Children's Home run by Ark Consultants UK Limited in Redcar and Cleveland

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2712832 1 Registered provider: Ark Consultants UK Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private company. It provides short-breaks care for up to four children with a physical and/or learning disability.

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Information about this children’s home

There were two children in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2023.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was carried out following information received which suggested that there may have been a breach of regulations.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have not fully considered the potential impact of employing staff who are related to one another on the care and protection of children. Policies and procedures for how to report allegations could result in concerns about staff being reported to their relative. Also, the whistle-blowing procedure does not account for raising concerns to an independent person. This could create a closed culture in the home and reduce the effective use of safeguarding and whistle- blowing procedures.

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This monitoring visit

Children who are non-verbal are cared for by some staff who are related to one another. This includes related staff working at night with children who are highly vulnerable without direct supervision. Furthermore, children’s parents and the local authorities have not been made aware of the relationships between those looking after their children. Leaders and managers addressed this particular issue immediately by ensuring that related staff are not working together. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2712832 2 Children are supported to share their views and take an active role in deciding what they want to do during their stay. Communication aids are prominent in the home and are easily accessible for children to use and let staff know how they feel or what they need. Communication boards contain children’s favourite foods to ensure that their choices are considered. The staff are trained in Makaton and know the

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This monitoring visit

children’s individual communication methods. This enables the children to express how they feel and exercise some control over how they are cared for.

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This monitoring visit

When children arrive at the service, they are provided with time to explore their bedroom and communal spaces. The routine is familiar for children and staff furnish the home with children’s preferred toys, and activities are made easily accessible. This gives the children a sense of routine and continuity in their care. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2712832 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/09/2024 Full Good 16/01/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2712832 4

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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 with 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

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(vii)(b)(e)) 14 March 2025

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (a)) 23 April 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2712832 5

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2712832 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Ark Consultants UK Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: C W R Accountants, 20 Mannin Way, Lancaster Business Park, Lancaster, Lancashire LA1 3SW

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Inspector

Lee Riley, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2712832 7 and inspects 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 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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