Children's home run by Collaborative Care Services Limited

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2793863 1 Registered provider: Collaborative Care Services Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home can provide care for one child who may have social and emotional difficulties. At the time of inspection, no child was living in the home.

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Inspection date: 19 March 2025

Date of last inspection: 3 December 2024

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Inspection date: 19 March 2025

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 19 March 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: 2793863 2

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Findings from the inspection

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

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Findings from the inspection

No children have been cared for by the home since the last inspection. Therefore, the homes’ ability to provide care for a child has not been fully tested. In the absence of children in the home, the inspector was unable to see how children have been cared for and supported. The inspector was unable to assess if children cared for by the home can make progress. The inspector was unable to spend any time with children or obtain feedback from a wider network around a child.

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Findings from the inspection

The homes’ ability to promote the safety of a child has not been fully tested as there is no child living in the home. No children have moved into the home and then moved out for any period. Therefore, the inspector was unable to assess if staff can keep any child safe.

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Findings from the inspection

There is no registered manager in post, and there has not been since the last inspection. The provider has appointed a manager, who intends to apply to be registered with Ofsted.

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Findings from the inspection

The provider has addressed the shortfalls in relation to the monitoring and recording system used in the home. The provider has secured a new recording system and trained all staff in how to use it. The leaders and managers of the home report that the updated system is more effective. They report that it will allow them to monitor care more effectively when a child comes to live at the home.

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Findings from the inspection

The provider has implemented a process for the recruitment of overseas workers. The management of pre-employment references was not clearly recorded on recruitment files. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2793863 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/12/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2793863 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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

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Requirement Due date

make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(ii)(iv)(ix))

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Requirement Due date

This directly relates to the registered person ensuring that they understand the child’s personal care support needs. The support required from staff should be recorded clearly in the child’s relevant plan to inform the day-to-day arrangements for the child and to promote their safe care.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 1 May 2025

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that— 1 May 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2793863 5 helps children aspire to fulfil their potential;

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that robust monitoring systems are in place that support them to evaluate the effectiveness of the care and support that is provided to children. This should help staff to identify when children would benefit from additional support, guidance and changes to the care with which they are provided.

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Requirement Due date

Furthermore, monitoring systems should help managers to ensure that staff have the most up-to-date and useful information about children that supports them to meet children’s needs.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Recommendation

 The registered person must ensure that recruitment processes are robust and that reference checks are explicitly recorded. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2793863 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Collaborative Care Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 25 Pure Offices, Kembrey Park, Swindon, Wiltshire SN2 8BW

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Inspector

Hannah Spencer-Townesend, Social Care inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2793863 7 regulates 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 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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Inspector

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