Children's Home run by Nurture Childcare Services Ltd in Lancashire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1238043 1 Registered provider: Nurture Childcare Services Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private company. It is registered to care for up to three children who may experience social or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There were three children living here at the time of this inspection. The inspector spoke with all three children.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been in post since May 2023 and registered with Ofsted in February 2024.

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Inspection date: 26 March 2024

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 26 March 2024

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1238043 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Children live in a large home that has plenty of space for them to play and relax. Siblings have stayed together and experience a warm, family-like environment. One child said about staff, ‘they love us like we are their own’.

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Findings from the inspection

Children say that they feel safe. Staff have developed trusting relationships with children and listen to their worries. Staff are nurturing when children are in crisis. This helps children to cope with difficult emotions.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager is suitably experienced and qualified for the role. Staff say that with support from the manager, the staff team is now stable. One child said, ‘When staff come, they stay instead of coming and going all the time, it has really improved’.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are encouraged to try different activities. As children get older, staff teach them how to do more things for themselves. This helps children prepare to live more independently.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff support children with their education and help children to prepare for the working world. When needed, staff and managers advocate for children and challenge poor decision making from other professionals.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff provide children with appropriate consequences and rewards. However, on one occasion, a child has had no clear end point to a consequence. This has been in part due to decisions made by other professionals but has had an impact on the child’s ability to contact and spend time with friends. A recommendation has been made to address this shortfall.

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Findings from the inspection

When children go missing, staff respond thoroughly and effectively to bring children home safely. This helps children to know that the staff team care about them. However, the paperwork that provides staff with guidance for missing incidents needs strengthening. A recommendation has been made to address this to ensure it does not cause any delays in safeguarding children.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff provide appropriate care and support when children have harmed themselves. However, the recording of these incidents is not always thorough and related records have not always been completed. A recommendation has been made to address this.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff talk to children about things that children may struggle with. Staff revisit important topics to help children understand how to keep themselves safe. This equips children with the understanding they need to stay safe online and in the community. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1238043 3 Staff receive support and say that supervision and team meetings provide them with an opportunity to reflect on their practice. Managers ensure that staff have the training they need to meet the differing needs of children. Staff are provided with opportunities to develop their skills and progress in their careers.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers use internal and external monitoring systems to ensure that children’s care is considered from different perspectives. This oversight helps to keep children safe. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1238043 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/05/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 04/01/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 12/10/2022 Full Inadequate 11/01/2022 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1238043 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that expectations of staff are clear should a child go missing from home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.28)  Consequences for children must be clear and time limited. Any consequence imposed should not impact on a child’s ability to spend time with friends, unless there is a specific risk around a particular associate. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.38)  The registered person should ensure that staff understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1238043 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Nurture Childcare Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Seighford Hall, Clanford Road, Seighford, Stafford ST18 9NL

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Inspector

Aislinn Cooper, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1238043 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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