Children's Home run by Courtyard Care Limited in Warrington

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2620865 1

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Courtyard Care Limited

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is run by a private organisation. It has recently applied to amend its registration to care for five disabled children, and was previously registered to care for up to six disabled children. At the time of the inspection, five children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

There is no registered manager in post. A new manager has now been recruited but has not yet started working in the home.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted carried out an unannounced visit to monitor compliance notices that were served under regulation 10, the health and well-being standard, and regulation 13, the leadership and management standard, following the full inspection on the 24 April 2024.

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This monitoring visit

At the time of this monitoring visit, five children continue to live in the home, and three children were present during the inspection. One child had a positive move back to his family, as agreed in the support plan, although this move was brought forward by the local authority following the outcome from the full inspection.

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This monitoring visit

A manager from another home in the organisation continues to support the staff team alongside senior managers. This arrangement will remain in place until the newly recruited manager joins the team. The managers are experienced and child centred. Staff said they feel more supported since these arrangements have been in place.

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This monitoring visit

Adequate staffing levels are in place to ensure that appropriate care is provided to children. This includes recruiting more staff, and the interim use of paediatric nurses who complement the staff during their care of children at night. The nurses will Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2620865 2 remain in place until the new staff team are fully trained and assessed as competent. Staff advised that the nurses have been a great addition and relieved some of the staffing pressures during the night.

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This monitoring visit

Staff members have received appropriate training that is relevant to children’s health needs. This includes physio and respiratory therapy training to ensure that staff who are supporting children have the skills to meet all their unique health needs. This training contributes to the overall safety, well-being, and positive development of the children.

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This monitoring visit

Comprehensive records have been created and maintained. These records include daily evaluations of the children’s experiences, staff training records, health plans, and other necessary documentation. The daily evaluations confirm that children are receiving care in line with their plans.

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This monitoring visit

Children require support with enteral feeds. Staff continue to be robust in their care of these children and closely monitor them to ensure that they receive the correct nutrition and hydration. Senior managers have implemented guidance as instructed by healthcare providers. This supports children with single person syringes, which are now discarded every 24 hours. This practice reduces the risk of infection.

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This monitoring visit

Senior managers have implemented systems to improve their oversight through regular auditing and evaluation. This is improving practice in several areas and means that staff provide better care for children.

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This monitoring visit

Following this monitoring visit, a case review was held on 16 May 2024, where it was agreed that the provider has met the actions detailed in the compliance notices. The previous requirements and recommendations made at the last inspection were not considered at this inspection and have been included in this report. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2620865 3

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 24/04/2024 Full Inadequate 18/07/2023 Full Good 05/07/2022 Full Good 14/12/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2620865 4

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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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child—

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that significant incidents are notified to Ofsted.

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Requirement Due date

This has not been reviewed and is restated. 1 June 2024

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

the name of the child; 1 June 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2620865 5 details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

Any restriction used on a child should be regularly reviewed, and on each occasion recorded. The restriction used on one child requires multi-agency review at the child’s education, health and care plan review.

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Requirement Due date

This has not been reviewed and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)) 1 June 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2620865 6 This relates to the registered provider ensuring that all staff are supervised regularly, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children in their care. This further relates to ensuring that matters raised in supervisions by the staff regarding staff practice are addressed.

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Requirement Due date

This has not been reviewed and is restated.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they have a system in place which allows them to monitor the matters set out in the regulations at least every six months. This should include feedback from each child’s placing authority, family, and staff. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.2)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home is maintained and quickly repaired, such as the damage to a child’s bedroom wall. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2620865 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Courtyard Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 3 Siskin Drive, Middlemarch Business Park, Coventry CV3 4FJ

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Jacqueline Hills

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Inspector

Jennifer Quest, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2620865 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 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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