Children's Home run by Emerge Care and Therapeutic Solutions Limited in Cheshire East

Inspection report for children’s home: 2751128 1 Registered provider: Emerge Care and Therapeutic Solutions 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

The home is owned by a private provider and is registered to provide care for up to 5 children, who may be experiencing emotional or social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children were living in the home at the time of the inspection; the inspector spoke with both children.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2751128 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/08/2025 Full Good 03/06/2025 Full Inadequate 10/06/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2751128 3

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Summary of findings

The home provides individualised care, enabling children to feel safe and make clear progress. Safeguarding responses are effective and collaborative. Leaders demonstrate strong oversight, support staff well and act decisively to address learning and improve outcomes for children across the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive good quality, individualised care and progress well from their starting points. Children describe feeling safe, happy and settled in the home. They experience consistent care from staff, who know them well and promote a sense of belonging and stability.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to express their views and they feel listened to. They engage in a wide range of enjoyable activities that reflect their interests, such as trips to the beach theme parks, shopping and activities at home, such as arts and crafts. They have fun with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children build positive relationships with staff. Therapeutic support is well integrated into care planning, which helps their emotional wellbeing. A professional said, ‘The relationship they have built with [child’s name] is good, she feels cared for loved and safe.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children with big life events, such as moving into and out of the home. They prepare them for the changes ahead and make plans for independence tailored to their individual need.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to see their family members, where this is line with their care plans, which helps them maintain important relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A lack of thorough assessment of children’s needs, compatibility and risks before placement has led to situations where children have had a negative impact on one another.

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

There has been an increase in safeguarding incidents, including children going missing from home and being at risk of child sexual exploitation. Staff have responded appropriately and followed children’s risk assessments. Where appropriate, staffing has been increased to promote children’s safety. Inspection report for children’s home: 2751128 4 The use of physical restraint is infrequent and when staff do hold a child it is to ensure their safety. The manager ensures that she has a conversation with staff involved and with the child following a restraint. This helps her keep a clear oversight of the causes of incidents and supports to repair relationships.

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

Children know how to make a complaint. When children do make complaints or allegations their concerns are thoroughly investigated and alterations to staff practice are made, if necessary, actions taken are fed back to the child. Children’s concerns are listened to.

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

Appropriate services are offered when children engage in risky behaviours, such as alcohol use. Where children choose not to access these services, staff provide targeted individual work to support awareness of risks and promote safer choices.

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

While safer recruitment procedures are established, their implementation is inconsistent, resulting in minor gaps.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers demonstrate ambition and high expectations for children and staff. They have a strong understanding of the factors contributing to children’s progress and take appropriate action, when concerns arise.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are well supported through regular supervision, appraisal and targeted training. This promotes reflective practice and contributes to a stable workforce. Staff report feeling valued and supported by leaders. One staff member commented that the home is an ‘exceptional’ place to work. Staff respect the leadership team and appreciate the manager’s approach.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders have a clear overview of the home’s strengths and areas for development. They act decisively to address shortfalls and demonstrate a commitment to continuous improvement. Professional relationships with partner agencies are well established, with leaders appropriately challenging external decision making where required.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals report that the manager and staff communicate well and keep them updated regularly about the child’s progress

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children’s views meaningfully inform practice and decision-making. Leaders promote equality and inclusion and ensure that care is tailored to children’s individual needs, supporting positive outcomes. Inspection report for children’s home: 2751128 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should support children to have positive relationships with others this includes ensuring children live safely and positively together and do not increase each other’s risk. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’ paragraph 8.6 Page 38)  The registered person should maintain good employment practice. They must ensure that recruitment of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’ paragraph 13.1 Page 61)

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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: 2751128 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Emerge Care and Therapeutic Solutions Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Office, 5 Rockside, Stoke on Trent ST7 4PG

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Inspector

Cathy Wilkins, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2751128 7 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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