Children's Home run by Your Chapter Limited in Lancashire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1271998 1 Registered provider: Your Chapter 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 operated by a private company. It provides care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties or have learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home. One child moved out of the home on the day before the inspection, and another child moved out in September 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2024.

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Inspection date: 27 February 2025

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 27 February 2025

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1271998 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are happy and settled. They love taking part in activities and have fun together with their peers and staff. One child attends the local Army Cadets twice a week. Children go camping, fishing, go-karting and shopping to fill their time. This helps them to bond and build strong relationships with each other and the staff.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff make sure that children’s health needs are met. When children require specialist support, referrals are made to address their additional needs. When a child’s annual health assessment was delayed, the manager took appropriate action with the placing authority.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are supported to attend education. The child currently living at the home attends three different settings throughout the week, giving them a mix of formal and vocational education. For the other child, who has recently left the home, the manager and the social worker made extensive attempts with the host local authority for a school placement but were unsuccessful. Despite this, the staff used worksheets and supported the child’s learning in mathematics, Spanish and German in the home. The child’s social worker commented, ‘The child refused a tutor. They couldn’t have done anything else. I think they tried it all.’

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Findings from the inspection

Children learn independence skills, including cooking, travelling and budgeting. They regularly cook in the home and for the staff. They show respect and insight into staff’s religious requirements. They experience stability and love. One child moved to live with their wider family, and another child moved to semi-independent accommodation. The manager and deputy supported their move and transported them and their belongings to their new home. This included the child taking their television and bedding to their new home.

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Findings from the inspection

Family time is promoted. The staff welcome family members and friends to the home. During their stay, one child's relationship with their mother improved, and they transitioned from spending supervised to unsupervised time at the family home. The other child finds that spending regular time with their father helps them to rebuild relationships with their siblings and other family members and strengthen their identity. They also have regular sleepovers at a friend’s home, which staff facilitate.

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Findings from the inspection

Children become increasingly safe living at the home. Their risks have reduced. Staff know the children well and are aware of their associated risks and how to respond.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are safe online. The renewed security app grants them access to age- appropriate sites while allowing staff to monitor, restrict and pause children’s online activities. However, the internet at the home is not consistent and does not always Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1271998 3 allow the managers to access the app and explore the details of children’s activities in depth.

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Findings from the inspection

When potential concerns about extremist behaviours were noted by a child’s school, a referral to ‘Prevent’ led to assurances that concerns were unwarranted. When risks linked to county lines were suspected of another child, the manager contributed to regular risk management meetings arranged by the local authority to explore the child’s location and who they spent time with.

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Findings from the inspection

Comprehensive risk assessments and plans detail known risk factors and behaviours, and they provide staff with strategies for responding to children. Staff receive training in restraint techniques, but they only hold children when de-escalation is not effective. Incidents involving de-escalation are rare, and there have been no recent incidents of damage in the home. This is because children tell staff how they want them to respond if their emotions are heightened. This usually involves staff giving them time and space and has proven effective. As a result, it has not been necessary for the home to notify Ofsted of any serious incidents.

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Findings from the inspection

The staff spoken to said that they love working in the home and spoke highly of the manager and the children. Their relationships, expertise, and commitment to children are evident. Staff work well together to cover any gaps in the rota to ensure that the use of agency staff is not necessary.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff receive regular supervision and training to equip them for working with children. Regular discussions with the psychologist provide further insight on how staff respond to children. All staff receive an appraisal, which means that their skills and knowledge are tested and discussed. Staff value this time as they appreciate the opportunity to learn about their strengths and what aspects of their practice need to improve. Despite delays in some staff completing the level 3 diploma, the manager has carried out a risk assessment for these individuals, and all staff are now enrolled to attain the level 4 diploma within clear time frames.

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Findings from the inspection

All requirements raised at the previous inspection have been met. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1271998 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/06/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 15/08/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 03/05/2023 Full Inadequate 24/05/2022 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1271998 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. This specifically relates to ensuring that the internet connection is strong so that staff can check that children’s online activity is safe. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1271998 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Your Chapter Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Hobart House, Oakwater Avenue, Cheadle Royal Business Park, Cheadle SK8 3SR

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Inspector

Parveen Hussain, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1271998 7 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 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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