Children's home run by Active Ark Limited

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1266838 1 Registered provider: Active Ark Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a private company. The home provides care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 25 April 2025.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Inspection date: 8 July 2025

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Inspection date: 8 July 2025

This inspection was triggered by concerns around the safety of children and the management of the home.

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1266838 2

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Findings from the inspection

The inspection identified serious and widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have not prioritised children’s safety. For one child, there have been incidents where staff practice was inadequate and left the child at risk of harm.

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Findings from the inspection

Risk management plans are not effective. They do not contain sufficient strategies and clear guidance for staff to follow. A child was put at risk of harm because of a lack of clear instructions for staff on how to keep them safe.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have not fully considered one child’s health needs during incidents. When a child was intoxicated, staff did not seek medical attention and did not evaluate the impact on the child’s medication. This oversight significantly increased the risk of harm to the child.

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Findings from the inspection

When a child was assaulted while out in the community, staff did not collect the child or do welfare checks, or consider whether the child required emotional support or medical assessment. Staff demonstrated a lack of curiosity and empathy about the child’s experience.

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Findings from the inspection

Measures put in place to support one child’s time spent in the community are restrictive and are not in line with their age and the development of their independence. The measures used were not effective in reducing the risks to the child. There is a lack of clarity for staff about the arrangements for the child, going forward.

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Findings from the inspection

Serious incidents involving children are not consistently reported to Ofsted. This undermines external scrutiny of practice and weakens the safeguards for children.

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Findings from the inspection

The registered manager does not have effective oversight of the home. The registered manager does not record her evaluations following incidents. This means that poor staff practice or poor recording are not identified and acted on. The registered manager does not evaluate emerging patterns or themes for children, which may influence children’s risks and the quality of care that they receive.

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Findings from the inspection

The registered manager has not completed a review of the quality of care provided. This does not support the manager’s oversight of the home and shows that learning and development are not a focus for the team.

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Findings from the inspection

The team works with other professionals to consider how children’s needs can be met. This includes making referrals to external services where appropriate and relates to children’s health needs and support around risk-taking behaviours.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have meaningful discussions with children to help them to reflect on their behaviours and to consider alternative coping strategies. They also support the work Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1266838 3 of other professionals by using tools and resources with children to help develop their understanding of risk.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are supported to share their views. Staff support children to have their views heard by arranging for advocates who can act on their behalf.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are supported to develop practical independence skills such as cooking for themselves and learning to drive. Staff support children to spend time with the people who are important to them. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1266838 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/04/2025 Full Good 22/05/2024 Full Good 20/06/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 10/08/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1266838 5

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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 within 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

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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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

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

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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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)(b)) 24 August 2025

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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— 24 August 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1266838 6 promotes their welfare.

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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

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

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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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)(b) (2)(f)(g)(ii)(h))

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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;

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Requirement Due date

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 24 August 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1266838 7 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; and

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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)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)) This requirement is restated.

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should only accept placements for children where they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs as recorded in the child’s relevant plans and where they have fully considered the impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children. Specifically, the manager should speak with the existing group of children’s social workers and seek information from professionals and family members of the referred child where appropriate to do so. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4). This is restated.  The registered person should have a system in place so that all serious events are notified, within 24 hours, to the appropriate people and the regulator. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.13) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1266838 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Active Ark, Unit E, Baron Way, Kingmoor Business Park, Carlisle CA6 4SJ

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Inspector

Andrea Foreman, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1266838 9 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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