Children's home run by Homes for Support

Inspection report for children’s home: 2787878 1 Registered provider: Homes for Support 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 owned and managed by a private organisation. The home provides care for up to four 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 August 2024, when the home was registered.

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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: 2787878 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Care planning for children is good. Children’s individual plans identify their targets and the support they require to achieve them. Regular discussions take place with the children. Children actively engage in these discussions and, as a result, they make good progress in reaching their individual goals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s educational attendance and attainment are improving. This is because children are supported with bespoke programmes in their mainstream education placements. Children have aspirations for their future and engage well with the external agencies supporting them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s physical health is suitably managed. Children are registered with healthcare professionals and are supported to attend all routine appointments. Children’s emotional health is prioritised. Children receive regular sessions from external therapeutic services. These sessions help children begin to understand their lives and their emotions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have been successfully encouraged to take part in community and individual activities. They enjoy BMX cycling and climbing and regularly attend local activity centres. Children enjoy indoor activities in a bespoke sensory room. This provides a quiet space for children to relax and do arts and crafts and play board games.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff understand the importance of children maintaining positive relationships with family and friends. Because of this, children are supported to have regular visits with the important people in their lives. When necessary, the staff provide support to ensure that children enjoy quality time with their loved ones.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Consultation with children takes place regularly through children’s meetings, direct-work sessions and ‘you said we did’ forms. Children engage in these sessions and offer their own views and suggestions. When appropriate, staff respond to suggestions and make necessary changes. This can be seen in the decor children have chosen for their bedrooms and the living areas, and their involvement in choosing activities and menus.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The property is spacious, warm and welcoming. Photos of children are displayed around the home alongside drawings and other artwork. Children’s bedrooms are decorated in a style of their choice and contain toys, books and visual reminders of daily routines and targets. Although the carpet in one child’s bedroom had been cleaned, it continues to have an unpleasant smell and is being replaced.

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

When safeguarding concerns arise, staff follow the correct procedures. There is effective communication with relevant professionals. Children have clear safety plans in place, with guidance and actions for staff to follow. Inspection report for children’s home: 2787878 3 Staff have a good understanding of the children’s needs and the steps to follow to keep them safe. All incidents are recorded and reviewed by the manager and responsible individual. Risk assessments include the views of children and actions to mitigate risks are clear. Incidents are followed up by the key worker and debrief sessions focus on keeping children safe. However, when children decline a debrief session, opportunities to revisit this are not taken up by staff.

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

Since the home was registered in August 2024, there has been a short period of unsettled behaviour, resulting in children being reported as missing from home. During this time, staff followed the missing-from-home protocol and were proactive in searching for the children. The staff work well with other professionals to ensure that the relevant agencies are kept informed and children are returned quickly and safely to the home. Return home interviews take place and are used to inform discussions with children focusing on the risks and dangers when they are missing from home.

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

Children’s behaviour is managed using the PACE model of playfulness, acceptance, curiosity and empathy. This approach provides the framework for supporting children at times of emotional and behavioural challenges. As a result, children are listened to and understood and feel safe to express their emotions in a safe and supportive environment.

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

Staff are trained in holding a child to keep them safe if they are at risk of harm. There have been three recorded occasions when children have been guided away from danger. The interventions are brief, clearly recorded and shared with the placing authority.

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

Information about how to make a complaint is contained in the home’s children’s guide. Children confirm they have received a copy of the guide and understand how to make a complaint. There have been no complaints since the home was registered. In the event of an allegation against staff, the manager takes swift action to safeguard the child and alert the appropriate agencies in accordance with the home’s safeguarding policy.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff team create a caring and supportive culture in which children can grow. The children receive informed and consistent good-quality care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Half the staff team have successfully completed a relevant childcare qualification. Staff receive consistent and targeted training, including clinical input, to assist them in how they support the children. Staff complete a range of online learning to help to broaden their knowledge and skills.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager leads from the front. She provides regular formal and informal supervision and guides the staff in the development of a safe and nurturing environment for children. There is a consistent staff team. Staff say that they are happy in their roles and that they receive a high level of consistent support and guidance. Inspection report for children’s home: 2787878 4 External monitoring by an independent person has been improved. However, the report does not consistently include feedback from parents, professionals and children. This feedback is important in the overall analysis of the care provided in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The team works closely together to create an environment where the children are safe, valued, respected and accepted. This is evident in the progress children make and their achievements. Inspection report for children’s home: 2787878 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that when a child has been missing from home, opportunities to revisit a debrief are in place should a child not initially engage. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.27)  The registered person should ensure that the independent person’s report consistently includes feedback from external professionals, families and children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24)  The registered person should ensure that, where necessary, new floor coverings are provided in children’s bedrooms. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 17, paragraph 3.24)

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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: 2787878 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Homes for Support Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Northern House, 3 Kennerleys Lane, Wilmslow SK9 5EQ

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Inspector

Maria McGranaghan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2787878 7 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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