Children's Home run by Icare Solutions Stockport Limited in Warrington

Inspection report for children’s home: 2779064 1 Registered provider: ICare Solutions Stockport Limited

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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 provider and is registered to provide care for three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2024 but then left the home in October 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 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: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2779064 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both children were present during the inspection and spoke with the inspector. Both children are new to the home and are getting to know staff. Staff create a positive atmosphere for children to feel settled and relaxed. The atmosphere in the home is warm and welcoming. Children are encouraged to personalise their own bedrooms. Communal areas are nice spaces, where children can relax and play games.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have been sensitively supported to move in. Staff ensured that they consulted with the child, their family and professionals such as social workers to understand the child’s needs. A detailed assessment considers the experience and skills of the staff team to ensure that children receive high-quality care. Children already living in the home are consulted so that they are prepared for when new children come to live with them. This gives children a sense of permanence and belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are beginning to spend more time with staff and have fun. They are encouraged to spend time with each other and enjoy activities at home such as bake-off competitions. One child said that they have developed a good relationship with a member of staff who is supporting and encouraging them to make healthy lifestyle choices and going to the gym with them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child attends school full time. The other child is attending on a part-time basis at an alternative provision. Leaders and staff are promote children’s educational needs and have challenged the placing authority and headteacher of the virtual school to advocate for a full return. Children’s skills are recognised, and one child is being supported practically by local police to have training in bicycle mechanics. This means children are developing their confidence.

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

Children can identify a trusted adult they can talk to about any concerns. When children have made an allegation, they have been listened to and taken seriously. Staff understand their roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children. Staff are clear about, and follow, procedures for responding to concerns about the safety of a child. Any concerns have been responded to quickly, so children are kept safe.

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

Children’s risks are clearly understood. Assessments include the views of children, parents and professionals. Staff understand their roles and responsibilities to reduce risk. Risks associated with criminal exploitation are clearly understood and specialist support is in place. Children are supported to understand how they can keep safe, with clear boundaries in place. Risks for one child have significantly reduced.

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

Children have clear plans in place should they go missing from home. Plans set out the action that staff need to take, such as following children to encourage them to return Inspection report for children’s home: 2779064 3 home. Plans are revised, when necessary, for example, putting in place waking night staff to reduce further risk of harm. When children return to the home, they are supported to speak to an independent person so that the reasons they have been missing can be understood.

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

Staff know which people are important to the child. They support children to spend time with their family. When arrangements may be unsafe, staff appropriately challenge the local authority to ensure that decisions are made in the best interests of children. Staff ensure that they maintain contact and regularly review arrangements, through meetings with partner agencies such as police and social workers.

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

Careful recruitment processes ensure that staff are suitable and safe to work with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the home was registered, there has been a change in management arrangements. The registered manager left in October 2024. Interim arrangements are in place, with the deputy manager, responsible individual and area manager responsible for the day-to- day running of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers identified some shortfalls in the induction training for the new staff team. This was quickly addressed and staff are now confident in their roles and responsibilities. Staff said they feel valued and supported and that children are placed at the centre of their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers lead by example and are visible in the home to staff and children. Regular observations of staff practice have led to a detailed understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for improvement. Staff are receiving continued training and, as a result, the quality of children’s records has improved.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers are continually reflecting and reviewing the quality of care provided to children. Team meetings and supervision take place regularly and are practice related, evaluative and used as an opportunity to consider training and development so that practice is improved. This enables good practice to thrive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers and staff have used a range of feedback from parents, children and external professionals to identify the home’s strengths and weaknesses. This has been used to inform the home’s development plan.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

No requirements or recommendations were made following this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: 2779064 4

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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: 2779064 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: ICare Solutions Stockport Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 101 Wellington Road North, Stockport SK4 2LP

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Inspector

Nicola Forrester, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2779064 6 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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