Children's Home run by Unity Residential Care Services Limited in Cheshire East

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2561970 1 Registered provider: Unity Residential Care Services Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home offers care for up to three children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There were two children living at the home at the time of this monitoring visit. Two children spoke to the inspector.

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Information about this children’s home

A new manager has been appointed since the last inspection. She has submitted her application to register with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was undertaken to review the progress made in relation to the compliance notice issued under regulation 13: the leadership and management standard following the monitoring visit that took place on 4 October 2025.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last visit, the home environment has significantly improved. On the day of this visit, new bedroom furniture was being delivered. The children have decorated the home in preparation for Christmas, which both children were eager to tell the inspector about.

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This monitoring visit

One child offered to complete a tour of the home with the inspector. They spoke positively about how they feel about their home environment. This child said, ‘The home is more relaxed and we can keep our personal items in the bathroom and know they are safe.’ Another child has recently arranged for their peer to have a sleepover, which they were excited about.

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This monitoring visit

There has been a significant reduction in the number of serious incidents. When incidents take place, leaders and managers have effective critical oversight, ensuring Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2561970 2 that debriefs take place with children and staff within the required timescales and work collaboratively with involved professionals. However, on one occasion, Ofsted was not notified of a serious incident as required. A requirement has been raised to this effect.

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This monitoring visit

Behaviour management at the home has significantly improved. The impact on children’s emotional well-being is positive. Children spoke to the inspector about the changes that have taken place in the home. Another child said, ‘I feel that staff know what they are doing and managers really listen to us.’

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have updated children’s risk management plans so that staff are provided with clear guidance about what action to take to monitor children’s well-being and safety. However, during one incident, de-escalation strategies outlined in the child’s individual plan were not fully utilised and implemented, which led to the situation escalating. A requirement has been raised to this effect.

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This monitoring visit

Children know how to make a complaint and can identify staff who they feel they can speak to with ease. Children’s participation in the ongoing improvements for the home is taking place and children spoken to feel included and consulted.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers recognise that there has been a period of staffing instability, which has impacted on the consistency of care provided to children. Changes to the staff team, amendments to the rota and on-call system mean that there is more balance of experience and skill set across all shifts.

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This monitoring visit

Staff spoken to say that they feel well supported by their experienced colleagues. Additionally, leaders and managers have more presence in the home and this has contributed to the staff team feeling more supported.

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This monitoring visit

Staff report that communication across the staff team is better and more effective. Team meetings are taking place fortnightly and are well attended by the staff team. A team meeting was taking place at the time of this visit and staff were taking part in a workshop on therapeutic care. Staff morale was observed to be positive and there was a clear collective sense of commitment to the children’s care.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last visit, the staff team has received training on several topics to enhance their knowledge and develop their skills to manage children’s specific needs. Training includes topics such as safeguarding, record-keeping, professional boundaries as well as bespoke training in relation to mental health and neuro-diversity.

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This monitoring visit

A case review was held following this visit where it was determined that the provider has acted to meet all the steps outlined in the compliance notices served under regulation 13. The remaining requirements regarding areas of concern raised at the visit have not been considered. They remain in place and will be reviewed at the home’s next inspection. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2561970 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/06/2025 Full Good 05/11/2024 Full Good 04/10/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/03/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2561970 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 positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children;

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Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(iv)(v)(ix)(xi)) 9 January 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2561970 5 Specifically, the registered person must ensure that staff have the confidence, knowledge and skills to help children manage their behaviour in line with their care plans to prevent children’s behaviour from escalating.

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Requirement Due date

Additionally, staff must have the skills to de-escalate behaviour that is damaging or violent in a way that does not cause further distress or harm to the child or children living in the home.

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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 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

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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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

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(e)) 9 January 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2561970 6 Specifically, the registered person must ensure that staff understand their roles and responsibilities in making sure that children are safe from harm at all times.

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Requirement Due date

Additionally, that staff encourage positive interactions between children living in the home and manage these relationships in line with children’s individual risk assessments.

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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 prepare and implement a policy ("the behaviour management policy") which sets out—

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Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must keep the behaviour management policy under review and, where appropriate, revise it.

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b) (2) (3)(a)(v))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that staff fully record and set out what steps were taken to de-escalate and diffuse behaviour prior to a physical intervention being carried out in accordance with the child’s individual risk assessment. 9 January 2026

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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

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation— 9 January 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2561970 7 must include details of—

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Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

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Requirement Due date

must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40 (4)(c) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

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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: 2561970 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Unity Residential Care Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2 Lymevale Court, Lyme Drive, Parklands, Stoke- on-Trent ST4 6NW

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Inspector

Michelle Greenhalgh, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2561970 9 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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