Children's Home run by Courtyard Care Limited in North Northamptonshire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2709657 1 Registered provider: Courtyard Care Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned. It is registered to provide care for up to 4 children with learning disabilities and/or physical disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

There were 2 children living at the home at the time of the inspection. The children contributed to the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is led by a registered manager.

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Inspection date: 24 March 2026

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 24 March 2026

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2709657 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager of the home has registered since the last inspection. Significant improvements have been made. This is to the care and protection provided to children. Also, to the physical environment of the home. A new children’s play area has been created in the garden. Children have chosen how their bedrooms have been decorated.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are happy living at this home. Staff understand the children well. They know how each child communicates and share their wishes and feelings. This includes recognising sounds and gestures for non-speaking children. Staff ensure that children are making progress towards identified goals. They also help them to enjoy new experiences.

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Findings from the inspection

Advocates are provided for children. They visit them at the home. A family member spoke very positively about the care their child has received. Also, of the good support for their move to an adult home. They said, ‘we have been really happy with the care that [name of child] has received here. Staff have done a really good job.’

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s care plans are written from the child’s perspective. They are detailed and address all areas of the child’s life. This includes daily routines regarding health and education. This helps staff to know how to meet the individual needs of each child.

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Findings from the inspection

Education and learning are central to the children’s lives. Children attend specialist schools. Staff work closely with teachers to ensure that ways of caring for and helping children is consistent. Staff are creative in ways of making learning fun.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have a good understanding of risks to children with learning disabilities. Risk assessments are clear and detailed. They identify known and potential risks. Ways for staff to control the risk are identified. Risk assessments are reviewed and updated regularly.

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Findings from the inspection

The way staff record children’s lives has improved. Recording following incidents is now clear and detailed. There are debriefs with staff and children afterwards. The manager adds good oversight and analysis of incidents. This helps staff to learn from incidents of behaviour that is difficult to manage. Incidents involving physical interventions have reduced significantly. When it is used it is by trained staff and as a last resort.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has not ensured that reviews of care are completed and sent to Ofsted. Also, some staff are yet to complete their qualifications. The manager is aware of this and has good plans to address the situation. Supervision of staff has improved. However, this is still an area that the manager is to develop further. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2709657 3 The manager knows the strengths of the team and areas for development. A clear action plan records the improvements made. Additional action has been identified. Training has been provided for areas requiring further attention. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2709657 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/08/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 12/11/2024 Full Good 31/05/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2709657 5

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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

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (“the Level 3 Diploma”); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1st April 2014, 1st April 2016. (Regulation 32 (4)(a)(b) (5)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this refers to all staff attaining the residential childcare qualification within the required time frame. This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 31 May 2026

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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 quality of care provided for children; 30 April 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2709657 6 the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (“the quality of care review report”).

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed; and

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Requirement Due date

make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this refers to ensuring that there is a suitable monitoring system in place and that reports are completed at least every 6 months and sent to HMCI within 28 days. This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should have systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2709657 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Courtyard Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 3 Siskin Drive, Middlemarch Business Park, Coventry CV3 4FJ

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Inspector

Shaun Caplis, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2709657 8 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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