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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2540073 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

A private company operates this children’s home. The home is registered to provide care for four children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Four children were living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2022

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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: 2540073 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/07/2022 Full Good 03/11/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2540073 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Four children live in the home. One child who has lived at the home for almost three years and is due to move to semi-independence. Since the last inspection children have moved into the home and some children have left the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One of the children has completed a significant amount of work with staff to help her live independently. Staff have supported her learning to look after herself. She has a full-time job and is excited about moving on. The child said,’ I will miss chatting to [managers name].’ Children are well prepared for their next steps.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to develop and maintain family relationships, in line with care plans. Family members are welcome into the home and staff communicate with them regularly. Maintaining relationships with family members helps children to retain a sense of identity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have access to activities. They have days out and spend time with staff. Children can take part in activities in which they are interested. Children appreciate staff’s care and attention and have fun.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children all have educational, or employment plans and staff support them to attend education. One of the children is struggling to attend school at present. The manager has met with school and they have worked together. An educational professional said, ‘Staff are caring and communicate well with school.’ Education is valued and staff work with school to try and resolve issues.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is welcoming and comfortable. Children have their own bedrooms which are personalised to their tastes. The games room downstairs has been used as a staff sleep in room at nighttime. It is not helpful for children to have this room as a dual-purpose room and may blur boundaries for children particularly if they wanted to access the room at night time.

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

Children have individual, up-to-date risk assessments. The manager keeps a clear oversight of children’s plans and risk assessments. When children’s risk increases, staff and the manager respond quickly by putting measures in place to keep them safe.

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

Staff have used physical holds to safely manage children’s behaviour. After these incidents, the manager offers a debrief to the child. A debrief is also undertaken with the staff who held the child. This enables the manager to understand the incident and the impact on the child and staff. The manager evaluates records of physical interventions. This provides an understanding about what led to the Inspection report for children’s home: 2540073 4 behaviour that required a physical hold. The manager and staff are working on strategies to help reduce the incidents of restraint.

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

Children have been missing from the home. Staff are aware of children’s individual missing from home plans. They follow plans and search for children in locations where they are known to go. Staff work closely with partner agencies to ensure that they keep children safe.

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

Staff are managing children’s behaviour through rewards and incentives. Children have clear boundaries and know what is expected of them. They can earn extra pocket money and treats for good behaviour. This supports children to learn how to manage their emotions and behaviours.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is experienced and is currently completing the relevant qualification. A deputy manager supports her. A social worker described the manager as, ‘Exemplary’ and ‘She knows the children really well and understands their needs and challenges.’ The manager is experienced and dedicated.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The management team offers both formal and informal supervision to staff. Supervision is regular and provides an opportunity for staff to reflect on their work with the children. Each month supervision has a new theme which helps increase staff knowledge. All new staff are working through a detailed induction programme. This supports staff development, which ensures positive, informed care for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have regular team meetings. These enable them to discuss their plans and ambitions for the children. There is also a thorough discussion to share information when staff change over. This positive communication ensures that care practice is consistent, and boundaries are clear. This means that children feel cared for and secure.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The management team conduct regular performance reviews with staff to help ensure that they are meeting the children’s needs. This includes ensuring that staff are receiving the right support and training. Children are encouraged to contribute to these reviews. This helps ensure staff are happy and supported in their role of providing good quality care to the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager keeps in close contact with partner agencies. This ensures that children are the central focus. A social worker said, ‘She is on the ball and manages the children’s risks really well.’ Everyone is working in close partnership to ensure the children make positive progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Some of the language used to discuss the children is not helpful to them and may make them feel different to their peers. Inspection report for children’s home: 2540073 5

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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 education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

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Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

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Requirement Due date

maintain regular contact with each child’s education and training provider, including engaging with the provider and the placing authority to support the child’s education and training and to maximise the child’s achievement;

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Requirement Due date

raise any need for further assessment or specialist provision in relation to a child with the child’s education or training provider and the child’s placing authority;

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Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of 19 April 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2540073 6 exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible;

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Requirement Due date

help each child who is above compulsory school age to participate in further education, training or employment and to prepare for future care, education or employment;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child has access to appropriate equipment, facilities and resources to support the child’s learning. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(ix)(x)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular that children have clear plans to access education and educational activities during school hours.

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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 that there are clear boundaries, and that the children’s space are not also used as sleep in rooms for staff. 19 April 2024

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the language used to discuss children is non stigmatising and is helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Inspection report for children’s home: 2540073 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: 2540073 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

Cathy Wilkins, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2540073 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 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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