Children's Home run by Cornerstone Children’s Homes Limited in Stockport

Inspection report for children’s home: SC394478 1 SC394478 Registered provider: Cornerstone Children’s Homes Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private company and is registered to provide care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, two children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has applied to register with Ofsted.

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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

Date of last inspection: 29 November 2023

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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 for children’s home: SC394478 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/11/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 11/01/2023 Full Good 08/03/2022 Full Outstanding 28/01/2020 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: SC394478 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, two children have moved out of the home and two children have moved in. Moves into the home are planned and managed in a child-centred way. The children have developed positive relationships with staff, who know them well and are attuned to their needs. The manager and staff care about the children and want them to do well.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff and the manager ensure that children are supported to maintain relationships with the people who are important to them. Staff transport children considerable distances to see their friends, which helps them to maintain friendships and gives them opportunities for social interaction with their peers.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children’s individual health needs. They ensure that children have good access to local healthcare services when they are required. One child has been supported to start using contact lenses after refusing to wear glasses for a considerable length of time. Healthy eating habits are encouraged. Children and staff grow a variety of vegetables in the garden, which are then used in meals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children are not currently in education. The manager is working with education professionals to source a suitable provision for another child who has recently moved into the home. However, the manager has been successful in advocating for one child to attend an education setting that will meet their needs from September 2024.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child’s educational engagement has been hampered by a disordered sleep pattern. Staff attempt to promote education in the home and are providing some creative opportunities to learn. However, the accessibility of electronic devices in the child’s bedroom has affected the child’s routines at night.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children have opportunities to express their feelings and wishes. They are supported to take part in activities and clubs that interest them. One child said, ‘The best thing about the home is all the activities.’ Staff nurture the children’s talents. For instance, the manager has sourced a work experience opportunity at a local cycle shop for a child who enjoys fixing bicycles.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is spacious and has areas dedicated to the children’s interests, such as a cinema room and gym area. The property is generally well maintained. However, there has been some damage to one child’s bedroom door that has not been addressed in a timely manner.

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

The children have positive and trusting relationships with staff in the home. Interactions between the children and staff show that the children feel safe with the staff. Inspection report for children’s home: SC394478 4 Positive behaviour is promoted at the home through rewards. When negative consequences are given, they are proportionate, fair and usually take a restorative approach.

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

There are clear plans in place that help the staff to understand how to meet each child’s individual needs. Incidents are generally well managed, and staff are trained and skilled in de-escalation techniques. This promotes a positive and non-confrontational culture.

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

Physical intervention techniques are rarely used. When they are, they are proportionate and necessary. However, some records are lacking detail and evaluation from the manager. This prevents learning from the inciden t and identification of any patterns and trends.

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

Missing-from-home incidents are rare and there are clear processes in place to prevent and manage these.

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

Staff receive a broad range of good-quality training in safeguarding matters and know how to escalate safeguarding concerns. There is good communication with safeguarding partners in the local authority.

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

Children understand how to make a complaint and are supported by staff and the manager to express their views.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has been in post for three months and is currently applying to register with Ofsted. Her practice is child centred and meets each child’s needs. One social worker said, ‘I have been impressed with [name of home], the manager is very child focused and experienced.’ The manager and responsible individual have a clear aspiration to improve the home and are putting systems in place to increase the overall effectiveness of the care provided.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been several new members of staff recruited, which means that there has been a reduction in the use of agency staff. However, safer recruitment practices have not always been followed. In one case, a full employment history has not been provided.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a comprehensive training programme in place, which ensures that staff have the necessary skills to meet the needs of the children living in the home. Some staff are qualified and experienced in childcare. New members of staff complete an induction before being registered to attain a recognised childcare qualification. The manager supports staff to progress in their career through a programme of continuous development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say they feel well supported by the manager and the responsible individual. Staff receive regular supervision, which is of good quality, evaluative and reflective. Team meetings are used as a forum for discussion and learning and are held regularly. Inspection report for children’s home: SC394478 5 Staff and the manager work effectively with other agencies and professionals. They provide effective challenge when necessary to secure the best outcome for the child and ensure that their voice is heard.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have taken action to address the shortfalls identified at the last full inspection and subsequent monitoring visit. Inspection report for children’s home: SC394478 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 registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a) (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that a full employment history is obtained for all staff employed. Additionally, any gaps in employment must be fully explored and analysed. 15 October 2024

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that records of restraint are kept and that these enable the registered person and staff to review the use of control, discipline and restraint to identify effective practice and respond promptly where any issues or trends of concern emerge. The review should provide the opportunity for amending practice to ensure that it meets the needs of each child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.59)  The registered person should ensure that the routines in the home do not prevent children from learning. This specifically relates to ensuring that technology is removed from children’s bedrooms at night if this is preventing them from sleeping. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 29, paragraph 5.18)  The registered person should ensure that the home is a welcoming and homely

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Recommendations

environment. This specifically relates to ensuring that damage to the home is identified and rectified in a timely manner. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) Inspection report for children’s home: SC394478 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: SC394478 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cornerstone Children’s Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 4th Floor, Centenary House, Centenary Way, Manchester M50 1RF

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Inspector

Eve Ostridge, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC394478 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 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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