Children's Home run by Courtyard Care Limited in Bolton

Inspection report for children’s home: SC389823 1 SC389823 Registered provider: Courtyard Care Limited

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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 privately owned and operated. It is registered to provide care for up to five children who may have a wide range of social and emotional issues, as well as mental health and learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

There were three children living in the home at the time of inspection. All children spent time with the inspector.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in February 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

Date of last inspection: 28 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: SC389823 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/02/2024 Full Good 10/01/2023 Full Good 17/02/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness 19/10/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: SC389823 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Four children have lived at this home since the last inspection. Each child has made exceptional progress because of the care and support provided by a dedicated, motivated staff team.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

One child has moved out of the home due to a decision made by their local authority. The manager and staff were saddened by the decision but ensured that the child’s experience moving out was positive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Two children have moved into the home. The meticulous planning of this move ensured that it was as smooth as possible for the children. Children were prepared well for the move and an initial video call allowed for all the children to meet each other and ask any important questions they may have had.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children have achieved significant milestones living at this home. These have included becoming continent, saying goodbye to dummies and bottles and being able to tolerate travel for longer periods or alone. All these achievements will stay with them a lifetime. In addition to these, children are supported to carry out tasks that will continue to promote their independence, including cooking, tidying their rooms and taking ownership of looking after their own belongings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The staff promote a ‘total communication’ environment to ensure both inclusivity for all and to support children to communicate their views, wishes and feelings. Children’s communication is encouraged using sign, symbols, photos and words. As a result, children’s communication skills and understanding continue to grow. Children who are pre-verbal are developing their language.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

All children attend school and are doing well. Children are achieving in school and enjoying all that it has to offer. For one child, this is a significant success as they were out of school for a prolonged period. The manager ensures that staff attend important events, including concerts, talent shows and parents’ evenings, and that children’s accomplishments are recognised and celebrated. Additionally, the staff support children with their educational targets outside of school, including reading and writing. One child has recently mastered writing their name, which is a huge achievement for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are developing their own sense of identity due to the support and nurture provided by the staff. Examples of this include children being able to assert their independence and being able to talk about their past experiences and trauma. Children are treated as individuals and despite their difficulties, they are not excluded from opportunities experienced by their peers. They are celebrated for being children and the staff ensure that Father Christmas, the Naughty Elf and the Tooth Fairy all visit when they should. Children are given cards with positive messages that promote children’s confidence and their relationships with the staff. Inspection report for children’s home: SC389823 4 Children’s hobbies and interests are encouraged by the staff. One child attends a youth club and after-school clubs independently, where they can continue to develop their social skills and make friends. One child has learned to swim and enjoys this regularly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children have moved to the home with their health needs not being met previously. The manager has acted quickly to ensure that any required appointments were made and attended as well as ensuring that any specialised equipment was made available for children. The manager continues to have a strong oversight of children’s health needs and works with other professionals to ensure these are met and regularly reviewed.

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

Children have very positive relationships with the staff based on trust, nurture and genuine care. For an extensive period since the last inspection, there had been a reduction in incidents and restraint, although more recently these have increased due to difficult anniversaries for children. However, the manager and the staff understand children well and provide inspirational support to children in some very difficult circumstances.

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

The manager works collaboratively with other professionals to ensure that she and the staff are always acting in the children’s best interests. This has included obtaining research-based advice on the most appropriate restraints to be used to support children alongside regular multidisciplinary meetings to ensure that children are being supported holistically. The staff take the time to explain why they used a restraint and children are often able to reflect that they know that this is to keep them safe.

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

The manager takes appropriate action and shares information with the child’s social worker and local authority designated officer when necessary. On one occasion, a thorough investigation took place. Prior to any staff member returning to the home, the child and the staff member had a video call to discuss the incident and for the child to talk about any concerns they had or to ask any questions. This level of sensitivity to children’s needs runs throughout the manager’s practice.

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

Children take part in fire drills and they have individual personal evacuation plans that provide the staff with the information needed to ensure that they can evacuate the children safely. For one child, who due to their past experiences finds the nighttime difficult and would struggle with the alarm going off in the night, staff staged a nighttime drill in the day. This included the child wearing their pyjamas, supported by waking night staff who came in especially and included the child pretending to get out of bed. This creativity has allowed the child to experience what would happen if there was an emergency at nighttime without them being affected.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is suitably experienced and qualified and is supported by a deputy manager. Her leadership skills and commitment to the children in her care are evident in Inspection report for children’s home: SC389823 5 all areas. She has lovely relationships with the children and is a trusted, consistent presence in their lives. Two social workers and an independent reviewing officer commented that the manager and the staff ‘go above and beyond’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager’s oversight of staff practice and children’s progress is exceptional. She uses many tools to drive improvement forward and ensure that the children reach their full potential.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There have been several staff changes since the last inspection. However, the manager has managed recruitment well. There is a high number of qualified and experienced staff in the team. The manager takes the time to sit down with children to explain the changes of staff in their home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

All children have time with their families that is supported by the staff. Some children had not seen their families for a long time before moving to the home. Recognising the importance of children having positive time with their family, the manager has worked hard to form relationships and include families in the care of their children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is currently leading the staff team through difficult incidents with a child. However, she ensures that the staff are equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to continue to support the child effectively. The manager ensures that the staff are receiving appropriate debriefs both with her and clinical debriefs with the organisation’s clinical psychologist. This increases the staff’s resilience and helps them commit to supporting children through difficult times.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff say that they are very well supported and that they receive regular supervision sessions that help them to reflect on and develop their practice with the children. Regular team meetings take place, with the manager also ensuring that she meets regularly with the night staff to ensure they too are included and consulted with.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has high expectations of the staff. To support their development, there is a robust induction and probationary process in place which aims to prepare them with the skills and knowledge needed to be the best they can, underpinned by what children in care have said they want from staff that care for them. Inspection report for children’s home: SC389823 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: SC389823 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Courtyard Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 3 Siskin Drive, Middlemarch Business Park, Coventry CV3 4FJ

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Jacqueline Hills

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Inspector

Kerri Lynch, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC389823 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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