Children's home run by Active Ark Limited

Inspection report children's home: 1266838 1 Registered provider: Active Ark Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

A private provider operates this home. It is registered to provide care for up to three children with emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

The home registered with Ofsted on 22 November 2017 and the manager registered on 22 September 2023.

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Information about this children's home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living in the home. The child was spoken to by the inspectors.

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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 children's home: 1266838 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/06/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 10/08/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 08/03/2022 Full Good 11/12/2019 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children's home: 1266838 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection two children have moved on from the home in a carefully planned way. The manager used current research in practice to support the children and plan their move. Consequently, the children have settled extremely well into their new home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff provide the child with individualised care. The child’s plans are understood and followed by staff. Staff ensure that they listen to the child’s views, wishes and feelings. The child is able to makes choices and decisions about their care. This helps to ensure that the child receives consistent care. The child shared that they like living in the home and the best thing about the home is the staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is currently being supported by the staff to attend their education provision to sit their GCSE exams. Staff help the child with revision and provide emotional support and stability at this challenging time. This means the child is supported to achieve their educational outcomes and aspirations for the future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Opportunities for informal learning around independent skills is limited. It is an area that is recognised by the manager for further development. Strengthening the informal learning opportunities for the child would enable the child to be better equipped for independence in the future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support and encourage the child to attend any health appointments. The manager and staff work closely with specialist services to develop the child’s individual plans. This supports the child’s health, emotional health and wellbeing and ensures that the child receives consistent care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has personalised their bedroom and the home is decorated to a good standard. Positive and caring relationships between the manager, staff and the child were observed. The child lives in a happy, safe, and relaxed home where staff treat them with dignity and respect.

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

The safety and welfare of the child are at the centre of staff practice. The child’s risk management and positive support plans address their vulnerabilities, include clear strategies for staff to follow and are reviewed regularly. This helps staff to keep the child safe.

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

The child’s plans are understood and followed by staff. Staff use the information to respond effectively to the needs of the child. The child says they feel safe in the home and staff help them to stay safe. Consequently, the child does not go missing from home. Inspection report children's home: 1266838 4 Staff demonstrate that they understand their roles and responsibilities regarding safeguarding practices and know how to respond to safeguarding concerns. Following incidents, the staff reflect on, and identify any learning to implement change.

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

Records of incidents and key work sessions are detailed, with clear objectives and outcomes. Key work sessions support the child to learn about risk taking behaviours and how best to support their health needs. They also include reflection with the child. This demonstrates that the child is supported to understand the risks and potential implications around their health.

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

The manager and staff have completed training to meet the specific needs of the child such as; eating disorders and self-harm. This means that that they continue to support the child effectively.

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

The staff consistently role model and promote positive behaviour. The child identified trusted adults in the home who they feel they can speak to. This supports and enables the child to share any worries or concerns they may have.

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

Staff are trained in de-escalation techniques and use these to help the child to manage their feelings and emotions. This reduces the need for physical intervention, and staff have not had to hold the child to keep them safe. This helps staff to maintain positive and healthy relationships with the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has high aspirations for the child in his care. The manager holds a relevant childcare qualification and has the experience to manage a children’s home. He is able to balance his management duties with spending time with the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff who were spoken to or shared feedback were very positive about the leadership and management of the home. One member of staff said, ‘I absolutely adore my job, I have never been happier in a workplace before. This is my dream job, I work well with my core team, I feel as if we all share the same passion. The young people I’ve worked with have been amazing’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular reflective supervision and training and have completed a thorough induction. This provides staff with a detailed programme and guidance in their new role. This means the manager is assured that the staff will continue to meet the needs of the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff who have received an annual appraisal of their performance have received feedback to inform their annual appraisal from professionals working alongside them or from the children living in the home. This is a missed opportunity to further strengthen and reflect on their practice. Inspection report children's home: 1266838 5 Feedback on the service is gathered by the manager from a variety of people such as; social workers, education professionals, staff, and the children. However, no feedback has been gathered from the parents or significant others in the children’s lives. This is a missed opportunity to develop the service and the care planning for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager understands the service strengths and areas for development. He has a development plan that focuses on improving the care provided to children. The manager’s monitoring system helps him to track patterns and progress and address any shortfalls as they arise. Inspection report children's home: 1266838 6

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Recommendations

 The registered provider should ensure that the ethos of the home supports each child to learn informally, such as developing their independence and life skills. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 29, paragraph 5.18)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they seek to obtain feedback from parents and family members to develop the care planning and service. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 52, paragraph 10.3)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff appraisals take into account, where reasonable and practical, the views of other professionals who have worked with the staff member over the year and children in the home's care. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 61, paragraph 13.5)

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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 children's home: 1266838 7

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Active Ark, Unit E, Baron Way, Kingmoor Business Park, Carlisle CA6 4SJ

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Inspectors

Julie Elder, Social Care Inspector Debbie Dawson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: 1266838 8 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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