Children's home run by Active Ark Limited in Cumberland

Inspection report for children’s home: SC465634 1 SC465634 Registered provider: Active Ark Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private company. The home provides care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The post for a registered manager is vacant. The deputy manager is in day-to-day charge of the home.

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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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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 requires improvement to be 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: 10 and 11 July 2023

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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: SC465634 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/07/2023 Full Good 16/11/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 23/02/2022 Full Good 05/08/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC465634 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children are supported to develop trusting relationships by a team of knowledgeable and nurturing staff. The children say that they like living in the home and can identify a trusted adult. The children can recognise the progress they have made from their starting points.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s engagement in their education is well supported. The deputy manager and staff advocate on behalf of children to ensure that their education provision suits their needs. The staff work with school staff to ensure that a cohesive approach to managing behaviour is followed by both provisions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children and staff recently moved out of the home for an extended period while the home underwent renovation. During this time, the children experienced three different types of holiday activities, which has enhanced their understanding of what they like and do not like to do. As a result of the improvements made, the house is a warm, welcoming and well-maintained environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views and opinions matter in the home. They contribute to the choices of menu, activities and decor, and they can say if they are unhappy about any aspect of their care. This promotes children’s self-esteem and mental well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Good health, including positive mental health, is promoted by the staff. This forms a large part of the key-work sessions that are regularly held. Both children have had medical reviews. One report highlights that the child has not received their early childhood immunisations, and this had not been followed up. The deputy manager responded immediately, and appointments were arranged during the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are helped to maintain relationships with their family and other people who are important to them, and they are encouraged and supported to develop new friendships. Families are positive about the care offered and the support they and their child receive from the staff. One parent said, ‘They are more like extended family.’

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

Children say that they feel safe living in the home and can share their worries and concerns with staff. Care plans and risk management plans reflect this and give clear strategies to staff about how to support the children to stay increasingly safe.

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

Behaviour is well managed. Staff take a rewards and incentives approach, which works well. Incidents are well recorded, and information is forwarded on to the relevant professionals, including Ofsted, when necessary. However, at times, the language used in the records is judgemental. The deputy manager has already organised training to help with this, but it is not yet embedded in practice. Inspection report for children’s home: SC465634 4 Children rarely go missing from the home. However, if they do, staff are aware of the actions they must take to safeguard children and ensure their early, safe return. Police protocols are updated regularly to ensure that the most up-to-date information about children is available should the situation occur.

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good

The home has not had a registered manager for some time. The responsible individual has kept Ofsted informed of management arrangements. The deputy manager is in day-to-day control of the home and is proving to be knowledgeable and supportive of her staff.

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good

Staff say that they feel well supported and that the deputy is approachable should an issue arise. Supervision is regular and is well recorded. It includes reflections by staff on their own behaviour and praise and support for colleagues. This helps to ensure that children receive a consistent level of care.

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good

Induction records are detailed, and staff say that they feel very well supported and trained throughout their induction. However, the training matrix shows that updated training for staff who have been working in the home for a longer length of time has not been completed. All training takes place online and includes a wide range of topics. However, training is limited in terms of the method of delivery as it does not take account of the staff who learn better in other ways.

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good

The deputy responds well to the reports by the independent person. However, consultation by the visitor with parents and staff is often lacking.

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good

The responsible individual supports the deputy manager well in the current circumstances. Inspection report for children’s home: SC465634 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 registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home.

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Requirement Due date

If the registered provider appoints a person to manage the home, the registered provider must, without delay, give HMCI notice of—

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Requirement Due date

the date on which the appointment takes effect. (Regulation 27 (1)(a) (2)(a)(b)) 31 October 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development. (Regulation 33 (4)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff keep up to date with training and can undertake training face to face. 1 January 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: SC465634 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff follow up any recommendations made in children’s health reports. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 33, paragraph 7.4)  The registered person should ensure that staff record information about individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)  The registered person should ensure that the independent visitor seeks the views of the children, parents, and staff working in the home and takes account of their feedback. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.5)

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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 for children’s home: SC465634 7

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Sue Atkinson-Millmoor, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC465634 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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