for tracking the progress each child makes. Children’s progress is clearly represented in their records via a range of documents. When there is a particular concern, for instance in relation to education, managers implement additional monitoring systems to aid planning. This helps to make sure that children receive well planned care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers use a range of systems for oversight and audit. Managers complete a useful review of the quality of care every 6 months. This helps the leadership team to improve children's experiences of being looked after.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers understand the importance of gathering as much information about children as soon as possible. To this end, the manager uses a thorough assessment document to decide if this is the right place for a child to live. This includes discussions with those important to children. Staff understand children's needs and their experiences so far.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers provide staff with regular, formal supervision. Managers effectively review staff practice and encourage continued professional development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff complete regular, useful training. Managers identify training for staff that is relevant to the needs of the children living in the home. Staff have the skills and knowledge to provide good quality care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers take complaints from children seriously. Issues raised by children are thoroughly investigated. Children receive written feedback. Children feel listened to and understand their experiences. Inspection report for children’s home: 2553274 6

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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, 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 privacy of children is appropriately protected;

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Requirement Due date

children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises; and

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Requirement Due date

any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home;

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Requirement Due date

is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21 (a)(b)(c)(i)(ii)(iv)) 20 June 2024

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that children’s homes are nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) Inspection report for children’s home: 2553274 7

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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: 2553274 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Homes for Support Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Northern House, 3 Kennerleys Lane, Wilmslow SK9 5EQ

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Inspector

Nicola Shaw, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2553274 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 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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