Children's Home run by Cannon Children Services Ltd in West Northamptonshire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2737729 1 Registered provider: Cannon Children Services Ltd

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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 privately owned and is registered to provide care for up to two children who may have social and emotional needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has recently resigned and was absent from the home. The interim manager was present during this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

One child currently lives in the home and their views were sought.

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Inspection date: 20 August 2025

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 20 August 2025

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspectors evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have 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: 2737729 2

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Findings from the inspection

We identified the following serious and widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection:

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Findings from the inspection

 Shortfalls in safeguarding practice.  Ineffective leadership and management.  Shortfalls in how care is organised.

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Findings from the inspection

Requirements set at the home’s most recent full inspection were not considered during this visit. These requirements will remain in place and will be reviewed at the next inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

The child is not provided with clear structure or routines as part of their day-to-day care. Planned weekly activities for the child are limited and repetitive. They do not support the child to participate in a variety of positive activities away from the home. Daily records and incident reports indicate that staff have not actively attempted to encourage the child’s participation in a regular and consistent way.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders have failed to ensure that staff receive support on how to build positive attachments and meaningful relationships with the child. The interim manager has established a positive relationship with the child; however, this is not reflected across the staff team. The child said that they feel lonely and have no relationships with staff. Staff report that the child isolates themselves in their bedroom.

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Findings from the inspection

There is no professional curiosity about whether the child’s behaviours may reflect a lack of meaningful engagement from staff. This does not help the child to develop trusting relationships or provide them with the belief or confidence that they are cared for.

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Findings from the inspection

The child and staff do not eat or share mealtimes together. On the day of the visit, the child ate alone on the sofa, while staff ate separately in the kitchen. The dining table is too small for family meals. This limits communal time together and further isolates the child.

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Findings from the inspection

There have been recent improvements to the garden. However, the child does not benefit from a welcoming or homely environment. Their bedroom is not personalised, and areas of the home are institutionalised. For example, there are notices in communal areas. This does not provide the child with a positive sense of belonging.

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Findings from the inspection

The child has made two complaints about their care and support while living in the home. Managers have failed to respond to one of the child’s complaints. Complaints have not been addressed in line with the home’s policy. This failure means the child’s voice, views, wishes and feelings are not heard and responded to. Failure to manage Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2737729 3 complaints effectively shows weak safeguarding practice and a lack of child-centred care.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have completed safeguarding training and have received additional training to support the child’s specific needs. Staff have also received training in behaviour management. Despite this training, staff have not always managed safeguarding concerns effectively. Staff have, on occasion, relied on police involvement to manage behaviour that may challenge. It is not always clear why police involvement was necessary, especially where risks had already been mitigated. This does not ensure effective relation-based behaviour management.

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Findings from the inspection

Incident forms have been shared with the regulator; however, requests for updates have not been responded to in a timely way. This could prevent the regulator from monitoring the care being provided and the safety of children promptly.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders have failed to ensure the child receives support to understand and manage their emotions in a more positive way. Incident records do not always reflect child- centred language. When incidences have occurred, staff have limited, proactive or meaningful conversations with the child. External support services that could help the child understand the impact of specific risks have not been explored. This does not adequately support the child or reduce future risks.

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Findings from the inspection

The director manages staff rotas, limiting the manager’s oversight and accountability. Leaders have failed to ensure the home has sufficient staff to provide safe and effective care. Staff shortages have meant that staff are working across the provider’s two homes and are working excessive hours. One staff member worked 11 days consecutively. This practice raises concerns around staff well-being, and safe care of children.

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Findings from the inspection

The provider’s on-call systems have not been effective, leading to staff and children being unsupported. The responsible individual’s physical presence and oversight is limited. There is insufficient scrutiny of the care being provided, incident and behaviour management, staff well-being and quality assurance processes. This limits support and opportunities for staff to learn how to improve their practice. Managers have not identified or fully explored weaknesses in the quality of care for the child. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2737729 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/05/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 25/09/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 27/02/2024 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2737729 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

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 effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(v)(vi)(vii)(e))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered person ensuring that identified concerns are recorded and acted on in a timely way. This also relates to children who have gone missing from home having the opportunity to speak with an independent person (a return home interview). 7 October 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed and to no other child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(b)) 7 October 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2737729 6 This specifically relates to the registered person ensuring that written agreement is provided by the health professional for prescribed medication.

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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 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

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;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered person ensuring the roles and responsibilities of staff are clear, staff being qualified or trained to undertake senior responsibilities, ensuring that correct processes are followed when a child makes a complaint, ensuring the home has sufficient staff to care for children and ensuring the monitoring of all aspects of care and practice. 7 October 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2737729 7 The registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (3)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered person ensuring that the statement of purpose is updated and the information is accurate. 7 October 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.

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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 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;

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Requirement Due date

treat each child with dignity and respect;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult;

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Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

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Requirement Due date

provide to children personal items that are appropriate for their age and understanding; and 7 October 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2737729 8 make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(ix)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relate to the registered person ensuring children have positive routines and experiences, that staff have the training, understanding and skills to build meaningful relationships with children and to support them with direct work. The registered person should also ensure the home reflects a child friendly environment.

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2737729 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cannon Children Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2 Calais Hill, Tyler Hill, Canterbury CT2 9LT

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Inspectors

Tazim Akhtar, Social Care Inspector Thirza Smith, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2737729 10 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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