Children's Home run by Active Ark Limited in Westmorland and Furness

Inspection report for children’s home: SC439956 1 SC439956 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

The home is privately operated and provides care for one child with emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in May 2012 and the manager registered on 29 April 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

One child was living at the home at the time of this inspection. The child was spoken to by the inspector.

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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: SC439956 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/08/2023 Full Good 30/01/2023 Full Good 08/03/2022 Full Good 30/04/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC439956 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff supported one child to return home to the care of their parent. This was not considered an option by the local authority prior to the child moving into the home. The manager and staff advocated on behalf of the child and developed an individualised plan that incorporated the research they had considered about children returning home from care. In preparation for the return home, the child’s parent stayed overnight at the home and was supported by staff to take over the care of the child. Consequently, the child has settled extremely well back into life at home, and the child’s life chances have increased as a result.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One parent shared extremely positive feedback with the manager in regard to the care and support of their child. They wrote, ‘My child has complex care needs and requires a lot of patience and understanding. Since being at [name of home], my child’s needs are not only being met but the staff go above and beyond to make my child feel loved and cared for as well as making sure they are healthy and safe.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child was supported to move into the home in a well-planned and thought-out way. The manager assessed whether the staff team would be able to meet the needs of the child prior to the child moving in. Staff ensure that they listen to the child’s views, wishes and feelings to allow the child choices and to make decisions about their care. This ensures that the child feels listened to and receives consistent care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child had not attended education for some time prior to moving into the home. The manager researched local alternative education provisions in the area and liaised with the local authority around funding to secure a suitable provision for the child. The child attends regularly, benefits from the education on offer, and is forming positive friendships and developing life skills. This demonstrates that the manager and staff support the child to develop their knowledge and increase their education attainment, as well as promoting their interaction and social skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff prioritise children’s health and well-being needs. The child is registered with local health provisions, and staff encourage the child to attend routine health appointments. This means that the child remains healthy, and their health needs are met.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child to see their family and friends. Staff have good relationships with the child’s family members and friends. This helps the child to maintain relationships with the people who are important to them, and maintain a sense of identity and belonging.

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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. Inspection report for children’s home: SC439956 4

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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. Staff are trained in physical intervention and de-escalation techniques and know what action to take if the child goes missing from home. The staff have not had to physically intervene to keep the child safe. The child does not go missing from home. The positive relationships and trust that staff have developed with the child has helped the child to make good progress from their starting point.

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

Staff understand and are confident in following safeguarding procedures to protect the child. However, the child’s risk management plan does not reflect the child’s current vulnerabilities or risk-taking behaviours. The manager has not assessed the child’s risks fully or identified sufficient strategies to help staff to reduce and minimise the risks. This compromises the child’s safety and welfare.

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

Incidents are managed well, and all serious incidents have been notified to Ofsted. However, there has been some delay in notifications being made, which compromises the timely oversight and scrutiny by the regulator. Staff and other professionals who work with the child shared positive feedback about the child’s care and safety.

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

Staff talk to the child to help them understand their thoughts and feelings. They also help the child to reflect on any incidents or risk-taking behaviours. The manager takes appropriate action and communicates effectively with other professionals to ensure that the child is safe living in the home.

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

One child has been given a consequence to help support them to change their behaviour. The manager has evaluated the consequence; however, it is unclear if this was done in a timely manner. The manager has not spoken to the staff member who gave the consequence. This means that the manager is unable to fully evaluate its effectiveness and whether it is considered to be restorative in nature.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has high aspirations for the child in her care. The manager is suitably experienced to manage the home, holds a relevant childcare qualification, and is working towards a management qualification. She is able to balance her management duties and spending time with the child well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff who were spoken to were very positive about the leadership and management team. One member of staff said, ‘[Name of manager] is a good manager. She listens, acts on what she says, and I have faith in her managing the home.’ This demonstrates that staff morale is good and staff feel valued.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff receive regular supervision in line with the statement of purpose and attend regular team meetings. They use this time well to reflect on their practice and the needs of the child. This assures the manager that staff are able to meet the Inspection report for children’s home: SC439956 5 needs of the child well. The staff have worked at the home for a number of years, which provides consistency to the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager completes annual reviews of staff performance. However, the manager does not gather feedback from professionals working alongside the member of staff, or the child living in the home, to inform the annual reviews. This is a missed opportunity to help to develop staff practice and care planning.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager understands the strengths and areas for development of the home. She has a development plan that focuses on improving the quality of care provided to the child. The monitoring and review systems help the manager to track patterns and progress and address any shortfalls as they arise.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager welcomes independent scrutiny of the home by an independent person. However, the independent person failed to visit the home, as required, one month. Additionally, three of the independent person reports were not sent to the regulator and, on one occasion, the independent person failed to note whether the child is safeguarded and their well-being promoted. This does not give the regulator swift oversight and scrutiny of the home. Inspection report for children’s home: SC439956 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that the child’s risk management plans reflect the child’s known vulnerabilities and associated risks and give clear strategies to reduce and minimise the risk. 18 August 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit (“the independent person’s report”) which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to—

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Requirement Due date

HMCI. (Regulation 44 (1) (4)(a)(b) (7)(a)) 18 August 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC439956 7

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that any staff using consequences for the child to address poor behaviour are spoken to and reflect on the consequence given. The manager should ensure that they evaluate the consequence with five days. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.38)

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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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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they have a system in place so that all serious events are notified, within 24 hours, to the appropriate people and Ofsted. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.13)

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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: SC439956 8

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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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Inspector

Julie Elder, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC439956 9 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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