Children's Home run by Safe Places for Children UK in Cheshire East

Inspection report for children’s home: 2747567 1 Registered provider: Safe Places for Children UK Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home registered with Ofsted in June 2024 and is operated by a private organisation. It provides care for up to two children who experience social and/or emotional difficulties. At the time of the inspection, one child was living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 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: 2747567 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has moved into the home since it registered with Ofsted. The move was planned well and managed in a child-centred way. The child has been able to personalise their bedroom, and there are family photos displayed around the home. This gives the child a sense of belonging and ownership. The child is developing good relationships with the staff, who are attuned to their needs. The child said, ‘I get on really well with the staff and it is like a home here, not a residential home.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child’s health needs. They are registered with all relevant health services, and referrals to specialist services are made when required. The child has been reluctant to attend some appointments; however, staff have showed an understanding of the underlying reasons for this and are supporting them to attend.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is not currently attending a formal education setting. However, the manager has advocated for the child to have access to a tutor and learning mentor in the home. The manager is working with other professionals to reintegrate the child back into a mainstream school. Staff also encourage activities in the area to allow the child to develop their social skills and form relationships with peers.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Family time is promoted by staff and the manager. The staff have formed good relationships with the child’s family members, which has helped the child to maintain their familial links. Photos and mementos are kept for the child, which supports them to understand and remember their history.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child takes part in a range of leisure activities and is encouraged to develop new interests. The staff use creative ways to engage with the child and bolster their self- esteem. At the time of the inspection, the child was taking part in a ‘November challenge’, whereby they opened a box each day containing a small gift, a statement of one of their positive attributes and an activity to carry out with staff. The child’s feelings and wishes are sought using a variety of techniques, and they are encouraged to attend a staff team meeting each month. Therefore, the child feels listened to and that they have control of their own life.

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

The staff team is committed to the child and ensuring their welfare. The child is developing trusting relationships with staff. Staff take a therapeutic approach and are trained and skilled in de-escalation techniques, which means that incidents are generally well managed.

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

The home is a calm environment with a positive and non-confrontational culture. Positive behaviour is promoted through rewards and incentives, and negative consequences are not used. The child is given regular praise and responds well to this. Inspection report for children’s home: 2747567 3 There have been some missing-from-home episodes for the child. When these have occurred, staff have followed protocols and guidance in the risk assessments. Staff actively search for children and ensure that all relevant parties are informed. Staff are often able to anticipate when the child may struggle to manage their feelings and emotions, which may then cause the child to leave the home without permission. Staff are proactive in attempting to prevent this by providing distraction and comfort to the child at these times.

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

There are plans in place that help the staff to understand how to meet each child’s needs and keep them safe. However, these have not always been updated in a timely manner after changes to the child’s plan.

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

There is a consistent staff team, which means that the child has support from staff who know them well. Staff have a good knowledge of safeguarding procedures and know how to escalate safeguarding concerns.

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

The home is a well-maintained and safe environment for children. Accidents and injuries do not occur often. When they happen, the child is given medical attention swiftly. Medication is managed safely, and comprehensive records are kept.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is suitably experienced and qualified. Her practice is child centred and meets the child’s needs. The manager is supported by an experienced deputy manager and committed staff team. The manager has good oversight of the home and uses a range of effective monitoring systems to review the care that is provided to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Records pertaining to the child are detailed and written in a child-friendly way. However, the staff rota does not always contain details of when the management team is in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say that they feel well supported by the manager and the company as a whole. Staff receive regular supervision sessions, which are of a high standard. This allows them to reflect on their practice and identify any emerging needs for the child. Team meetings are used as a forum for discussion and learning and are held regularly.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have access to a wide range of training. The manager ensures that staff have the skills and knowledge to meet the needs of each child. The manager provides creative resources, such as memory aids, which support the staff to deliver good-quality and consistent care. Some staff are qualified and experienced in childcare. New members of staff complete an induction before being enrolled to attain a recognised childcare qualification.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff and the manager work effectively with other agencies and family members. One independent reviewing officer said, ‘I observed a positive relationship between [name of child] and the staff. I have a very good level of communication with them.’ The manager Inspection report for children’s home: 2747567 4 challenges other professionals when required. The manager attends all relevant meetings and advocates for the child when necessary. Inspection report for children’s home: 2747567 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(v)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that risk assessment documents are updated in a timely manner after changes in the child’s circumstances. 29 January 2025

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that managers’ presence at the home and their working hours are clearly recorded on the staff rota. Regulations 35 to 39 detail the records that must be kept in children’s homes. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3) Inspection report for children’s home: 2747567 6

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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: 2747567 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Safe Places for Children UK

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: First Floor, Triad House, Mountbatten Court, Worrall Street, Congleton, Cheshire East CW12 1DT

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Lorraine Aston-Donley

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Inspector

Eve Ostridge, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2747567 8 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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