Children's Home run by Active Ark Limited in Westmorland and Furness

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC439956 1 SC439956 Registered provider: Active Ark Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is privately operated and provides care for one child with emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered with Ofsted in May 2012. The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

One child was living at the home at the time of this visit. The child was spoken to by the inspector.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 2 and 3 September 2025.

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This monitoring visit

Following the inspection, two compliance notices were issued under Section 22A of the Care Standards Act under regulation 12, the protection of children standard, and regulation 13, the leadership and management standard.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the actions taken by the provider to meet the steps outlined in the compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

Following a case review held on 22 October 2025, it was agreed that the provider has taken sufficient action to address the concerns identified.

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This monitoring visit

Risk management plans have been updated to provide clear strategies and guidance for staff to follow to reduce the risk of harm to children. Daily handovers highlight any recent updates that staff need to be aware of. There are plans in place to discuss and test staff understanding of plans in the next team meeting. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC439956 2 The staff spoken to said that plans are regularly updated and show the current situation for children. As staff work across different homes, they value having plans in place which are succinct and are easy to follow.

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This monitoring visit

Staff training is ongoing. The team has completed sessions around reporting and recording incidents, and further sessions are planned around safeguarding and the provider’s therapeutic model in the coming months.

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This monitoring visit

Staff are complimentary of the new approach to their supervision. One staff member said there is more focus on them as a practitioner. They receive more feedback and are supported to reflect on their practice. The new supervision template is detailed and encourages staff engagement and discussion about their practice.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have developed tools for staff to complete which help to identify gaps in their knowledge and understanding. The information has been followed up during individual supervision and team meetings. Staff acknowledge that managers have tested their understanding during team meetings using interactive quizzes. Records show that there has been discussion and reflection within the team to support their development in key areas of practice.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has completed reflective reviews of the incidents raised in the last inspection. This has included input from the child and staff members involved. The reports identify missed opportunities and areas of learning with clear actions to address shortfalls.

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This monitoring visit

Managers’ oversight is evident on children’s records. This has ensured that there is appropriate and timely follow-up with children following incidents of concern. There is also a new incident monitoring form that the manager completes each month to monitor themes and trends and identify gaps and opportunities for learning.

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This monitoring visit

The child living in the home continues to make progress. The child acknowledged the good connections they have with staff and the improvements they have been supported to make, particularly with their education. The child’s social worker complimented the team on how well they meet the child’s needs. They also acknowledged how well they work together around the planning for the child.

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This monitoring visit

The conditions of the home are good. There is evidence of the child’s love of arts and crafts with their artwork displayed around the home.

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This monitoring visit

The requirements raised at the full inspection were not reviewed at this visit. These will be reviewed at the next full inspection. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC439956 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/09/2025 Full Inadequate 02/07/2024 Full Good 22/08/2023 Full Good 30/01/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC439956 4

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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 with the given timescales.

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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

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

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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 1 November 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC439956 5 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. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(ix))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the child’s home is clean, safe and any damaged equipment is replaced without delay.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the child receives carefully planned care based on the placing authority care plans.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 1 November 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious; 1 November 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC439956 6 there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child —

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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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)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that induction, team meetings and supervision take place regularly and in line with the home’s statement of purpose.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 1 November 2025

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the quality of care review is evaluative and contains feedback from wider stakeholders. The review should enable the registered person to identify areas of strength and possible weakness in the home s care, which will be captured in the written report. The report should clearly identify any actions required for the next six months of delivery within the home and how those actions will be addressed. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraphs 15.2 and 15.4) Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC439956 7

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC439956 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Active Ark, Unit E, Baron Way, Kingmoor Business Park, Carlisle CA6 4SJ

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Inspector

Andrea Foreman, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC439956 9 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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