Children's Home run by Homes for Support in Cheshire East

Inspection report for children’s home: 2540073 1 Registered provider: Homes for Support Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private provider runs this home. The home provides care for up to five children who may experience emotional and/or social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, four children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted on 14 October 2019. The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2025.

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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 good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2540073 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/08/2024 Full Good 19/03/2024 Full Good 05/07/2022 Full Good 03/11/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2540073 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to move into the home in a planned way. One child was helped to move to the home in line with their wishes. The manager completed a thorough assessment of the child’s needs, considering the other children and the staff’s skillset. The manager visited the child in advance of the move, which helped the child to settle comfortably into their new environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are understood, and staff ensure that children are registered with all relevant services. Referrals to specific services are made when required. Staff educate children on health-related issues to enable them to make positive choices about leading a healthier lifestyle.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to personalise their bedrooms in line with their interests. This gives them a sense of belonging in the home. Some areas of the home require painting to maintain the overall quality of the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported by adults who they trust and feel comfortable speaking to without fear of being judged. One child said, ‘I can talk to anyone usually. If I have a concern, I go to the manager.’ Staff have built strong relationships with children using a calm, nurturing approach. Specialist support is available from a therapist. The therapist works closely with the staff and manager to ensure that staff have the knowledge and skills to provide emotionally informed care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff are committed and have high aspirations for children to learn. When children are not in mainstream education, staff provide creative opportunities for learning. Through strong relationships with educational professionals, staff help children to overcome barriers to engage in learning. One child has recently returned to full-time education. A tutor said, ‘They are always so supportive making sure [child’s name’s] education time was a priority. [Child’s name] is back in school now, it’s all down to staff.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy spending time with staff and each other. One child said, ‘I think the staff have done a really good job to make this feel like a home; it’s the best place I have lived.’ Children are encouraged to engage in a range of hobbies and explore new interests. This supports children to develop their confidence and self-esteem.

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

Children are kept safe by staff who are attuned to their needs and know their strengths and vulnerabilities. When concerns arise, there is effective communication with external professionals, ensuring that children receive the right support at the right time.

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

Missing-from-home episodes have been professionally managed and responded to promptly by staff. Staff follow the missing-from-home protocol and understand what Inspection report for children’s home: 2540073 4 action to take if children go missing from home. Staff and the manager are keen to understand and address any underlying reasons to reduce risks.

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

Physical intervention is used as a last resort to keep children safe. Staff are trained in physical intervention and de-escalation techniques. The manager’s oversight is evaluative. However, there was one instance where the recording did not provide enough detail about the intervention. This limits the ability to fully assess the appropriateness and effectiveness of the response.

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

Children are empowered to use the internet responsibly with staff support to navigate online environments safely. This is underpinned by careful monitoring and regular checks by staff to safeguard children effectively.

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

Staff encourage positive behaviour with children, and their therapeutic input supports a nurturing approach to setting boundaries and managing consequences. This enables staff to respond to children’s behaviour with curiosity and empathy, and children understand why any consequences are necessary. This helps children to express their emotions in healthier ways.

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

Staff follow well-developed risk management plans, which are tailored to children’s needs. They are accessible and guide staff practice. Plans are regularly reviewed and updated by the manager to address any emerging patterns or new risks, ensuring that they remain relevant. This enables staff to provide consistent, safe, and nurturing care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is suitably experienced and qualified. She leads with a clear focus on children’s well-being, ensuring that their needs are at the heart of all decision-making. The manager is supported by a deputy manager who has been promoted from the existing team, which brings continuity and consistency across the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

When the home has experienced staffing shortages, this has been managed effectively. The manager has prioritised the use of familiar staff to ensure that the children continue to receive consistent care, which promotes stability.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have access to a wide range of training. The manager is committed to enhancing staff skills and knowledge through tailored training that addresses children’s specific needs. Staff say that the training supports them to confidently meet children’s needs. Newly appointed staff are supported through a structured induction and probation programme.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from regular supervision sessions, which enable them to critically reflect on their practice. The manager appropriately challenges any gaps in practice to support professional development. This enhances the quality of care for children. Staff appraisals further promote professional growth and are enriched with feedback from professionals and children. Staff say that they feel well supported. Inspection report for children’s home: 2540073 5 Team meetings take place regularly and are child focused. This provides further opportunities for staff to deepen their understanding of the children’s needs and supports ongoing learning.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has systems in place to monitor the quality of care provided. This means that support is shaped to children’s needs and development opportunities for staff are identified swiftly.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There were no requirements made at this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: 2540073 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that when a child has been held, the records are detailed and accurate and include the duration of the hold. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 49, paragraph 9.59)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that general upkeep of the home interior, including painting and maintenance, is carried out regularly to maintain a safe and comfortable environment for children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 15, paragraph 3.7) Inspection report for children’s home: 2540073 7

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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: 2540073 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Homes for Support Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Northern House, 3 Kennerley’s Lane, Crewe, Cheshire SK9 5EQ

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Inspectors

Sarah Probert, Social Care Inspector Shauna Morley, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2540073 9 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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