Children's home run by Cornerways Care Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2583142 1 Registered provider: Cornerways Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and managed by a private provider. It provides care for up to three children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager at the home since 21 October 2025. The manager has made an application to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, two children were living at the home.

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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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2583142 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/03/2025 Full Good 06/02/2024 Full Good 16/05/2022 Full Good 15/06/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2583142 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children living at this home are settled and are making progress. Staff provide the children with a good standard of consistent and nurturing care. Children’s day-to-day experiences are positive because they are provided with structure, routines and clear boundaries. Children enjoy secure and trusting relationships with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand how children’s past experiences have an impact on their lives. They have open and honest conversations with children about a range of topics specific to children’s individual needs. Staff also talk to children about how they are feeling. This helps children to develop better coping strategies to manage any difficult emotions that they may be experiencing. One child said that they feel listened to by staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are consulted with regularly about the home and the care that they are receiving. Children are involved in care-planning decisions and their own risk management plans. For one child, this has led to a reduction in incidents because they have been involved in setting expectations around their daily routines.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to gain a better understanding of their own health needs. They educate children about the actions that they need to take to manage these needs independently in preparation for adulthood. This has led to improved diets and personal care routines for children. One child has made progress in managing their own medication. Staff work collaboratively with health professionals to ensure that they are equipped to support children who have additional health needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making progress in their education from their individual starting points. Staff understand the barriers to children’s education, and they advocate for children to ensure that they are accessing the right support. Staff provide children with lots of opportunities for informal learning to complement their formal education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are provided with a range of activities in line with their hobbies and interests, such as go-karting, gaming and arts and crafts. Staff are creative in their approach to helping children try activities that will provide them with new experiences. Staff offer reassurances as they understand that some children have anxieties about taking part in activities outside of the home.

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

Children’s risk assessments are detailed; they provide clear guidance to staff and are kept under review by the manager. Staff understand the children’s individual risks and vulnerabilities, and they are clear about the steps to take to mitigate some of these risks. Inspection report for children’s home: 2583142 4 Serious incidents are rare. When children are struggling with their emotions, staff use their relationships with children to respond. This positive approach has meant that staff have not had to intervene physically to keep children safe. Consequences to behaviour are rarely used, and when they have been used the measures have been restorative.

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

Children do not go missing from the home. Children’s missing-from-home plans are detailed and provide staff with clear steps to follow should this happen. Staff are clear about their responsibilities to children who go missing.

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

Allegations and complaints are taken seriously. Allegations are investigated and information is shared with safeguarding professionals. The manager investigates complaints and responds to these in line with the provider’s policies. Records show that children are supported when they make a complaint and that they are provided with an outcome in a timely way.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There has been a change of manager at the home. The new manager is experienced and suitably qualified. The manager is a positive role model for staff, and he provides them with effective leadership. Management oversight is good and, overall, the systems in place to review and monitor the quality of care are effective. However, the manager has not ensured that an up-to-date plan written by the local authority is held on each child’s file.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been some changes to the staff team, and gaps in the rota have been filled by agency staff. However, there is a core staff team whose members are suitably skilled and experienced, and the use of agency staff has been consistent. This has limited the potential impact on the continuity of care provided to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff said that they feel supported and valued by the manager. Staff receive a high standard of reflective supervision. Team meetings happen regularly and provide staff with the opportunity to discuss the children’s plans. Staff receive an additional layer of support from the home’s therapist. This helps to equip staff to gain better understanding of children’s individual needs, and to find improved strategies to support each child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is committed to staff development. Staff receive a range of core training that is kept under review by the manager. Staff complete additional training to equip them with the relevant skills and experience to meet the specific needs of each child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager makes child-centred decisions when children move into the home. Children’s needs are assessed before they move into the home, including any potential impact on children who are already living at the home. Transitions for children are positive and well planned. Inspection report for children’s home: 2583142 5 The manager and staff work collaboratively with other professionals involved with the children. One professional said, ‘Communication is good. Staff are amazing, they understand [name of child]’s needs, and their approach is child centred.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 2583142 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that all children’s case records (regulation 36) are kept up to date and stored securely while they remain in the home. Regulations 35-39 detail the records that must be kept in children’s homes. This relates specifically to children’s plans written by the local authority. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3)

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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: 2583142 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cornerways Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Eastway Enterprise Centre, 7 Paynes Park, Hitchin, Hertfordshire SG5 1EH

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Inspector

Rachel Webster, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2583142 8 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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