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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC439956 1 SC439956 Registered provider: Active Ark 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 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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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 requires improvement to be good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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good

Date of last inspection: 2 September 2025

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: This children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 2 and 3 September 2025. 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. A monitoring visit on the 16 Inspection report for children’s home: SC439956 2 October 2025 found that the provider had taken sufficient action to meet the steps in the compliance notices. Inspection report for children’s home: 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: SC439956 4

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improvement to be good

The child is making progress, with achievements in education and developing their independence skills. Staff know the child well and provide support for them in all areas of their life.

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improvement to be good

There are well-established and trusting relationships between the child and staff. This helps the child to feel secure. The child can talk to staff about any concerns they may have. There are several ways for the child to share their views. Managers introduced a monthly session where they talk to the child by using interactive tools. This helps staff to monitor the child’s progress.

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improvement to be good

The child’s mental health needs are well supported by staff. Staff help the child to develop strategies to manage their emotions. Appropriate referrals are made for specialist support. Staff encourage the child to consider the risks associated with electronic cigarettes and alcohol misuse.

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improvement to be good

The child has several interests, which are encouraged by staff. The child’s independent reviewing officer praised the team for how well it promotes the child’s achievements. These activities include horse riding and crochet. This supports the child’s mental health and helps to improve their self-esteem.

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improvement to be good

Staff understand the importance of the child’s relationships with people who are important to them. One family member explained how staff ‘go above and beyond’ and have supported them to make positive changes for their child.

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improvement to be good

There are clear plans and protocols in place to help reduce risks to the child. However, staff do not always respond quickly regarding these risks. For example, on one occasion, there was a delay in staff seeking medical advice when the child presented as intoxicated. Other shortfalls were identified in staff’s safeguarding practices when the child was missing from home.

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improvement to be good

There is inconsistent information recorded in the child’s plans. This means that some recent updates that are in the child’s risk assessments are not included in the child’s placement plan.

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improvement to be good

The risks for the child are reducing. Staff work to reduce risk by speaking to the child. This work is helping the child to understand the impact of some behaviours and to make better choices. Staff support the child to set targets to help them make Inspection report for children’s home: SC439956 5 positive changes. Staff and the child work together on self-esteem and healthy relationships to support positive change.

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improvement to be good

Staff do not use physical intervention. Staff are fully trained in this area if this is required.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers’ recruitment practices are safe. This helps to ensure that only suitable staff are employed to care for children.

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good

There are shortfalls in the registered manager’s oversight of the home. The registered manager does not identify inconsistent recording in the child’s plans or shortfalls in staff practice. The registered manager’s review of the care staff provide for the child does not include the child’s views.

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good

Records from staff appraisals do not demonstrate that staff consider the views of the child or other professionals who work with staff.

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good

The registered manager has an established and trusting relationship with the child. Professionals are positive about how well the manager advocates for the child and ‘goes the extra mile’. The registered manager has effective communication with relevant professionals.

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good

Staff spoken to say that they feel valued by the registered manager. Staff say they can share their views and contribute to making improvements to the care they provide for the child.

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good

Team meetings take place regularly. Records demonstrate that these meetings provide staff with an opportunity to reflect on their practice. The registered manager talks to staff about their roles and responsibilities. The registered manager provides targeted talks about the child’s needs. This helps staff to focus on the child’s specific needs.

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good

Staff have regular supervision. Records demonstrate that supervision includes effective discussions between the registered manager and staff member. This demonstrates a positive investment in and appreciation of staff. However, the systems in place to record supervision discussions do not include accurate information. Inspection report for children’s home: SC439956 6

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

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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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered manager must ensure that staff follow the plans and protocols in place to reduce risks to the child and must do so in a timely way. 31 January

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 31 January Inspection report for children’s home: SC439956 7 lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the manager must have oversight of the home to ensure that the child’s plans and assessments are consistent with up-to-date information.

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Requirement Due date

The registered manager must have oversight of incidents to ensure that staff practice is in line with plans and protocols.

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Requirement Due date

The registered manager must have oversight of staff supervisions to demonstrate that they are completed within the expected timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(b)) 31 January

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that all staff have their performance and fitness to carry out their role formally appraised at least once annually. This appraisal should take into account, where reasonable and practical, the views of other professionals who have worked with the staff member over the year and children in the home’s care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.5) Inspection report for children’s home: SC439956 8

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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: SC439956 9

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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: SC439956 10 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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