Children's home run by Homes for Support

Inspection report for children’s home: 2592713 1 Registered provider: Homes for Support Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private organisation. It provides care for up to five children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, three children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2023.

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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: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2592713 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/01/2024 Full Good 28/09/2022 Full Good 10/05/2022 Full Inadequate 01/02/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2592713 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are happy, settled and make exceptional progress in all areas of their lives. Children view the home as their home and are enabled to thrive through the nurturing and supportive care they receive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Planning for children’s care is outstanding. Children are fully involved in every aspect of their care. They consistently engage with staff in the development and review of their plans. This means that children understand the placement targets and the long-term arrangements for their care. As a result, children feel in control of their lives and are completely invested in their care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are helped and supported by a range of external agencies. Bespoke plans are created and designed to meet children’s individual needs and help them to make sense of their lives. As a result, when the time comes, children move on from this home with positive aspirations and continued support to aid their future life chances.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children to engage in meaningful discussions and key-work sessions about their lived experiences. As a result, children learn to express their emotions and begin to make sense of their lives in a safe and supportive environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Education is prioritised. All children attend mainstream schools. Since coming to live at this home, children’s attendance and attainment have significantly improved. The manager actively advocates on behalf of children and is confident in challenging plans that fall short of offering children the support they require.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children’s health is meticulously managed and regularly reviewed. Children who experience anxieties regarding healthcare appointments are provided with unwavering support that helps them to overcome their fears. As a result, children are registered with local practitioners and attend routine and specialist appointments.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children’s experiences in the home are documented as ‘my life in pictures’. The memory books and boxes provide a colourful anecdote of the child’s relationships, activities and achievements. Likewise, family time books provide opportunities for staff and families to share photos, activities and plans. The books have proven to help strengthen relationships with children and the professionals who care for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Family time is extremely well supported. Staff work with families to develop and replicate the home’s boundaries and serve as excellent role models for families and children. As a result, some children return to live with their families with the continued support of the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2592713 4 Consultation with children is prioritised in this home. Children are central to how the home operates, and their views and opinions are consistently sought, considered and where possible acted on.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children enjoy a healthy, balanced and nutritious diet. Care is taken to understand each child’s dietary habits, and, with the help of external services, small steps are taken to educate children on healthy eating and how this affects their physical and emotional health.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are supported to develop individual interests and hobbies alongside developing friendships in the community. As a result, children attend Scouts, swimming and football clubs. In addition, children enjoy a range of community activities, including hiking, trampolining and physical obstacle course events. Photos of children are proudly displayed throughout the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children develop in self-esteem and confidence. They take pride in their appearance and recognise that they are valued, respected and loved in this home.

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

Parents and external professionals hold this home in high regard. They say that the children are safe and that the manager and staff have a comprehensive understanding of each child.

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

Children are settled and have excellent relationships with staff. The children who frequently went missing from home before moving into this home no longer go missing.

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

Assessments that identify and manage risks are thorough and provide staff with clear guidance and strategies to keep children safe.

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

Staff are in tune with the children. They recognise a change in mood or if something is worrying the child. They pre-empt a child’s difficulties in managing their emotions and work with them to help them recognise and understand their own feelings. Children learn how to ask for help and express themselves safely.

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

Staff understand that children’s behaviours are a response to a past event or situation. They are patient, empathetic and consistent in their approach to children. One child said, ‘The staff are safe. They listen to us and help us. We sort things out together.’ This approach has steered the children to make positive and informed life choices. Since the last inspection, there is a significant decrease in children exhibiting challenging behaviours.

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

Staff are trained in the use of holding a child to keep them safe. When this is necessary, interventions are brief and managed safely. Records indicate that children are provided with a debrief and a key-work session, and full reports are provided to the placing authority and family member. Inspection report for children’s home: 2592713 5 Children are provided with consistent routines and boundaries to support their safety in the home and the community. Staff use reward charts and incentive boards to help children understand how their behaviour can affect themselves and others and support them to understand how to make things right.

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

Children are provided with their placing authority’s complaints procedure, the home’s complaints procedure and external helpline numbers in the event they should want to raise a concern. No complaints have been raised by children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and staff have an exceptional understanding of children’s individual needs and aspirations. They are passionate about the service they provide and consistently strive to ensure that the children experience positive and effective care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive both bespoke and mandatory training to equip them for their roles in the home. This training ensures that staff are provided with new and unique opportunities to further develop their skills and knowledge. For example, staff have received PACE training at level 2 and receive consistent mental health training and support from an external therapist.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are provided with consistent supervision. One staff member said, ‘The manager is incredibly supportive and is always on hand for advice. She seeks out new training opportunities to help develop our work with the children. She is invested in the team.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

External monitoring reports are improved and are consistently provided to Ofsted. The reports provide a detailed analysis of the impact of the care being provided to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager’s internal monitoring systems are thorough. The manager and responsible individual work together to assess the home’s provision and develop specific plans for individual children. The manager and staff have regular consultation with children, parents and professionals, and this serves to inform the development of the home. Feedback is overwhelmingly positive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager’s quality of care review is consistently carried out. The report is strengthened by the inclusion of a detailed development plan and feedback from parents, children and professionals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The care in the home is based on the theoretical framework of trauma-informed parenting, PACE, and attachment theory. The frameworks are threaded throughout all the systems and work carried out with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager places enormous value on the children’s happiness and safety and their sense of a ‘natural growing-up experience.’ As a result, parents and professionals say that children are making excellent progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

No requirements or recommendations were made at this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: 2592713 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: 2592713 7

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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: 2592713 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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