Children's Home run by Homes for Support in Cheshire East

Inspection report for children’s home: 2526004 1 Registered provider: Homes for Support Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and managed by a private organisation. The home provides care for up to 6 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, 5 children were living at the home. Children spoke to the inspectors during the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2023.

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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 requires improvement to be 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: 29 September 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: 2526004 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/09/2025 Full Good 04/02/2025 Full Good 19/03/2024 Full Good 20/03/2023 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: 2526004 3

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Summary of findings

The manager has provided stability for children during an unsettled period for one child. Staff know the children well and understand their needs and vulnerabilities.

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Summary of findings

There is effective multi-agency working, which supports positive outcomes for children. Staff keep children safe and look for them when they are missing from home. Care is child-centred, which has led to a reduction in incidents.

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Summary of findings

However, management oversight is inconsistent, and one incident has not been appropriately recorded by staff. Room checks are completed, but these are not thorough enough to identify, manage and reduce risk. Additionally, not all incidents of concern are reported to the regulator for external oversight, as required, and some home improvements are needed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children have moved into the home, and 3 children have successfully moved on. Moves in and out of the home are carefully planned and managed, with children’s needs and risks being carefully considered. Before moving into the home, children have the opportunity to visit the home to help them to prepare for the move.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand children’s health needs. They ensure that the children access universal healthcare and specialist services when needed. Managers advocate effectively to secure specialist assessments and therapeutic support that improve outcomes for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote children’s education and work closely with schools and partner agencies to reduce any barriers to learning. They encourage children to engage in education and complete educational activities when attendance is not possible.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children maintain important relationships with family members where appropriate. Staff actively promote and facilitate family time in line with children’s care plans.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a range of activities that reflect their interests and help them to develop independence skills and prepare them for their next steps.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children’s bedrooms are personalised with their belongings, which reflect their interests, helping to create a sense of belonging. Some areas of the home require improvement, including repairs to bathroom sealant and replacement of kitchen worktops. Although some work had begun at the time of the inspection, maintenance is still needed to ensure that children live in a welcoming and homely environment. Inspection report for children’s home: 2526004 4

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

The home has experienced an unsettled period due to the complex needs of one child. Throughout this time, the manager has provided consistent care and support to the children.

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

When children are unsettled, staff respond calmly and use de-escalation techniques. Staff take a therapeutic approach and use strategies to help the children to understand and manage their emotions in line with their safety plan. This has resulted in a reduction in significant incidents . When physical intervention is used, this is necessary, proportionate and well recorded.

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

Staff respond appropriately when children go missing from care. Staff search for children and work effectively with professionals and families to support their safe return home.

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

Children are encouraged and supported to share their views with staff who they have positive relationships with. Children take part in regular key-work sessions that cover a range of topics to help them understand risks and develop strategies to keep themselves safe.

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

Children know how to make complaints and feel listened to. Leaders investigate complaints and allegations appropriately to ensure that children are safeguarded and receive a good quality of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The registered manager is experienced and holds the relevant qualification. The manager is supported by a stable staff team that knows the children well and provides consistent care. The manager has established positive working relationships with partner agencies. Professionals speak positively about the quality of care provided to children and the progress they make.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff have access to a broad range of training and development opportunities and are supported to continually develop their skills and knowledge to meet the children’s needs. New staff receive an induction, and staff are supported to progress within the company.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Regular supervision provides opportunities for reflection, discussion and professional development. Team meetings are held regularly, enabling staff to reflect on practice and share learning. Staff say they feel well supported by managers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager has oversight of incidents. However, management oversight of fire-setting incidents is not sufficiently robust and follow-up actions are not sufficient to help manage and reduce the risk. There is no clear process for recording incidents, which impacts the manager’s ability to monitor risk and consider if actions are effective to reduce risk. Additionally, notifications of serious incidents are not always sent to the regulator as required. As a result, opportunities to minimise risk, strengthen management oversight and external scrutiny are missed. Inspection report for children’s home: 2526004 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

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(e)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h)) 5 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2526004 6 The registered person must ensure that there is effective management oversight of staff practice and that there are clear contemporaneous records of the actions taken when responding to incidents.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that regular room searches are undertaken to identify and remove items that may pose a risk of harm.

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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

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to,

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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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 child protection enquiry involving a child —

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Requirement Due date

is instigated; or concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that serious incidents are notified to Ofsted in a timely manner. This requirement is restated. 5 August 2026

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the home is well maintained and that the environment remains clean and well presented in order to meet the needs of the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.1) Inspection report for children’s home: 2526004 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: 2526004 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Northern Point Developments Ltd, Northern House, 3 Kennerleys Lane, Wilmslow SK9 5EQ

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Inspectors

Sonja Vega, Social Care Inspector Sarah Probert, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2526004 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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