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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2638736 1 Registered provider: Homes for Support

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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 company. The home provides care for up to 2 children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, the home was providing care for 2 children, who spoke to the inspector.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in 2024.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 16 September 2025

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2638736 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/09/2025 Full Good 07/05/2024 Full Good 05/09/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 05/09/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2638736 3

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Summary of findings

Children are cared for by a consistent staff team that places children at the centre of its practice. Staff know the children well, listen to them and spend time with them. Children trust staff, experience a sense of permanence and belonging and remain living at the home when it is their plan to do so. Children are making exceptional progress from their starting points, are learning and have a range of positive experiences with significant evidence of change.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are cared for by staff whose practice is consistently of an exceptional standard and exceeds expectations of good practice.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff provide nurturing and therapeutic care that helps children to manage their feelings safely. Many children struggle to understand their family circumstances, which can result in overwhelming feelings of anger and frustration. Leaders, managers and staff continually review and adapt their approaches to ensure that support remains effective and responsive to children’s individual needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Research-informed practice, including consideration of the ‘Shame Cycle’, has influenced the development of creative and tailored interventions. As a result, children are increasingly able to understand their emotions, develop effective coping strategies and make sense of their experiences. Over time, this helps children to regulate their emotions more successfully and improve their overall emotional wellbeing.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children have a range of positive experiences. Children, leaders, managers and staff participated in a 5K community run. This strengthens children’s relationships through shared activities and promotes a sense of permanence and belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Before moving to the home, children have not attended school placements due to multiple changes to their living environments. However, since moving into the home, one child has attended school for a year. This child is learning and making significant progress and has for the first time developed appropriate friendships. A social worker said, ‘[Name of child] has had a very positive year at school and although much of the credit must go to them, I feel the team around them have played a significant role in building their confidence and providing encouragement when they have needed it most.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Another child has not attended school for a significant number of years. The child now has access to a home tutor. Leaders, managers and staff ensure that there is a structured routine in place. Due to the daily structures and support, this child has learned to swim and cycle in a short space of time. The child has now been able to paddle board and proudly tells people how they can swim underwater and hold their Inspection report for children’s home: 2638736 4 breath. Alongside this, the child attends horse-riding stables supporting their love of animals, frequently visits the library and loves to take part in arts and crafts. This child has a plan in place to enable them to return to an educational provision.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are supported to see important people in their family. When there have been difficulties with family relationships, the staff team has spoken to the child and family members to consider the improvements needed. This has meant that family time is meaningful for all involved.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Achievements are rewarded and celebrated. Children’s memories are captured. The home is warm and welcoming, and there are a range of photos capturing times spent with family, leaders, managers and staff. One child has a photo of the 5k community event in their bedroom. The child said when pointing at the photo, ‘They are my family.’

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

Children are protected from harm. Leaders, managers and staff take their roles and responsibilities seriously. There is a proactive and preventative approach to ensuring children are safe. One child was struggling to settle at night and attempting to leave the home. Additional staff were put in place to ensure that appropriate action was taken during these incidents. As a result, children do not go missing from home, incidents are rare and preventative action is taken.

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

Staff only use physical intervention as a last resort when there are concerns for a child’s safety or the safety of others. Leaders, managers and staff review incidents to understand triggers and identify strategies that better support children. The use of a positive praise book and magnetic storyboard has supported one child to make progress and has resulted in a reduction in incidents. Following any physical intervention, staff ensure that children can speak independently about their experiences when concerns have been identified. Leaders and managers act proactively and take swift action to address any concerns. They seek advice from the local authority designated officer and do not permit staff to work with children until concerns have been fully addressed and resolved.

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

Children are supported to understand how to keep safe online. One child requested access to an app, and this was appropriate to the child’s age. Leaders, managers and staff spoke to the child about the possible risks and supported the child to research what this could mean for them. Discussions were held with the child, social worker and staff, and the child devised their own safety plan. This was then agreed. The child commented that, if they use bad language when accessing their device, it shuts itself down and access is denied.

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

Children are encouraged to develop friendships. Leaders, managers and staff ensure that new friends are contacted so that they understand who the children are spending time with. Discussions are held with professionals, such as teachers, to understand the suitability of friendships, ensuring they are safe. Inspection report for children’s home: 2638736 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders, managers and staff have high expectations and are ambitious for children. A learning culture and team approach to children’s care result in high-quality care that is sustained. From their starting point, children make exceptional progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are supported to develop new skills. This approach helps them in their own development. A member of staff has recently transitioned into a team leader’s position. The staff team has remained unchanged. As a result, children receive care from a consistent team providing continuity and safe and predictable care. Children have developed strong and secure attachments with staff who know them well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and responsible individual are suitably experienced and qualified. Both have progressed in the organisation and have developed an understanding of the children they care for. They are supported by a strong deputy manager, team leader and staff team. There is a strong sense of ownership, with team meetings and individual supervision used as an opportunity to discuss creative and innovative ideas. Children receive high-quality care from staff where practice continues to thrive and develop.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff feel valued, supported and listened to, and there is a culture of high aspiration and positivity. Staff are confident in the decision-making process, understand children’s plans and provide consistency to children. Staff are influential in changing the lives of both children living at the home. One child is clear that they will remain living at the home until they are ready to leave.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders, managers and staff have excellent relationships with professionals such as social workers, independent reviewing officers and parents. Weekly reports are provided so that individuals can understand what is happening for children. Photos and videos are sent to parents. Decisions made by the local authority, when it is considered not in the child’s interests, are challenged by the management team without delay.

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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: 2638736 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Homes for Support, Northern House, 3 Kennerleys Lane, Wilmslow SK9 5EQ

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Inspector

Nicola Forrester, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2638736 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 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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