Children's Home run by Breaking Barriers Together Limited in Cheshire East

Inspection report for children’s home: 2793778 1 Registered provider: Breaking Barriers Together 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 run by a private provider. It is registered to provide care for one child who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living at the home, and was spoken to as part of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and the manager registered with Ofsted in February 2025. This was the home’s first inspection.

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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 requires improvement to be good

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good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2793778 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has been living at the home since it was registered. The child has made significant progress because of living at this home, and they speak highly of the care and support they receive from the staff. The child has strong relationships with the staff and said, ‘I feel I have known these people my whole life, they are a part of me.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s bedroom is personalised and there are photos of them with staff on various activities and having fun. There are plenty of books, games and toys available for the child. All of this ensures that they are able to enjoy experiences that any other child would The staff encourage the child’s hobbies and interests. As a result, the child regularly attends a boxing club and a recording studio. These activities support not only their physical health but also their emotional well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s health needs have been met. As a result, they are healthier and receiving the appropriate treatment they need. The staff have encouraged the child to access therapy sessions. However, the child said, ‘I don’t need therapy, I’m living in it, it doesn’t feel like a care home. This is family.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have supported the child to return to education, following a long period when this was too difficult for the child. As a result, the child is working well with a tutor and exams have been arranged for them. Additionally, the child has secured a place at college following a successful interview and has been enrolled on a higher level course than they applied for.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff involve the child in their care and their views, wishes and feelings are considered. The child has access to an advocate and attends their review meetings. Due to the positive relationships that staff have with the child, they can have meaningful and effective conversations that are helping to develop the child’s abilities to navigate daily life challenges and make positive choices.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child to develop their independence in areas such as budgeting, employability and other practical skills needed for adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that the child’s cultural needs are met. The child is proud of their heritage and this is shared and celebrated by the staff.

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

The child is subject to a deprivation of liberty (DoL) order. Since they have lived at the home, there have been no safeguarding incidents involving the child. Due to their progress, there is a plan in place to have the DoL order lifted in the next couple of months. The child is fully involved in this process and there has already been a reduction in restrictions. Inspection report for children’s home: 2793778 3 Staff have been effective in supporting the child to have a healthier lifestyle. While the child still occasionally uses vapes, this is a huge achievement. The child said, ‘If I wasn’t living here, I wouldn’t be here having a good day - I’d be smoking my head off still unhealthy and doing none of the things I love.’

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

Since living at the home, all the child’s risks that the staff were concerned about have reduced significantly. The staff have a good understanding of safeguarding practice and the child’s needs, and the steps to take in the event of risks increasing.

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

The manager ensures that staff have the appropriate training to support the child. For example, as the child prepares to be given a smartphone, the staff have completed online safety training that also includes the use of smartphones .and will manage the child’s phone use as agreed with the local authority.

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

On one occasion, a consequence was issued that was not recorded or evaluated for effectiveness.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager is suitably experienced and is currently completing a relevant qualification. The responsible individual provides daily support to the manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager and the responsible individual have worked closely with the child and the staff team to promote the positive progress made by the child. They know the child well and have a good relationship with them. However, there are gaps in management oversight and this requires improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The staff team has generally been consistent with little staff turnover. However, the manager has not sought to employ a diverse staff team. For example, there are several family members that work at this home that pose potential conflicts of interest in the staff team that had not been robustly assessed. There has been an absence of clear guidance that should be followed in the event of any safeguarding concerns and a lack of independent oversight, which could affect potential investigations.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The staff are aware of the whistle-blowing policy and the manager appropriately addressed an issue about a staff member’s practice when they were notified of a concern.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager has occasionally used agency staff. The staff rotas are not clear about who has been working in the home as full names are not used. The manager does not always follow robust recruitment practice. In one staff member’s recruitment file, there were gaps in their employment history and it was unclear where one reference had come from. This staff member no longer works in the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2793778 4 The staff say they feel supported by the manager, and they receive regular supervisions. Team meetings are also held regularly that focus on the child’s experiences and progress.

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Statutory requirement

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 registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a) (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to the manager ensuring that full names of the staff working in the home are written on the rota. 1 August 2025

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration; 1 August 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2793778 5 details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure;

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to any consequences issued to children being recorded in line with the above.

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Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4. (Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to ensuring that the full names of all staff working in the home are recorded on the staff roster. 1 August 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they seek to establish a staff team where the risk of any conflict of interest is reduced. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.6) Inspection report for children’s home: 2793778 6  The registered person should actively seek independent scrutiny of the home and make best use of information from independent and internal monitoring when managing any conflicts of interest. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24)

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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: 2793778 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Breaking Barriers Together Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 207B Nantwich Road, Crewe CW2 6DA

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Inspector

Kerri Lynch, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2793778 8 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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