Children's Home run by Your Chapter Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2820500 1 Registered provider: Your Chapter 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 operated by a private company. It provides care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

This is the home’s first inspection since registration in April 2025. The manager registered with Ofsted in April 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

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2820500 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Three children were living in the home at the time of the inspection. The inspector spoke to all the children about their experiences of living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy positive relationships with each other, and with staff. The manager undertook detailed assessments to understand the needs of the children before they moved to the home. This supports children to live together safely.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from positive routines. When they move in, children are provided with structure and an organised daily plan. Mealtimes are a special time in the home, where children and staff come together to engage in valuable conversation. This familiarity in routine helps children to feel settled and secure in their home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children take part in activities together, and with staff. For example, children have enjoyed visits to theme parks, go karting and regularly play pool in the home. One child has been supported to explore their interest in art. Another child has been helped to join a football club. These experiences support children to have fun, develop their individual interests and enjoy positive peer relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are helped to develop their independence skills. This involves cooking, cleaning their bedrooms and laundry. Staff praise children’s accomplishments, and children are proud of their achievements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children spend time with people who are important to them. Staff facilitate time with one child’s family and ensure that they are safe. Another child is being helped to maintain a relationship with an important family member. One family member said, ‘[The staff] have been amazing. They’ve put plans in place for me to see [Name of child] up until Christmas.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children attend education regularly and are making progress. Children have access to local health services and are supported to attend appointments. Specialist services are accessed when this is needed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a comfortable home which is well decorated. Children’s photos are displayed throughout the home. A large garden provides children with space to enjoy outdoor activities, including football, trampolining and basketball. Children are supported to personalise their bedrooms to reflect their likes and interests. However, the use of bedroom door alarms is not risk assessed or regularly reviewed. Inspection report for children’s home: 2820500 3

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

Safeguarding practices are robust. Staff understand their responsibilities in ensuring that children are safeguarded effectively. Children’s risks and vulnerabilities are known and understood by staff. Risk assessments are updated regularly and set out individualised strategies for staff to use when supporting children.

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

Children can identify a trusted adult they can talk to about any concerns. When an allegation was made, it was treated seriously. Safeguarding professionals were notified, and concerns were investigated thoroughly. Children were informed of the outcome, and support was provided to children to help rebuild relationships.

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

Incidents in the home are rare. Staff use effective de-escalation techniques to prevent behaviours from escalating. This means that children have not needed to be held to keep them safe. The manager has good oversight of any incidents and evaluates staff practice effectively.

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

A nurturing environment supports children to manage their feelings safely. Staff recognise and respond to concerns about children’s emotional well-being. Children are helped to explore their thoughts and feelings sensitively. When one child was observed to have self-harm injuries, staff responded thoughtfully and with care. Children have access to a commissioned therapist who spends time in the home.

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

Children do not go missing from home. Missing-from-home protocols are in place for each child. Staff know and understand these plans. Risks have significantly reduced for one child, who has not been missing since moving into the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by a suitably qualified registered manager. He has a visible presence in the home and spends time with children, alongside staff. As a result, he knows the children well and has full oversight of how care is delivered by the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers ensure that safer recruitment practices are followed. All staff complete an induction and probation period as outlined in the provider’s statement of purpose. Probation processes are used effectively in order to monitor staff performance and identify any development needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say that they feel supported to fulfil their role. They are provided with regular supervision, which is used to reflect on children’s experiences and staff practice. Staff receive specialist training which helps them to deliver valuable support to children. Staff are supported to enrol on the diploma course, to enable them to achieve the relevant qualification in a timely way.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings are held regularly and are well attended. They are used to share important updates about children. The manager sets clear expectations for staff and Inspection report for children’s home: 2820500 4 detailed notes are kept. This ensures that staff have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers create opportunities for children to share feedback about the care they receive in weekly children’s meetings. Children’s views are respected and acted on.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have good oversight of the home. Managers review and evaluate the work staff complete with children. The manager undertakes weekly audits to monitor and review children’s care and progress. Oversight from senior leaders is robust and allows for patterns and trends to be identified and responded to. Inspection report for children’s home: 2820500 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the use of monitoring systems on children’s bedrooms doors is risk assessed and kept under regular review. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.10)

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Information about this inspection

The inspector has 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: 2820500 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Your Chapter Ltd, 3 Oakwater Avenue, Cheadle Royal Business Park, Cheadle SK8 3SR

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Inspector

Anna Belshaw, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2820500 7 regulates 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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