Children's home run by Cynhenid Care Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2790296 1 Registered provider: Cynhenid Care Ltd

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Full inspection 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 company. It is registered to provide care for up to two children who may have experienced childhood trauma which has led to unmet emotional needs that require specialist care and support.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and manager registered with Ofsted in July 2024. This is the home’s first inspection since registration. Since the home opened, two children have moved in, and no children have left the home. Both children were spoken to as part of the inspection.

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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: 2790296 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from well-planned and careful transitions into the home. One child had been living at the home for several months before another child moved into the home. Leaders take careful consideration of children’s feelings before big changes regarding their living circumstances are made. The manager has encouraged one parent to visit, to help settle their child into their new home. This has reduced the child’s anxiety and supported their relationship with people who matter to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are positive about living at the home. One child said, ‘I love it here.’ Children have positive relationships with the adults who care for them and staff know children well. This aids staff’s ability to pre-empt difficulties that children may have, and as a result incidents have reduced.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from a well-equipped environment. They have access to a games room which has been furnished with equipment bespoke to their interests. Children use this area to spend quality time with staff and each other, providing them with opportunities for them to have fun and develop social skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have excellent attendance at school and are making good progress with their education. One professional said that a child’s academic achievement was a direct result of the support they receive from staff. He described the care provided to children as ‘phenomenal’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that children’s health needs are appropriately met. Each child has a detailed plan and staff work closely with health professionals. Staff also encourage a healthy lifestyle by promoting balanced diets, physical activity and discussions around emotional well-being. Children engage in cooking lessons with staff. This further supports children to know how to have a balanced lifestyle and will support them when they reach adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children lead active lives with a structured routine. This includes school clubs and a variety of extra-curricular activities. Staff encourage and support children to participate in community groups, such as cadets and football teams. These opportunities keep children engaged and promote their physical and emotional well-being, but also reduce the risk of negative influences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Leaders have ensured that children benefit from a well-resourced and beautifully decorated and homely environment. There is the use of closed-circuit television (CCTV) in the outdoor areas. This is used for the purposes of security. However, leaders have not fully considered how this is balanced against children’s right to privacy. Inspection report for children’s home: 2790296 3

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

Children’s exposure to risk situations is decreasing because of good-quality care. The manager ensures that there are well-structured risk management plans that are regularly reviewed. Staff understand and follow these plans well.

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

Children know how to complain and feel able to raise concerns with staff. When children have complained, they have been listened to by managers and taken seriously. The manager has checked that children are satisfied with the outcome of their complaint. This creates a positive safeguarding culture for children, where they feel able to raise issues if they have them.

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

Staff rarely use consequences, with an emphasis on praise and reward. This helps children learn appropriate socially acceptable behaviour, while nurturing their self- esteem. The manager has good oversight of when consequences have been necessary and takes learning from when these have been ineffective.

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

Room searches have been conducted when needed, and in line with children’s plans. Staff encourage children to participate in these. This approach helps children to understand the reasons for the search, but also supports their feelings of trust and transparency regarding the adults who care for them.

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

Staff undertake regular key-work sessions with children. These sessions are tailored to each child’s needs. For one child, there has been a focus on deterring them from using e-cigarettes. Staff engage children in open conversations around risks and help children to make informed choices. As a result, children have a better awareness of potential dangers and are supported in making healthier choices.

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

Leaders ensure that safe recruitment practices are adhered to. This enables them to be confident that safe adults are working at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is well supported by other organisational leaders and together they make a strong team that places an emphasis on improving outcomes for children. The manager has good monitoring tools which aid his oversight of the home. The responsible individual also oversees the quality of care provided and makes regular visits to the home. Leaders and managers’ oversight has been effective and helps keep track of patterns and trends. As a result, the manager has a good understanding of the impact the quality of care is having on children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff, professionals and children’s family members were unanimously positive about leaders and managers. Staff are positive about the support they receive from their leaders. Communication with professionals and children’s families is highly effective and is a key strength. Inspection report for children’s home: 2790296 4 There is a thorough induction process for new staff. The manager uses regular supervision with staff as a tool for developing their knowledge, with an emphasis on continuous improvement. As a result, staff are confident and competent in their roles and turnover of staff has been low. This promotes consistency of care to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers and staff have access to specialist support from a therapist. Monthly meetings take place with staff, managers and the therapist. Regular consultations ensure that plans remain dynamic and improve staff’s psychological understanding. This contributes to them supporting children’s emotional resilience and long-term development effectively. Inspection report for children’s home: 2790296 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 may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy.

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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: 2790296 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Swift Accountants, 1b Chowley Court, Chowley Oak Business Park, Bolesworth Estate, Chester, Cheshire CH3 9GA

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Inspector

Chrisoula Contoyianni, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2790296 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 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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Inspector

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