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Inspection report for children's home: SC394463 1 SC394463 Registered provider: Cornerstone Children’s Homes 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 is operated by a private company and is registered to provide care for up to three children who may experience social and/or emotional difficulties. One child was living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 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: 23 September 2025

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

Following a full inspection on 23 and 24 September 2025, this home was judged inadequate. Children were not always adequately supervised which had led to incidents between them. Poor practice was identified in the management of incidents between children. Additionally, risks around fire setting had not been effectively managed. Leaders and managers did not always have effective oversight or identify when staff practice had fallen below acceptable standards. A restriction of accommodation notice was issued under section 22A of the care standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children's home: SC394463 2 A monitoring visit was completed on 12 November 2025 when it was judged that the restriction of accommodation notice could be lifted. Inspection report for children's home: SC394463 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/09/2025 Full Inadequate 03/09/2024 Full Good 29/08/2023 Full Good 28/09/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC394463 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, two children have moved on from the home in line with the local authority’s care plans. One child has been successfully supported to return to their family. Staff and the manager invested significant time and effort to ensure that this transition was managed safely and sensitively, resulting in a positive and successful reunification.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child who continues to live in the home has been settled there for over three years. They have developed strong, trusting relationships with the staff and management team, which has provided them with stability and emotional security.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff and the manager have developed strong links with the child’s family and some of their friendship group. This allows the child to spend time with their family and friends in a safe way which aids their social development. The child can attend leisure activities with staff, such as football matches.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is approaching the age of independence. The manager recognises the importance of increasing the child’s choice and control in daily life and is working with the child’s social worker to support this. However, staff have not consistently provided robust preparation for independent living, which limits the child’s opportunities to develop essential skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is valued in the home. The child is at college and staff provide encouragement around attendance and engagement. The child is also encouraged to learn in the home and has completed training courses on the provider’s training hub such as anti-bullying, substance misuse and fire safety.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand and support the child’s health needs. When the child is reluctant to attend appointments, staff persevere and discuss the benefits of engaging with health professionals. The provider has also recently secured private healthcare for the child. In addition, the provider’s therapy team works closely with staff to deepen their understanding of the child’s emotional needs and to guide their practice.

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

The child is kept safe by staff who understand their needs and vulnerabilities. Comprehensive risk assessment documents identify risks and provide clear direction for staff. Staff are now more confident in managing risks and intervene in a timely manner when issues or concerns arise. Staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities and demonstrate a clear understanding of whistleblowing procedures.

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

There have been few incidents during this inspection period. Those that have occurred have been managed by staff in line with their training. When physical intervention has Inspection report for children's home: SC394463 5 been used, it has been proportionate, necessary, and recorded to a good standard. The manager ensures that both staff and the child are spoken to following any incident, providing opportunities for reflection and learning.

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

The home is a safe and welcoming environment for the child. The home is well- maintained and any damage is repaired promptly. There are stringent checks and protocols in place to manage fire risks.

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

When accidents happen, staff respond quickly and appropriately. They administer first aid and seek further medical advice when necessary. Medication is safely managed in the home with robust storage arrangements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and responsible individual have fully addressed all previously identified shortfalls. They have introduced systems and tools that have significantly strengthened management oversight of the home. As a result, the child is being cared for safely and in a way that promotes their progress and ongoing development

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a stable and resilient staff team who are committed to the child. Staff state that they receive support from the manager and the provider. The provider has recently created an app where staff and the child can give feedback in an effort to evaluate the quality of care being provided.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a wide range of skills and experience in the staff team. Some staff hold a qualification in residential childcare. Other staff are enrolled to attain the relevant qualification. Staff have access to a wide range of training. Learning and reflection is embedded in a variety of ways such as supervisions sessions and team meetings. However, not all staff have had a yearly appraisal. This has prevented the manager from identifying some training needs in a timely manner.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff have formed good working relationships with professionals. They share information with other agencies and are strong advocates for the child. Inspection report for children's home: SC394463 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 care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that when considering new children coming to live at the home the impact on children already living there is fully assessed. Furthermore, robust consideration must be given to suitability of children to live together.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last full inspection. It has not been reviewed and remains in place. 15 March 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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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)(c))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff appraisals are carried out once every year. 15 March 2026

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff help each child to prepare for any moves from the home. This includes supporting the child to develop emotional and mental resilience to cope without the home’s support and, where the child is moving to live independently, practical skills such as cooking, housework and household maintenance, budgeting and personal self-care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 17, paragraph 3.27) Inspection report for children's home: SC394463 7

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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: SC394463 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cornerstone Children’s Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Centenary House, Centenary Way, Salford M50 1RF

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Inspector

Eve Ostridge, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC394463 9 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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