Children's Home run by Cornerways Care Limited in Bedford

Inspection report for children’s home: 2737310 1 Registered provider: Cornerways Care 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

This home was registered by Ofsted in September 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

The home can provide care for three children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2023.

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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: outstanding

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2737310 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/03/2025 Full Outstanding 29/02/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2737310 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, no children have moved in or out of the home. One child was living at the home at the time of the inspection, but they did not contribute to the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Leaders and managers diligently consider the child’s needs. They consult with external professionals and try to ensure the staff’s skills are suitable to help meet the child’s needs. Various models of therapeutic practice are threaded through how staff think and reflect on the care they provide. Models of practice are clear within the child’s plans. However, despite the consistent and best efforts of staff, the child has not made sustained progress since the last inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff prioritise building and maintaining meaningful relationships with the child. Staff have identified the child’s hobbies and interests and taken part in lots of activities with the child. This helps the child and staff to build important connections and enjoy common interests together.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Professionals working with the child are highly complementary about how well children are cared for. One professional said, ‘The placement has gone above and beyond to support [child’s name].’ Another said, ‘Staff are very committed. When things are difficult, they don’t give in or give up.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of supporting the child to maintain relationships with family and friends. Staff encourage the child to invite their loved ones to the home. This creates special memories of meaningful time spent together.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work in very close partnership with local colleges and virtual schools to overcome challenges relating to attendance. This partnership approach, with detailed communication between providers and staff, has meant professionals have worked together to ensure that the child has received opportunities to further their education, including work experience at a local zoo. Despite having not had a formal education for a long period of time before coming to live at the home, staff encouraged the child to sit their exams, which is a huge achievement for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is decorated and furnished to a good standard and provides a comfortable space. However, fire signage around the home and large and obvious locks on kitchen cupboard doors detract from what is otherwise a homely environment.

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

Staff demonstrate a thorough understanding of the child’s needs, including their strengths and vulnerabilities. Risk assessments are detailed, regularly reviewed and include clear strategies of support. This means staff are able to provide consistent care. Inspection report for children’s home: 2737310 4 Staff work closely with external professional agencies to ensure that the child’s safety needs are clearly assessed. Staff take effective action to share concerns and act quickly on advice. This has included bespoke assessments being completed by those who know the child best. This helps to ensure their individual needs are well considered.

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

Missing-from-home incidents are managed effectively. Staff take prompt action to escalate concerns and initiate searches. When the child returns, staff respond with warmth and curiosity. However, the child does not often disclose their whereabouts. This makes it difficult for staff to educate them regarding risks linked to unplanned time in the community.

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

When the child struggles with their emotional well-being, staff exhaust all opportunities to keep them safe. On very rare occasions, this includes staff holding the child and police being called to the home to help manage behaviour. Reports are comprehensive and include a clear rationale for the action taken. Staff are curious to understand what may have been happening for the child at the time, always holding the child in mind.

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

Consequences are seldom implemented by staff. When used, consequences are relevant and relate to the child’s behaviour. Staff are creative in how they offer opportunities to children to talk about what may have gone wrong, which helps them to understand their behaviour.

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

When concerns about staff practice have arisen, leaders and managers have acted swiftly and appropriately. They have shared information promptly and implemented immediate measures to reduce risks while investigations are ongoing.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by a suitably qualified and experienced manager. Although the manager was not able to be at the home during the inspection, she was available throughout and fully supported the process. The manager is supported by an enthusiastic deputy manager. Both have a strong desire to achieve positive outcomes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers demonstrate a good understanding of the children’s needs. One professional said, ‘Managers are very committed to the children; from the start, we have had brilliant communication.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers maintain effective oversight of the home, along with a good understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for development. Leaders and managers use various detailed audits to help understand areas needing improvement. Monitoring and review systems have helped managers understand how children’s needs have changed and how they can adapt to that.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff said leaders and managers are supportive and approachable. Staff receive regular, good-quality supervision in line with the home’s therapeutic model. This helps them to Inspection report for children’s home: 2737310 5 explore important topics and reflect on their everyday practice. Children’s views are sought as part of the appraisal process, and this helps staff’s ongoing development, with children feeling their input valued.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Safer recruitment processes are followed. New staff benefit from a detailed induction. Staff access a range of training to help them to understand children’s needs. Staff recognise that children will benefit from understanding their lived experiences, including journeys into care. As a result, staff have attended specialist life-story training to provide helpful support to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have responded appropriately to incidents, although they have not always notified Ofsted in a timely manner nor included all relevant details within notifications. This limits Ofsted’s ability to monitor incidents. Inspection report for children’s home: 2737310 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should have a system in place so that all serious events are notified, within 24 hours, to the appropriate people. Notifications must include all details relevant to the incident. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.3)  The registered person should ensure as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ home environment. In particular, consideration should be given to the necessity of fire signage in the home. Consideration should also be taken to the position of visible locks to cupboard doors. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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: 2737310 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: Cornerways Care Ltd, Eastway Enterprise Centre, 7 Paynes Park, Hitchin, Hertfordshire SG5 1EH

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Inspectors

Lexi Mitchell, Social Care Inspector Sallie Bloomfield, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2737310 8 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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