Children's Home run by Homes for Support in Cheshire East

Inspection report for children’s home: 2647770 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 children’s home is operated by a private organisation. The home provides care for up to six children who may have social or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in September 2021, and the manager registered in July 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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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: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2647770 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/08/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/03/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness 14/12/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2647770 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported well by managers and staff, who hold them in high regard. Children have positive relationships built on trust and affection with the staff who care for them. The manager and staff have created a safe environment where children feel listened to and can express their wishes and feelings. One social worker said, ‘This is one of the best placements I have encountered.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to spend time with their family and friends. Staff maintain good communication with children’s families. This provides children with a support network where they feel safe to maintain relationships with people that are important to them. One family member said, ‘The staff are very welcoming.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children access a range of activities, both inside and outside of the home. Activities include baking, arts and crafts, walking, football and gaming. This supports children to pursue their hobbies and interests.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported and encouraged to become more independent and develop new skills, depending on their age and understanding. Staff support children to get involved in cooking, which helps to promote their independence skills. One child said, ‘This morning, I made a bacon and egg wrap with hot sauce for my breakfast.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff promote children’s education well. There is good information- sharing between staff and the children’s education providers. The manager remains persistent in their attempt to fully engage children in education. This has led to improved educational attainment and attendance for children. One social worker said, ‘Staff have worked really well with virtual schools.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is decorated nicely. Children’s bedrooms are personalised, and their photos are displayed around the home. This gives the children a sense of belonging. However, one child’s bedroom was extremely untidy and potentially unsafe at the time of the inspection. However, immediate action was taken to address this and improve the condition of the child’s bedroom. The manager and staff need to ensure that bedrooms are cleaned to an acceptable standard and are kept clean, tidy and uncluttered at all times.

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

The manager and staff work closely with the home’s clinician to ensure the best therapeutic support for the children. The clinician said, ‘Staff come together to reflect on their practice with the children. Staff are really child-focused.’

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

Staff understand children’s risks and vulnerabilities. Children’s risk assessments are regularly reviewed and updated. Staff communicate regularly with children about any safeguarding concerns and risky behaviours, which helps children understand how to keep themselves safe. Inspection report for children’s home: 2647770 4 There are clear routines and boundaries in place that children understand and respond to well. This helps the children to manage their behaviours more effectively. One social worker said, ‘Staff are nurturing but able to put boundaries in place.’

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

There have been occasions when the use of physical intervention was necessary. The manager evaluates physical interventions, ensuring that they are proportionate, and reflection is completed with staff and children. Staff have a good understanding of the missing-from-home procedures.

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

Positive recognition and praise outweigh negative consequences. The manager evaluates consequences, ensuring that they are proportionate and restorative in nature and that the child’s voice is listened to.

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

The manager and staff work closely with professionals and family members to ensure that children receive appropriate support. One social worker said, ‘There is good multi-agency working.’

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

Staff take the time to listen to children and help them understand their emotions. However, on one occasion, the manager and staff did not sufficiently consider the potential impact on two children when delivering sensitive care-planning information.

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

Staff are provided with regular mandatory training as well as other identified areas of training to help them meet the specific needs of the children in their care. Training topics include first aid, fire awareness, safeguarding, ligature, attachment and trauma and therapeutic parenting. This ensures that staff have the skills to support children’s individual needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is working towards gaining a relevant leadership and management qualification. The manager and staff speak about the children with warmth and enthusiasm. They advocate well for the children in all aspects of their lives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff maintain good levels of communication with other professionals. One social worker said, ‘Communication is absolutely brilliant.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say that they feel well supported by the managers. Regular team meetings are held and are well attended. Staff receive regular practice-related supervision. This provides opportunities for the staff to reflect on and develop their practice and ways to support the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Management oversight and monitoring of the home are completed. However, the manager and staff do not ensure that children’s individual needs are considered and that they seek written consent in relation to bedroom door alarms. Inspection report for children’s home: 2647770 5 The manager has a good understanding of the strengths and areas for development of the home, in line with their statement of purpose. However, the statement of purpose does not include all of the required information, particularly a description of the accommodation offered by the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2647770 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, 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the children’s bedrooms are in a good, clean condition and are free from hazards. 26 April 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children;

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Requirement Due date

the child’s placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance; 26 April 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2647770 7 so far as reasonably practicable in the light of the child’s age and understanding, the child is informed in advance of the intention to do the monitoring or surveillance; and

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the use of door alarms is assessed based on the child’s individual needs and that written permission is gained from the child’s placing authority.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff support each child leaving the home in the period immediately before their departure. This specifically relates to information-sharing with the child about changes to their care plan. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 57, paragraph 11.9)  The registered person should ensure that all elements of schedule 1 are included in the home’s statement of purpose, specifically including a detailed account of the accommodation. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.5)

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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: 2647770 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

Stacey Ilaboya, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2647770 9 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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