Children's home run by Cherish Children’s Care Limited

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2776999 1

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Information about this children's home

This is a private children’s home registered for up to three children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

The registered manager left his role in April 2025 due to unforeseen circumstances. An interim manager had applied to register with Ofsted. He has now withdrawn his application. A manager, who is registered for another home is currently overseeing the home.

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Information about this children's home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home. The child spoke to the inspector about their experiences living in the home.

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This monitoring visit

A full inspection was conducted on 30 April and 1 May 2025, inspectors identified serious concerns in relation to the protection of children and the leadership and management of the centre. Ofsted served two compliance notices under regulation 12, the protection of children standard and regulation 13, the leadership and management standard. A restriction of accommodation notice was also served with immediate effect from the 2 May 2025 until 25 July 2025 inclusively.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was to monitor the compliance notices and the restriction of accommodation notice. The provider has acted to meet the steps in both compliance notices. The provider has also complied with the restriction of accommodation notice, as no children have been admitted to the home. However, the restriction of accommodation notice remains in place.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, one child has moved out the home. This was a planned move that was managed positively for the child. The other child is being supported until they are suitably prepared to move to a new home and on to adulthood. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2776999 2 There have been no further incidents involving ligatures. Leaders and managers have taken appropriate action to investigate poor practice associated with this risk, which was identified at the last inspection. They recognise that there were missed opportunities during staff handovers and meetings to communicate concerns about children’s well-being. Most staff have now undertaken additional training in relation to self-injurious behaviour, ligature risks, recording and reporting.

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This monitoring visit

Ligature risk management plans are clear and up to date. Staff understand the procedures they should follow to safeguard children. They have conducted timely room searches to ensure that children’s bedrooms are free from potential risks. Leaders and managers have introduced inventory checklists that are monitored twice daily to account for any items removed that could pose a risk. Staff conduct regular welfare checks in line with the child’s risk assessment guidance.

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This monitoring visit

Incidents of self-injury have been responded to promptly by staff and appropriate action has been taken to support the child. A traffic light system has been agreed between the child and staff to enable the child to communicate their mood to staff.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have reviewed children’s missing-from-home protocols. They now provide staff with clear information about the action they are required to take and the timescales for reporting children missing to the police. Staff have been provided with training in relation to each child's safety plan and missing protocol. Consequently, have a better understanding of their roles and responsibilities to safeguard children who are at risk of going missing from home.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have improved their oversight of incident reports. They have used reflective practice to identify any lessons learned and revisited this with the staff team. However, on one occasion, staff have not consistently followed children’s missing-from-home protocols. Leaders and managers have promptly addressed the concerns with staff involved. However, leaders and managers do not always ensure that staff have the resources they require to be able to communicate with each other and relevant professionals during incident management. In addition, Ofsted have not been notified about two significant incidents, including a report to the police that a child alleged they had been assaulted while missing from the home.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s fire safety risk assessments are now proportionately risk graded. When staff suspected that children had started a fire in the community, they responded quickly. Direct work targeted at fire safety has been carried out and in-house training is to be undertaken. The fire service has also been requested to visit the home, to speak to children about mitigating fire risks.

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This monitoring visit

Senior managers have introduced weekly audits to ensure that the staff team is practicing safe childcare. Weekly incident and safeguarding summaries are sent to the placing authorities to enable them to monitor children’s well-being. Children’s social workers have increased their visits to the children. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2776999 3 The remaining requirements were not considered during this visit. They will be reviewed at the next inspection.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 30/04/2025 Full Inadequate 06/11/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2776999 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, 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 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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person should ensure that staff have the resources they require to be able to communicate with each other and relevant professionals during incident management. 4 July 2025

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children's home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b)) 13 June 2025

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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. 13 June 2025 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2776999 5 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home's statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home's statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child's welfare. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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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

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child's relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child's well- being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(iv)) 13 June 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 39 (3)) 13 June 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to

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Requirement Due date

a child which the registered 4 July 2025 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2776999 6 person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child —

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e))

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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: 2776999 7

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Cherish Childrens Care Limited

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Unit 8a, Skyways Commercial Campus, Amy Johnson Way, Blackpool FY4 3RS

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Inspectors

Cheryl Field, Social Care Inspector Justina Henry, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2776999 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 children who are looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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