Children's Home run by Theracare Homes Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2673338 1 Registered provider: THERACARE HOMES 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

The home is owned by a private company. It is registered to provide care for up to two children who may experience social or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, two children were living in the home. Both children spoke with inspectors about their experiences of living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2024.

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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: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2673338 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/04/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 02/11/2022 Full Inadequate 27/07/2022 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: 2673338 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children like living in the home. They are settled and have a strong sense of belonging. One child said, ‘It’s good here. Staff are really nice.’ Staff provide a good standard of care and are focused on achieving the best outcomes for the children. Children are making progress in all areas of their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff talk about the children with warmth and pride. Children feel comfortable talking to staff; they have open discussions with them and feel heard. Children’s wishes and feelings are sought regularly, and staff respond appropriately to any issues or requests. Children enjoy spending time with staff both inside and outside of the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support and encourage children to make progress with their education and are ambitious for them to do well. The manager worked effectively with other agencies to secure appropriate education provisions to meet the children’s needs. One child, who had not attended school for some time before moving into the home, is now enjoying attending school regularly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand children’s healthcare needs and support them to attend routine and specialist health appointments. Children are in good health and are encouraged to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Staff provide children with healthy meals, which children help to plan and cook.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are offered a variety of fun activities. They are encouraged to try new opportunities, and their interests are nurtured. One child said, ‘We get to do lots of activities.’ Children enjoy regular day trips out with staff, including visits to theme parks, coastal towns and activity centres.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to spend time with people who are important to them. Staff have developed positive relationships with family members and communicate with them regularly. One parent said, ‘I can’t fault them. They do a brilliant job.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a spacious home that is welcoming, comfortable and homely. Children’s bedrooms are decorated and personalised to their individual tastes. Children have ample room to rest and play, both inside and outside of the home. They enjoy games such as swing ball and football in the large gardens surrounding the home.

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

Children say they feel safe and secure living in the home. Their risks and vulnerabilities are known and understood by staff. Children’s risk and behaviour plans are individualised and provide staff with clear information about what to do if risks Inspection report for children’s home: 2673338 4 arise. Plans are updated regularly, and staff help children to understand and contribute to their plans. However, on one occasion, an opportunity was missed to seek medical advice when a child banged their head.

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

Positive behaviour is consistently promoted in the home. Clear routines, boundaries and expectations are in place, which children respond well to. Children work towards goals that they help to set, and their achievements are rewarded and celebrated. They receive help and support to understand and manage their feelings and behaviours.

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

When a child goes missing from the home, staff take swift and appropriate action to ensure they return home quickly and safely. The frequency of incidents of children going missing has decreased since the last inspection. This indicates that children feel settled, safe and secure.

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

Staff are trained in a therapeutic model that is used in their day-to-day practice for the benefit of both children. Staff and children are starting to benefit from the company’s recent appointment of a therapist, who is visiting the home weekly.

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

Staff are resilient and provide nurturing care to children to help them regulate and understand their emotions. They regularly develop and adapt their practice to help protect children. This has recently resulted in a reduction in the need to hold children to keep them safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is committed and caring. He is supported by a hardworking and enthusiastic deputy. The manager and deputy are child centred and are focused on achieving the best outcomes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff enjoy working in the home. They feel supported and valued by the manager and the deputy. The staff team is stable, and staff work well together to provide consistent care to the children. One staff member said, ‘Everyone works together to ensure the needs of the children are met.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are provided with opportunities to discuss and reflect on their practice at regular team meetings. However, not all staff receive regular supervision sessions, and their practice is not always formally reviewed each year.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that staff are up to date with training and development. This includes bespoke training to equip staff with the knowledge and skills to meet the children’s current and emerging needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has good oversight of the home. He knows the strengths and areas of vulnerability and takes action to address any shortfalls. However, the workforce development plan does not include all the necessary information. Inspection report for children’s home: 2673338 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 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. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that medical advice is sought if a child has banged their head. 28 November

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was given at the last inspection and is restated. 28 November

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the workforce plan details the processes and agreed timescales for staff to achieve induction and probation and the process for managing and improving poor performance. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 10.8) Inspection report for children’s home: 2673338 6

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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: 2673338 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: THERACARE HOMES LIMITED

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 10 Ambassador Place, Stockport Road, Altrincham, Cheshire WA15 8DB

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Inspectors

Zillah Brooks, Social Care Inspector Danielle Allen, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2673338 8 and inspects 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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