Children's Home run by Your Chapter Limited in Lancashire

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1271998 1 Registered provider: Your Chapter Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

The home is owned and managed by a private provider. It provides care for up to 3 children who may experience emotional and social difficulties and children with learning disabilities.

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Information about this children's home

There is no registered manager. A new manager has been appointed.

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Information about this children's home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children's home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At these inspections, 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. 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'. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1271998 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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Summary of findings

A new manager has been appointed to the home. Improvements have been made to management oversight, enabling better reflection on practice and lessons to be learned from incidents. Further work is required to help children develop a greater understanding of risk and to reduce the likelihood of future incidents.

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Summary of findings

Staff speak positively about the new manager and have embraced both the collaborative approach to working together and the changes that have been implemented.

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Summary of findings

Children's education plans are not all in place. The manager and staff are working with the virtual school to agree plans and to implement home learning arrangements in the interim.

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The care of children

Since the last inspection, one child has moved in and out of the home and one child has moved in. For one child, their move to the home was not successful, as limited information was gained about their needs before they moved in. The manager has worked hard to improve transition planning and has made positive changes to the process. As a result, another child's move into the home has been a more positive experience.

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The care of children

Not all children have an agreed education plan. The manager and staff are working with the virtual school and social workers to agree plans and put home-learning arrangements in place in the interim. One child who has recently started college is being supported to explore alternative courses in partnership with the college.

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The care of children

Children develop independence skills. They are supported with cleaning, cooking and baking. This means that children feel prepared for later life.

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The safety of children

There have been several serious incidents for children living in the home. The manager has been committed to reviewing all incidents, to prioritise children's safety and promote learning. The manager and staff have escalated concerns with partner agencies to seek clarification, share relevant information and agree suitable actions to safeguard and support children. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1271998 3 Staff have a good understanding of the risks associated with children. On some occasions, greater professional curiosity could have been demonstrated, particularly in relation to potential substance misuse. Children are supported to engage in conversations following incidents to help them reflect, learn and develop their understanding of risk. This work should continue to ensure that children are consistently supported to learn from their experiences and make safer choices.

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The safety of children

The home environment is clean and well maintained. Children say that they are happy living in the home and feel safe. Children have asked if their friends can visit the home, and the manager has talked through a process to help make this possible in a safe and appropriate way. This means that children feel listened to.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager is new to the role, having previously worked in the home as the deputy manager. She continues to develop her leadership skills and is supported by a newly appointed deputy manager. While progress has been made, there remain areas for development. Amendments to the home's statement of purpose have not been submitted to the regulator. As a result, the information available does not always accurately reflect the home's current arrangements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff feel supported. They welcome the manager's collaborative approach and ongoing improvements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers respond promptly to concerns about staff practice and take appropriate action to address identified shortfalls and improve the quality of care provided.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Progress has been made towards meeting the statutory requirements made at the full inspection. Two requirements have been met, three restated and a further has also been made. The manager has demonstrated a commitment to learning and improvement. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1271998 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/05/2026 Full Requires improvement to be good 03/06/2025 Full Good 04/06/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 15/08/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1271998 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child's relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe; understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child's welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home's child protection policies is monitored regularly.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(v)(vi)(e))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, that the manager ensures that plans and strategies are in place to manage all risks for children and that staff follow these plans. In particular, in respect of peer influences, missing from home and misusing substances. 6 November 2026

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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— - In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 6 November 2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1271998 6 ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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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

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, that systems are in place to monitor and review the quality of care provided in the home. In addition, the manager should ensure that children receive consistent care from a consistent staff team and that staff are appropriately supported through learning and training to deliver this.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered individual must ensure that the person appointed to manage the home is supported to complete their application to register.

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

help each child to achieve the child's education and training targets, as recorded in the child's relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally; 6 November 2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1271998 7 help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible;

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Requirement Due date

that each child has access to appropriate equipment, facilities and resources to support the child's learning.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(iv)(v)(viii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, that children are supported to attend education and that plans are in place to meet children's educational needs when they do not attend.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children's home a statement (“the statement of purpose”) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the statement of purpose must be kept under review and a copy sent to Ofsted within 28 days. 6 November 2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1271998 8

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Your Chapter Limited

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Hobart House, Oakwater Avenue, Cheadle Royal Business Park, Cheadle SK8 3SR

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Inspector

Julia Edwards, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1271998 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 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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Inspector

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