Children's Home run by Cornerways Care Limited in Bedford

Inspection report for children's home: 2737310 1 Registered provider: Cornerways Care 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 was registered by Ofsted in September 2023. The home can provide care for three children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 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 good

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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

Date of last inspection: 29 February 2024

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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: 2737310 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/02/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2737310 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Since the last inspection, two children have lived at the home. One had a planned move back to their family. Since then, there has been one child at the home. This child had had a considerable number of short-term and emergency placements before moving to the home. Staff have offered this child consistency and stability, showing care and commitment to them. This has led to the child making exceptional progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The child had been out of education for over a year when they arrived. The manager and staff worked closely with the virtual school to devise a tailored plan. The child has built up their engagement and attainment with the support of staff. They attend school every day and plan to apply for a college course this year. The virtual school headteacher said that their progress has exceeded expectations.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The child loves animals and was supported to bring pet gerbils and guinea pigs to the home. Since then, the staff have bought them two pet rats for their birthday. The child is supported to look after the animals, giving them immaculate care and attention. The animals are cleaned and fed each day and have toys and equipment to stimulate them and keep them safe. Allowing children to develop responsibility for animals helps them to build their own self-worth.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The child has been extremely well supported to rebuild some important family relationships. They were not seeing any family members when they moved in. Staff support this by taking them to see family and liaising with their social worker. These relationships are of significant importance to the child. Rebuilding these connections is helping the child to understand their own identity and widen their support network for the future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The home has a warm and welcoming atmosphere. There are lots of books in the lounge and puzzles which the child enjoys doing. The child’s bedroom is completely individual to them. A professional said, ‘I cannot fault this placement, I think it is brilliant. The decoration, the way the house is presented, the care and pride in it.’

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

The child’s care plans are meticulously written and recorded on the online system. They are regularly reviewed. The plans include input from the child about their care and how best staff can help them at times of distress.

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

There have been occasions when the child has gone missing from home. There is a clear plan in place to manage this. Staff know the plan well, however, on one occasion, they did not adequately follow it. Immediate action was taken to challenge staff practice and information was shared with the relevant agencies. The child was involved in some risk- taking behaviours when missing from home and staff have worked hard to understand Inspection report for children's home: 2737310 4 what is behind the behaviour. The child’s grandparent commented that staff had gone to ‘great lengths’ to understand the child. Through their consistent approach and care, these missing-from-home episodes have decreased and in the month before the inspection there were none.

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

Staff are clear about safeguarding procedures and what they would need to if they were worried about a child. One allegation has been made against a staff member during an incident. This was dealt with swiftly and closed by the local authority designated officer. The manager took this incident as a learning opportunity for the whole team. They discussed it at a team meeting to look at areas they could improve on to help the child.

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

Staff understand the child very well. They are patient in supporting them to build trust and relationships at their own pace. Staff use positive praise to recognise the progress the child is making and recognise the little things, such as finishing a complicated jigsaw, which is proudly displayed on the lounge wall. This praise and recognition will help the child continue to build on the positive progress they are making.

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

Research-informed practice is helping staff to understand the child and to analyse their progress in the home. The staff team has a monthly consultation with an external psychologist who supports them to look at the trauma the child has experienced and how that may impact their behaviour. The psychologist helps staff to think about the emotional impact of the work on them. This is helping to create a resilient and well- informed staff team.

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

Recruitment of core staff is satisfactory. However, agency staff files do not meet the same standard. All staff files need to be subject to the same scrutiny to ensure the right people are working at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is managed by a confident and purposeful manager. She has recently completed her level 7 diploma in leadership. She is keen to learn and encourages a learning culture at the home. She works alongside her deputy manager and together they make an excellent team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager values the staff team and their well-being. Staff have the opportunity to access counselling paid for by the company if they need it. They receive gifts and cards for birthdays, for years in service and for passing their probation. Staff feel valued and this has a positive impact on their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Team meetings are very regular. They are used as an opportunity to upskill the team and there is a strong theory-to-practice link at the meetings.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff work collaboratively to provide consistency and stability. The manager has created a comprehensive task list for each individual role which allows staff to understand their responsibilities and accountabilities. The manager has high expectations for staff and challenges them if she feels they are not meeting these. Each staff member also has a Inspection report for children's home: 2737310 5 detailed individual development plan which is reviewed monthly to help them develop in their roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Care planning is thought through effectively. The manager is clear that she has considered the child now living in the home and whether it is the right time for another child to move in. Her practice is child centred and shows sensitivity and she is attuned to the child’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff speak very highly of the manager. They said that she is supportive and proactive in supporting their continued professional development. One staff member said, ‘My time here has been nothing short of transformational, both professionally and personally, and I owe much of that to the outstanding leadership, support and ethos that define this team.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Feedback from professionals and families about the manager and deputy manager’s commitment to the child is excellent. Communication is described as excellent. They have advocated for the child and challenged external professionals when necessary. They have very strong relationships with the virtual headteacher, who said the team is ‘incredibly nurturing and patient. Inspection report for children's home: 2737310 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should maintain good employment practice. They must ensure that recruitment of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. Agency staff files need to meet the requirements of schedule 2 checks. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)

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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: 2737310 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cornerways Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Eastway Enterprise Centre, 7 Paynes Park, Hitchin SG5 1EH

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Inspector

Mary Costello, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2737310 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 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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