Children's Home run by Mercia Children Services Limited in Cheshire West and Chester

Inspection report for children’s home: 2587763 1 Registered provider: Mercia Children Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private provider and offers care for up to 4 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since May 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, 2 children were living in the home. They spoke with 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 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: 25 February 2025

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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: 2587763 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/02/2025 Full Good 25/01/2024 Full Good 21/09/2022 Full Good 27/01/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2587763 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive care from a stable and committed staff team. They are supported to build trusting relationships with staff, who care for them and love them. This helps children to develop a sense of belonging, which underpins the progress they make. One social worker said, ‘It has been a positive experience for [name of child] living here.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a homely environment. They have access to their own personal space, and their bedrooms are personalised to their liking. However, communal areas of the home continue to have general maintenance issues, which were being addressed by the end of the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to have positive relationships with their families. Staff arrange meaningful and safe family time between the children and family members, which means children remain in contact with people who matter to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children in accessing education. When there are barriers to children accessing education and training, staff advocate on behalf of them, which means children are engaged in positive educational activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The therapeutic model used in the home supports staff to understand and respond to trauma-based behaviours. The model is used in everyday practice by staff and informs care plans and risk assessment for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to engage in positive activities, for example children attend local football matches and the local driving range. This supports children’s confidence and self-esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are actively preparing children for independent living by carrying out work on key life skills. Staff are supporting children to look around supported accommodation settings in the local area to prepare them for moving on to their next home.

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

Staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities. They know what to do in a range of different safeguarding scenarios and know how to keep children safe. When concerns are raised, staff carry out key-work sessions with children to help them understand the risks posed to them.

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

When children have gone missing from the home, there is a well-coordinated response from staff to try to ensure the safe return of children. Staff actively look for the child and contact their relatives, social worker and the police. Independent return home interviews are completed within timescales. Inspection report for children’s home: 2587763 4 Risk assessments clearly identify risks, vulnerabilities and actions to reduce risks. Behaviour management documents are clear and easy for staff to read and follow and are reviewed regularly.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a suitably qualified and experienced manager leading this team. His team provides a good standard of quality care to children. The manager has a good understanding of the children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has a stable team. The manager and some of the staff have worked in the home for many years. The home does not use agency workers, which means that children receive reliable, consistent and stable care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel well supported by the manager. One member of staff said, ‘[Name of manager] is consistent and approachable. [Name of manager] is always supportive, present and available to give advice and support when needed.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from regular supervision. Records of supervision are of good quality and reflect on staff’s practice. Supervision focuses on staff’s wellbeing and development and children’s progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings take place regularly. The agenda is varied but always includes discussions of the children and supports staff to reflect on their practice. The therapist attends team meetings to provide therapeutic input. This supports staff’s learning and development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have completed a range of training, including mandatory training. Staff hold the relevant childcare qualification, and new starters are enrolled on this qualification. Staff spoke positively of the training available to support them in their role and how they implement the training into practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers ensure that an independent person visits the home each month, and they respond without delay to any actions raised. However, the independent person does not regularly obtain the views of children, families and external professionals. They do not regularly check children’s bedrooms. Inspection report for children’s home: 2587763 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the independent person makes arrangements to visit the home that enable them to regularly consult with children and see their bedrooms, and that they also consult parents and professionals as part of their assessment of the home’s care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.5)  The registered person should ensure that children live in a warm and welcoming environment and should ensure the upkeep of general maintenance within the home. (‘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: 2587763 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Mercia Children Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Windsor House, Bayshill Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL50 3AT

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Inspector

Helen Fee, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2587763 7 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 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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