Children's Home run by Icare Solutions Stockport Limited in Warrington

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2779064 1 Registered provider: Icare Solutions Stockport 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 is owned and managed by a private provider. It provides care for three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, two children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in January 2025.

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This monitoring visit

An assurance inspection was undertaken on 10 February 2025. This inspection was undertaken in response to concerns in relation to safeguarding practices and leadership and management. During this visit, inspectors identified serious and widespread concerns in relation to the care and protection of children.

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This monitoring visit

Following the assurance inspection, Ofsted made a decision to restrict accommodation at the children’s home under section 22B of the Care Standards Act 2000 (the Act) with immediate effect.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was carried out to monitor the restriction of accommodation notice. Inspectors found that the provider has complied with the restriction of accommodation notice. However, further concerns were identified.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s complex needs and behaviours are not being managed with detailed risk management plans. Plans lack specific detail of strategies that staff should use to keep children safe. Staff’s understanding of children’s risk is inconsistent as plans are not always updated to reflect incidents. This includes risks in relation to children’s friendships.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers say that they have held regular risk management meetings for the children. However, there are no records to detail these discussions or any decisions made and their impact on reducing risk. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2779064 2 Leaders and managers have not effectively challenged local authority plans when there are concerns about children’s safety. Despite being concerned about one child’s peer group, there was no escalation of their request to review safeguards in respect of this. As a result, there have been two significant incidents. This does not demonstrate a strong commitment or proactive approach to safeguarding practice and leaves children at risk of significant harm.

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This monitoring visit

Children are not attending education and there are no clear plans in place to provide daily structure, routine and boundaries. Children are not receiving consistent care from staff.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have a development plan for the home, and staff have completed safeguarding training. However, the impact of this is not evident in staff practice.

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This monitoring visit

Staff do not understand the impact of trauma on children’s behaviour. This is reflected in children’s records, which contain stigmatising and blaming language.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have been unable to demonstrate that they have effective oversight of the home, including staff practices.

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This monitoring visit

Staff supervision, including the manager’s supervision, is not reflective or child focused. The impact of practice on children’s progress and safety is not always discussed.

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This monitoring visit

Children say that they enjoy living at the home and spending time with staff. One child has felt able to share details of a significant incident with staff, which demonstrates a confidence and trust in the adults caring for them. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2779064 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/10/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2779064 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

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child's welfare; and

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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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff have a good understanding of the indicators of child exploitation and what actions they should take to manage or reduce risks. 22 June 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2779064 5 The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children's home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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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's workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(c)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that decision-making about children's suitability for the home takes account of children's needs and risks and whether the staff's qualifications, skills and experience are sufficient to provide safe and consistent care to children.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that staff complete training that is specific to children's needs and risks.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that staff's skills and knowledge are reviewed as part of team meetings, reflective supervision sessions and appraisals.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure staff take into account feedback on the experiences of children to improve the quality of care provided. 22 June 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2779064 6 *These requirements are subject of a compliance notice.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that children’s records are kept up to date and that recording is objective and non-stigmatising. Specifically, ensure that all documents are fully updated. Ensure that support plans are clear and easy to read, and that language is child focused. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’ page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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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: 2779064 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Icare Solutions Stockport Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 101 Wellington Road North, Stockport SK4 2LP

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Inspectors

Nicola Forrester, Social Care Inspector Sarah Jackson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2779064 8 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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