Children's Home run by Homes for Support in Cheshire East

Inspection report for children’s home: 2647770 1 Registered provider: Homes for Support 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 children’s home is operated by a private organisation. The home provides care for up to six children who may have social or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, four children were living at the home. Three of the children were spoken to.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2647770 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/07/2024 Full Good 20/03/2024 Full Good 09/08/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/03/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: 2647770 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one child has moved out and one child has moved into the home. Staff are committed to involving children and their families in the plans. Children who move out of the home are welcomed back for visits and staff encourage them to maintain relationships. Staff promote children’s well-being and cultivate a strong sense of belonging so that children can feel safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is well maintained. The manager ensures that any damages are repaired efficiently and that the home is kept to a high standard. It feels like a communal, welcoming environment. The atmosphere is relaxed. The manager and staff spend mealtimes together with the children. Children are encouraged to follow a healthy diet.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have an excellent understanding of children’s health needs and these are well met. Children are encouraged to access additional support. Children are educated about their physical and emotional well-being and receive additional guidance from a company therapist. Staff work to educate children about sexual health and help them access further support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to engage in their education. Children who do not attend a formal education provision have a structure and routine to their day. Tutors are welcomed into the home. Staff encourage learning through natural daily events. However, currently, none of the children in the home are attending a full-time educational provision.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s family and friends are welcome in the home. Staff work closely with the people important to children to enable them to maintain relationships. Family and children are supported to spend time together. Staff have positive relationships with children’s families. One parent said, ‘We have no concerns about the care, we feel that staff keep [name of child] safe.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children can express their wishes, feelings, and thoughts without fear of judgement. They feel listened to. Staff advocate for the children to ensure that their voices are heard. One child spoke proudly about their plan to return home and their involvement in this. Children feel valued.

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

Staff understand the risks to each child and clear actions are in place to help reduce risk. Risk assessments are regularly reviewed and guide staff how to mitigate risk to ensure that staff practice is consistent the manager and staff support children to understand risks and involve them in their plans.

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

When children are missing from home, staff proactively try to locate them. They follow procedures meticulously and work collaboratively with professionals, family, and friends Inspection report for children’s home: 2647770 4 to bring children home safely. Staff search all known areas where the children are known to gravitate. When children return, staff welcome them back into the home. Children are offered return home interviews and new information is shared with relevant professionals.

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

Children are provided with guidance about rules and expectations. Staff remain consistent in their approach. Physical interventions are only used as a last resort. When a child is held, staff ensure that details are recorded. The manager provides an evaluative oversight. Children are provided with the opportunity to talk through the incidents. However, the manager does not always ensure that staff are provided the opportunity to reflect on the incident for future learning.

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

Leaders and managers collaborate effectively with partner agencies. While no allegations have been made, staff are well informed about the roles of external professionals, including the local authority designated officer. Those working in the home have a clear understanding of the procedures for addressing concerns related to children’s safety. A social worker said, ‘This is the best home I have worked with. [The manager] is not risk averse. It’s more about managing the risk and keeping [the child] safe.’

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

All staff are trained in first aid and administering medication safely. Medication is kept locked in the medical cupboard. Staff ensure that medication is meticulously recorded when it is administered. This has led to the children’s health needs being effectively managed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is enthusiastic about their staff and the care provided to children. They have a vision and strive to improve children’s experiences. Staff members are supported to develop their skills and say that they feel well supported. Staff share the manager’s enthusiasm and vision.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision sessions and plenty of time to discuss their views and feelings. The children’s needs and areas of practice improvement are explored. Staff can express areas of development openly and the manager listens to them. Leaders and managers are visible in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that staff meet regularly as a team every month. Additional staff meetings are arranged to focus on specific areas when needed. Team meetings are structured and well attended. All staff are encouraged to engage in discussions. However, discussions about research in practice are lacking, which would enhance staff understanding and development further.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers regularly monitor the quality of care provided to children. Monthly monitoring tools enable the manager to review progress and risks for children, including an evaluation of the last month and areas to focus on for the following month. Leaders and managers review and use the monthly independent reports. They challenge effectively the independent person when appropriate. Inspection report for children’s home: 2647770 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should consistently discuss the use of physical restraint with the staff involved to enable the opportunity to reflect on the impact of the relationship between the staff and the child. Staff should be able to consider refining their approaches to ensure they continue to meet the child’s needs. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 49, paragraph 9.55)  The registered person should ensure that staff consistently pursue children’s full-time attendance in an educational provision. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 29, paragraph 5.14)  The registered person should ensure that staff have access to a range of resources to support their professional development, including external agencies and research, to begin embedding staff learning and development. Staff should be provided opportunities to have reflective discussions to develop their learning. (‘Guide to the

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Recommendations

Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 53, paragraph 10.11)

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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: 2647770 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Homes for Support Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Northern House, 3 Kennerleys Lane, Wilmslow SK9 5EQ

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Inspector

Sarah Probert, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2647770 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 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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