Children's home run by Children To Prosper Limited

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2768530 1 Registered provider: Children to Prosper Limited

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private provider and offers care for up to two children with emotional and social difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager since April 2025. A new manager is currently in post. They have applied to register with Ofsted.

p.1

This monitoring visit

At the assurance visit in March 2025, serious and widespread concerns were identified. Following this visit, one compliance notice was served regarding the leadership and management of the home. The purpose of this monitoring visit was to assess whether the provider has met the steps in the notice.

p.1

This monitoring visit

At the time of the inspection, one child was living at the home. The child was present during the inspection.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The registered provider has recently appointed a new responsible individual who is undergoing checks. The appointed person has the relevant capacity, experience and skills to carry out the role. A new manager is also in post and has applied to register with Ofsted.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have addressed the concerns raised at the last inspection. Since the last inspection, managers have introduced new processes and documents, which help them to have better oversight of the home. These have supported staff to be better able to keep children safe.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The manager has adapted risk assessment documents. They provide clear, practical steps to take if a child experiences self-harm. A staff member said that they have Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2768530 2 more information available to them and feel more equipped to protect the child from harming themselves when these incidents happen.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The manager has ensured that staff have had training on how to use ligature cutters. Risk assessments detail the location of ligature cutters and the staff know where to find them.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The manager is coaching staff to be more aware of safeguarding risks. Safeguarding is an agenda at team meetings. In a recent team meeting, staff have identified a risk in the garden, resulting in this being rectified straight away.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Safeguarding is discussed in staff supervision sessions. Staff have discussed creative ways to support children to minimise self-harm. Staff are more acutely aware of risks at the home and take responsibility for minimising these.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Records of incidents show that staff lack understanding of the therapeutic model used and that the staff do not always respond to children in a therapeutic way. Staff are not curious enough about the child’s emotions. On one occasion, staff dismissed the child’s views and were not sensitive to the child’s lived experience. This does not align with the service described in the statement of purpose. The manager has not identified these issues. It has not been recognised that the records indicate poor practice. This means that staff have not been offered guidance on working therapeutically and have not been given an opportunity to improve their practice.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Following incidents, the manager has updated risk assessments with practical advice to minimise risk. However, managers have not yet ensured that preventive therapeutic strategies are incorporated into risk assessments. This means that important information about the child’s preferences is not being appropriately shared. During one incident, staff advised the child that if they didn’t hand over a risky item, they would call 999. This led to the child giving the item back to staff because the child has a fear of the police. This means that the child’s behaviour was modified by their fear, rather than relational, therapeutic strategies.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Managers have arranged for the child’s bedroom to be redecorated and furnished. The child is proud of their new space. The downstairs living area has also been redecorated. However, there are stains on the stair carpet and the garden has become overgrown. These detract from an otherwise warm and nurturing home. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2768530 3

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/06/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2768530 4

p.3

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.

p.4

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

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;

p.4

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

p.4

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)((iii)(b))

p.4

Requirement Due date

ensure that key information from behaviour management plans is transferred into risk assessments;

p.4

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff understand the therapeutic strategies described in risk assessments and that these are followed and recorded to demonstrate this.

p.4

Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 15 July 2025

p.4

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—

p.4

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

promotes their welfare. 15 July 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2768530 5 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.4

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;

p.5

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; (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(f)

p.5

Requirement Due date

identify where the records describe practice that is not in alignment with the therapeutic model and discuss this with staff;

p.5

Requirement Due date

support staff to reflect on and improve their practice when necessary;

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that debriefs following incidents acknowledge the lived experience for the child at the time of the incident.

p.5

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the home and garden are nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of children. In particular, ensure that the garden is well maintained and carpets are free from stains. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

p.5

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.

p.5

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2768530 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Children to Prosper Limited

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 71 Knowl Piece, Wilbury Way, Hitchin, Hertfordshire SG4 0TY

p.6

Inspector

Hannah Phillips, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2768530 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.

p.6

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7