Children's Home run by Chillington Close Ltd in Staffordshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2718786 1 Registered provider: Chillington Close 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 owned by a private company. It provides care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2024 and is suitably qualified.

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Information about this children’s home

One child was living in the home at the time of the inspection. The child was present during the inspection and spoke with the inspector.

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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: 14 February 2024

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2718786 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/02/2024 Full Good 31/10/2023 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: 2718786 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, two children have moved out of the home and one child has moved in. Children’s moves into and out of the home are planned and well coordinated. Children move into the home in an organised and sensitive way, taking into account their age and level of understanding. Before children move in, they meet with staff and have sleepovers to become accustomed to a change in care providers. The children’s guide takes the form of a board game so that information is provided to young children in an engaging and accessible way.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff adjust their care practice quickly to the particular needs of the child they are caring for. Staff care for children in a fun, creative and patient way that engages children. Consequently, worrying behaviours stop or significantly reduce.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make progress. One child is making significant progress from their starting point due to the care and dedication of the staff team. The child no longer needs safety reins to manage their safety, enjoys full-time education, is managing and exploring their emotions and respecting boundaries to keep them safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have warm and trusting relationships with the staff who care for them. Staff work closely with the in-house therapist, who supports them to understand children’s individual needs. As a result, children’s physical and emotional needs are met using theory and frameworks.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children participate in extra-curricular activities outside the home. Children spend vast amounts of their free time engaging in hobbies or participating in activities that develop their social skills and interests.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s routine health needs are well met. Children are encouraged to eat a healthy diet and develop their own abilities to meet their own care needs. This enables children to grow in their independence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is welcoming and well decorated. Photos of children engaging in activities and holidays are displayed around the home. Children’s bedrooms are personalised and comfortably furnished. Children have a sense of belonging, which aids security.

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

Children have detailed behaviour management plans which are regularly reviewed. They provide clear guidance and strategies for staff to follow and keep children safe. Staff understand the individual needs, triggers and risks for children. Staff have successfully implemented detailed plans to improve children’s safety and well-being. Despite this, there have been occasions when staff have not adhered to risk assessments in place to Inspection report for children’s home: 2718786 4 keep children safe. To address this, the manager has discussed staff adherence to risk assessments in team meetings, provided additional training and conducted mentoring sessions.

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

Complaints and allegations are investigated thoroughly by the manager. This contributes to children’s safety. On one occasion, the manager did not notify Ofsted of a safeguarding concern. This limits the regulator’s oversight of the home and the care provided to children.

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

Children are supported by staff to reflect on unwanted behaviours through natural consequences and talking about how they are feeling. Clear boundaries and expectations are in place alongside a variety of rewards for positive behaviours. Children understand that there may be consequences to their actions, which promotes self-awareness and accountability.

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

New staff have been safely recruited. This makes sure that only adults who are safe to work with children are employed in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is an effective leader. She is calm, reflective and focused on achieving the best possible outcomes for children by providing them with care that is child centred and therapeutic. She is visible in the home and works closely with staff and children, which ensures that she has a good understanding of how children are feeling and progressing.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers promote continuity of care for children. The home is sufficiently staffed and although the team is relatively new, leaders and managers have built a core team of staff to care for children. Bank and agency staff are rarely used to care for children. This consistency helps children build trusting relationships with their care givers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers and staff have strong working relationships with professionals and families. Feedback from professionals is positive in relation to sharing information and the progress children make. The manager challenges professionals when services are not being offered to children as they should be, for example advocating for life-story work to be provided to ensure that children have the opportunity to understand their life journey.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is focused on making improvements in the home and upskilling staff to meet the individual needs of each child. Unqualified staff are supported to obtain the relevant qualifications. Staff feel supported and speak positively of the management team. Staff enjoy working at the home and morale is high. Staff say that they feel able to approach the managers with any concern they may have and that supervision sessions are supportive and reflective.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are shortfalls in record-keeping. For example, there are missing records for a return home interview, managers’ discussions with staff and on one occasion, staff had Inspection report for children’s home: 2718786 5 not recorded a physical intervention. This impacts on the manager’s oversight of the quality of care provided to the children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2718786 6

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 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

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)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff adhere to the guidance documented in risk assessments. 9 April 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all serious and significant incidents are reported to Ofsted within the required time scale. 9 April 2025

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that all staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear Inspection report for children’s home: 2718786 7 recording, in line with the provider’s policy and procedures. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, 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: 2718786 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Chillington Close Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 15 Heritage Park, Hayes Way, Cannock WS11 7LT

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Hannah Lyall-Scrivens

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Inspector

Tonia Dubidat, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2718786 9 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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