Children's Home run by Courtyard Care Limited in Warrington

Inspection report for children’s home: 2620865 1 Registered provider: Courtyard Care 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

This children’s home is operated by a private organisation. It is registered to provide care for up to five children who may have learning disabilities, physical disabilities and/or sensory impairments. At the time of the inspection, four children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager in post since April 2024.

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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 requires improvement to be 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 is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

Following an inadequate judgement at the last full inspection on 24 April 2024, compliance notices were issued under regulation 10, the health and well-being standard and regulation 13, the leadership and management standard. Inspection report for children’s home: 2620865 2 Ofsted carried out an unannounced visit to monitor these compliance notices on 15 May 2024. A case review considered this visit and it was agreed that the provider had met the actions required in the compliance notices. Inspection report for children’s home: 2620865 3

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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: 2620865 4

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improvement to be good

Since the last visit, the provider has reduced the numbers of children it cares for. One child has returned to live with their family. The child had a leaving party that was enjoyed by all. This provided all children with the opportunity to say goodbye.

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improvement to be good

Children take part in lots of different activities both in the home, garden and the community. Staff ensure that children’s disabilities are not a barrier to having fun. Children have attended community fun days, theme parks and the zoo. Children are also supported to enjoy different sensory experiences, including sensory rooms, messy play and spending time with animals.

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improvement to be good

Children attend education. For one child, attendance at college has improved due to improved plans for his transport. Staff continue to support children with their learning in the home. This includes developing emotional literacy and learning life skills.

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improvement to be good

Children have complex needs and are supported by staff who know them well. However, children are not provided with communication resources, as identified in their care plans. This means that children are not encouraged to develop their communication skills. This impacts on their ability to make choices and express their views, wishes and feelings.

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improvement to be good

Staff support children to maintain relationships with their families. They promote and enable family time. One parent said, ‘They care for [my child] like I would.’

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improvement to be good

Children’s plans do not always reflect their current needs. This includes the use of aids to support children’s individual health needs. This is confusing for staff and does not ensure that children are receiving the correct care and support.

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improvement to be good

This home cares for children who have significant healthcare needs. While there have been improvements since the last visit, there remain shortfalls that require the provider to make improvements.

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improvement to be good

Children receive the necessary chest physiotherapy to maintain their well-being and reduce the need for hospital visits. Children are also supported to use standing frames, and the staff ensure that they follow children’s movement plans. However, for one child, their assessed sleep system has not been used consistently, as directed by the child’s physiotherapist. This means there is a potential for the child’s posture to worsen if this is not used as instructed. Inspection report for children’s home: 2620865 5 There has been one medication error. This is a significant reduction and shows that the new plans for the administration of medication are working. The discrepancy was quickly identified, and shortfalls in staff practice were addressed by the interim manager.

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improvement to be good

The interim manager has worked hard to ensure that there have been sufficient staffing levels in place. The use of a nursing agency has ensured that there has always been skilled and experienced staff on duty. This is essential to maintain children’s safety.

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good

Despite attempts made by the provider, the home does not have a registered manager. Staff have been supported by an interim manager, who divides her time between two homes. A recently appointed deputy and the senior leadership team also provide support.

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good

The practice educator post is also vacant. However, the interim manager has ensured that there are adequate plans in place for staff to receive the training and competency assessments needed to support children with their healthcare needs.

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good

The turnover of staff has stabilised since the last visit, and there have been new staff who have joined the team. However, the rotas do not always include the hours the interim manager has worked or the names of agency staff.

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good

Not all children have up-to-date plans from their local authorities. The interim manager has requested these; however, the requests have not been escalated as a concern.

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good

Staff say they feel supported by the management arrangements. They say that they are now receiving supervision. However, agency staff have not had supervisions. This fails to ensure that all staff reflect on their practice, discuss the care of the children or address developmental needs.

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good

Team meetings take place regularly. They allow time for reflection on past strategies. They have a focus on continuous improvement and provide emotional support to team members. This ensures that the well-being and development of the children are prioritised.

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good

A quality of care review has not been completed or submitted. This reduces the regulator’s oversight of the home and of the children’s progress. Inspection report for children’s home: 2620865 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 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; and

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Requirement Due date

is not, or does not intend to be, in day-to-day charge 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 name of the person so appointed; and

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Requirement Due date

the date on which the appointment takes effect. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii) (2)(a)(b)) 27 September

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a disabled child accommodated in the home is provided with access to such aids and equipment as the child may require as a result of the child’s disability in order to facilitate the child’s communication with other persons. (Regulation 22 (2))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that children are provided with specific aids to meet their individual needs, such as hearing aids. 27 September

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met; 27 September Inspection report for children’s home: 2620865 7 children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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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

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to children using assessed equipment as appropriate, in line with their plans.

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs;

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans; and

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Requirement Due date

seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5 (a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager should ensure that the home has up- to-date care planning information from the placing authority, and if this is not provided, that the manager escalates their concerns within the local authority. 27 September

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Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home. 27 September Inspection report for children’s home: 2620865 8 The registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4. (Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the provider needs to demonstrate that the full names of all staff are recorded on the rota, including the manager.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality-of-care review”) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that when completing a quality of care review, children’s feedback must be taken into consideration and evidenced in the report. 27 September

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Recommendation

 The registered person must have systems in place so that all staff receive supervision of their practice which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)

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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 Inspection report for children’s home: 2620865 9 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: 2620865 10

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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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Inspectors

Kerri Lynch, Social Care Inspector Jennifer Quest, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2620865 11 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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