Children's Home run by Active Ark Limited in Cumberland

Inspection report for children’s home: 1263126 1 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. It 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 manager registered with Ofsted in August 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was 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 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: 1263126 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: 1263126 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The needs, risks and vulnerabilities of the child are known and understood by staff. Staff have developed effective relationships with the child through nurture and support. This has resulted in a stable placement that has helped the child to mature.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has made significant progress from their starting point in all areas and has matured into a child who is aspirational and knows what is needed to achieve their goals. The child has recently enrolled on a college course to help the progress of their career.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Key-work sessions are carried out regularly and have proven vital in providing information and knowledge to the child to understand her life’s journey so far.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Care plans provide clear information for staff so that they can help and support the child in the most effective way. However, recording is not always accurate or detailed in the correct area on the electronic system, which can lead to inconsistent practice.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Relationships with family and friends are encouraged and supported by staff. This will help the child to develop resilience factors that will be important as they transition to adulthood.

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

The child says they feel safe in the home and describe the staff as being ‘like family’. Risk assessments are updated and offer clear strategies to staff to help keep the child increasingly safe. The lack of dates and data included in the assessments means that staff could be confused regarding the accuracy of the current risk rating.

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

Incidents are well recorded and monitored by the management team. However, a review of the records showed an incident where an allegation against a member of staff had not been reported to Ofsted. This prevents Ofsted from ensuring that all necessary action has been taken to protect the child. In this case, the management team did everything necessary to protect the child and notified all other relevant professionals.

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

Staff follow the protocols in place when children go missing from the home, and they ensure that return home interviews take place. This ensures that the child has someone independent of the home to talk to and helps to develop strategies to prevent further incidents. This has resulted in a reduction of incidents, and the last few incidents have been late returns.

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

Room searches are carried out regularly because of the child’s self-injurious behaviour. The child is aware of the reasons for these and accepts that they are to ensure safety. The child is involved in reviewing risk assessments and care plans, Inspection report for children’s home: 1263126 4 which helps them to understand the reasons for boundaries and strategies to minimise risk.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is newly registered but has made a difference to practice and the child’s self-esteem since coming into post in April 2024. This has been commented on consistently by staff and other professionals. A social worker said, ‘Communication and partnership working has improved since [name of manager]’s arrival.’ The manager is supported by a stable team of committed staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings take place regularly and include discussions about the child’s progress as well as any changes to practice. However, these are not always well attended by staff, which means that there is a missed opportunity for reflection and discussion.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervision sessions take place, and there are comprehensive notes of these sessions. The manager has started the appraisal process for all staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Training is comprehensive, and staff are suitably qualified or are working towards relevant qualifications.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has completed her review of the quality of care report, which includes an action plan for the next six months. However, there is little inclusion of consultation with others. The manager does undertake such consultations, which has included very positive feedback, but has not included them in the last report.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager responds to recommendations made by the independent visitor. However, not all required elements of the independent visitor report are covered each time a visit takes place. Inspection report for children’s home: 1263126 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 person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there.

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified;

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

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Requirement Due date

must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40 (4)(c) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b)) 13 September

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager should ensure that all recordings are accurate. 13 September Inspection report for children’s home: 1263126 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff record dates and data in risk assessments. This will help staff to have an accurate evaluation of risk. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)  The registered person should ensure that staff regularly attend team meetings to increase their knowledge and skills. This will also help ensure consistency of practice. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.20)  The registered person should ensure that the review of the quality of care report contains feedback from those involved in the child’s life as well as the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.2)  The registered person should ensure that the independent person gathers feedback from the child, parents and staff. In addition, they must ensure that the

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Recommendations

visitor reviews the record of fire drills. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.8)

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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: 1263126 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: 1263126 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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