Children's home run by Cherry Trees Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: SC013598 1 SC013598

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Registered provider: Cherry Trees 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

The home is registered for up to 14 children with a wide range of learning disabilities and/or physical disabilities, as well as sensory impairments. The home is owned by a charitable organisation and provides overnight short breaks on a planned basis. The home provides child-centred, personalised care for 54 children.

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Information about this children’s home

There were four children staying at the short-breaks service at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since May 2019.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC013598 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/03/2024 Full Outstanding 07/12/2022 Full Outstanding 13/04/2021 Full Good 29/01/2020 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC013598 3

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outstanding

Children are provided with exceptional care. They build secure and trusting relationships with staff, who make them feel valued and cherished. Relationships between children and the staff support the children to thrive.

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outstanding

The home is welcoming, spacious, vibrant and child-centred throughout. Children benefit from good-quality accommodation that has ample room for communal living. It is designed in a way that gives children places to spend time together or to be on their own if they wish. There are separate areas in the home to meet the needs of children, for example the cinema room, sensory room and ‘the den’, where children enjoy playing tabletop games such as pool and air hockey.

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outstanding

Children make exceptional progress at the home, and this has a positive impact on their lives. Children are celebrated. Staff support children to feel valued, with their achievements being proudly displayed on an ‘achievers’ tree’. Photos of the children are displayed throughout the home and sent home to families. This helps children to feel positive about themselves and enhances their self-esteem.

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outstanding

Children’s views are sought regularly and are highly valued. Staff listen to children and support them to influence the way they are cared for. Children have warm and nurturing relationships with staff who strive for them to achieve. Staff have a meticulous understanding of each child and how to tailor the support needed to meet their individual needs.

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outstanding

Children are encouraged to participate in activities in and outside of the home that promote their sense of achievement, confidence and self-worth. Experiences such as driving a speed boat, visiting London and visiting farms and zoos offer unique opportunities to build social connections with staff and other children.

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outstanding

Parents value and praise the quality of care and attention that staff give to their children. One parent said, ‘I don’t know how I would cope without the home; as a family, we have been to events: Easter and Christmas as a whole family, which has been essential.’ Another parent said, ‘If there weren’t the short breaks, I don’t think my child would have stayed at home.’

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outstanding

Safeguarding processes are clear and transparent. Safeguarding records are detailed and comprehensive, and concerns are acted on swiftly. The registered manager and staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities and ensure that they work together with other professionals. They are curious when looking at changes in Inspection report for children’s home: SC013598 4 children’s presentations and behaviours, which are discussed openly as a team and with wider professionals.

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outstanding

Staff demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of children’s needs and risks, and there is a child-focused culture which means that all children are encouraged to grow and develop in accordance with their presenting needs. Strategies to help keep children safe are clearly set out in children’s individual risk assessments, which are reviewed frequently. Children are supported to learn new skills to keep themselves safe and promote their independence and well-being.

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outstanding

Health and safety monitoring of the home is thorough. All checks are completed as required with strong management scrutiny. There are excellent individualised plans in line with children’s needs and understanding of emergency evacuations and danger. Children are protected from unsuitable people working in the home through the careful and thoughtful application of safer recruitment practice.

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outstanding

There is a robust process for managing and administering medication. A clear recording system helps to ensure safety when signing medicines in and out of the home. Records of gastrostomy feeding and medication are meticulous.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is extremely dedicated and constantly looking to improve the experiences for the children. They ensure that everyone has high expectations for what all children can achieve. This results in an approach that successfully focuses on improving children’s quality of life and that of their families.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is well respected by all who work with her. They display an unwavering desire for providing the best possible care for children, and this influences the dedicated staff in the home. Staff are proud of their contribution in helping children to succeed. This means that the children are provided with exceptional care from staff, who have a genuine commitment to achieving the best outcomes for them and who want children to flourish.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is enthusiastic about the quality of care provided to children and knows the strengths and weaknesses of the home. They have an effective development plan for the home that identifies relevant actions to improve. Senior staff model excellent practice, ensuring high expectations of care for children. Children are cared for consistently in line with the home’s ethos and statement of purpose.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There is a strong sense of community within the staff team, the local village and the families of children who attend the home. Events arranged for children and their families are exceptional and give families opportunities that they may not be able to experience otherwise. Inspection report for children’s home: SC013598 5 The registered manager has good oversight of day-to-day practice and staff’s ability to provide high levels of care; however, inconsistencies in recording and capturing this practice do not champion the excellent work that is occurring in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The highly motivated team of staff are supported to develop their extensive skills through training and experience. This means that the care the children receive is of the highest standard, with staff skilfully providing guidance and support to each child and their individual needs. Inspection report for children’s home: SC013598 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. 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)

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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: SC013598 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cherry Trees Limited

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Inspectors

Hannah Cox, Social Care Inspector Becky Paradise, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC013598 8 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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