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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2526004 1 Registered provider: Homes for Support Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and managed by a private organisation. The home provides care for up to six children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, six children were living at the home. Five children spoke to the inspectors.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2023.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 4 February 2025

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2526004 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/02/2025 Full Good 19/03/2024 Full Good 20/03/2023 Full Outstanding 01/03/2022 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: 2526004 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children moving in and out of the home are well supported. Staff work collaboratively with professionals to support transition plans. Staff involve children already living at the home when making decisions about new children moving in. Children moving into the home and their families are encouraged and supported to visit the home and meet staff before the move. This helps children settle in and feel safe.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are well met. Staff ensure that when children have allergies, this information is shared with others when required. Children are encouraged to attend health appointments and receive additional medical treatment when required. Staff respond to children appropriately when they are injured. They administer first aid and seek further medical attention when necessary.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager ensures that the home is well maintained, reporting any damage or wear and tear to the in-house maintenance team for repairs and refurbishment. The children’s bedrooms are comfy, and they have everything they need. Children are encouraged to take responsibility and pride in their bedrooms. However, staff do not always check children’s bedrooms to ensure that any potentially hazardous items, such as lighters, are removed.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to share their views and develop independence. Children and staff meet weekly to talk about plans and activities for the upcoming week. Children are involved in meal planning, learning how to budget for food and are supported to complete household tasks. Staff ensure that children are well prepared when they move to live independently.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of education for children. Children who are not in education are encouraged to learn at home. The manager effectively challenges professionals to ensure that children’s learning needs are fully considered so that the right educational provision is identified. One child’s social worker said, ‘Although [the child] has not been here long, we have already seen significant progress. School attendance has improved.’

p.3

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

When children go missing from home, staff respond in a timely and appropriate manner. Staff liaise with professionals, such as the police and social workers, and inform the children’s families when they are missing. Staff follow missing-from-home risk assessments and are proactive in searching and trying to locate children to bring them home safely. Children are welcomed back into the home, and staff are curious about the reasons why they go missing and where they have been. Inspection report for children’s home: 2526004 4 Staff ensure that children are provided with clear routines and boundaries. They spend time with children to help them understand appropriate behaviours. Staff use reward charts, incentives and consequences for unwanted behaviour. Consequences are fair and proportionate.

p.3

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

Children are only held as a last resort and to keep them safe. When children are held, the least restrictive intervention is used. Children and staff are offered debriefs following the use of physical intervention. The manager has good oversight of all physical interventions, which are evaluative and reflective. However, details about the duration of holds and the actions staff have taken to reduce the duration are unclear.

p.4

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

Children are educated about risk. Staff talk to children about risk-taking behaviours and how to keep themselves safe. Children’s risk assessments are clear and specific to their individual needs and identified risks. They cover a range of risk-taking behaviours and provide clear details about the actions staff should take to reduce risk.

p.4

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

Children have positive relationships with the staff. They can identify staff they can talk to and are able to raise any worries without the fear of being judged. When children make a complaint, the manager ensures that the correct procedure is followed. Children are listened to, and complaints are thoroughly investigated in a timely manner. The outcomes of complaints are discussed with the child who made the complaint.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a clear vision for the home and has high expectations of the staff. Staff share this vision and say that they enjoy working at the home. Staff feel well supported by the manager and the deputy manager. The manager and staff have a calm, nurturing approach. Children are provided with consistent care and stability.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager works collaboratively with other professionals. They ensure that any actions taken are discussed with other professionals working with the children and in line with children’s care plans. However, the manager did not ensure that a risk assessment was completed following the implementation of door sensors. This did not allow for a review of the effectiveness or ongoing need to use door monitors. However, the door monitors have now been removed.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision that is reflective and child focused. It provides a safe space for staff to discuss areas for development and any concerns. New staff are well supported through a twelve-week induction plan. The manager ensures that new staff’s progress is regularly reviewed and that they complete the mandatory training and have the opportunity to reflect on their learning.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings are held regularly and well attended by staff. They provide an opportunity for the team to discuss the care provided to children, any safeguarding issues and staff development. There is an opportunity to learn from practice, and staff openly discuss areas of improvement. Inspection report for children’s home: 2526004 5 The manager ensures that the home has a full staff team. Any gaps in the rota are covered by permanent staff members, where possible, or bank staff who are familiar with the home and the children. The manager organises the rota to ensure that staff work with all the children. Children and staff sit together to eat meals. The ethos of the home feels inclusive and family-like, promoting stability for children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2526004 6

p.4

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

p.6

Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children;

p.6

Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. (Regulation 24 (1) (a)(d))

p.6

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that there are clear assessments for the use of door sensors on children’s bedroom doors and that these are reviewed regularly. 12 November 2025

p.6

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.6

Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(d))

p.6

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that there are appropriate measures in place to remove inappropriate and hazardous items from children’s bedrooms, such as lighters and vapes. 12 November 2025

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that— 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— 12 November 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2526004 7 a description of the measure and its duration. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(iv))

p.6

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that staff make clear records of the duration of the restraint.

p.7

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: 2526004 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Homes for Support Limited

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Northern House, 3 Kennerleys Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5EQ

p.8

Inspectors

Sarah Probert, Social Care Inspector Shauna Morley, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2526004 9 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 looked-after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.8

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.9

Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.9