Children's Home run by PIC Children’s Services in St Helens

Unique reference number SC022442 Inspection date 20/12/2013 Inspector Marian Denny Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 11/07/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

The home is run by a private organisation and provides care and accommodation for one young person with emotional or behavioural difficulties.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Good progress The children’s home has demonstrated continued improvement in quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the large majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Satisfactory progress The children’s home has maintained quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Inadequate progress The children’s home has failed to address one or more requirements and/or has not met the majority of recommendations and/or the quality of care and outcomes for children and young people have declined since the last full inspection.

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Progress

The home has not provided accommodation to children and young people since Monday 9 December 2013. This inspection focuses on whether the children's home meets its statutory requirements in order to maintain its registration and is ready to accept placements.

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Progress

The home was last inspected on Thursday 11 July 2013. Four recommendations were made at the last inspection and these have been fully addressed. No requirements or recommendations were made in this inspection.

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Progress

Since the last inspection, the young person who had been living in the home returned to their family. However, another young person was subsequently admitted to the home; though this was for a relatively short time. Information obtained would suggest that the young person benefitted from living in the home and made some progress in their physical, social and emotional development. They also appeared to develop some self- confidence and an understanding the reasons why they were in care. Staff appeared to engage well with the young person, who increasingly began to work constructively with other professionals and to accept the professional help available. Staff ensured the young person had appropriate and well-managed contact with their family and this supported the young person on their return home. While the young person had clearly made some progress living in this home the very short duration of the placement, together with the fact there were no children or young

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Progress

people currently in placement prevented a judgement being made regarding the progress the home had made since the last inspection.

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Progress

There is a stable staff team who usually work in this home and they continue to meet in order to discuss practice issues relating to the quality of care provided in the home. However, while it is empty, staff are currently working in another of the organisation’s children’s homes. However, should a young person be admitted to this home, the organisation’s staffing capacity is such that they could be very quickly re- deployed to this home. During the past year, staff have had a great deal of training in order to increase their professional competency and equip them to meet the complex needs of the children and young people in their care.

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Progress

The home provides a detailed Statement of Purpose and children's guide. These comprehensive documents give a clear overview of what placing social workers, parents, children and young people can expect from the service.

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Progress

There have been no changes made to the structure of the home since the previous inspection. The home is adequately maintained, tidy, fully furnished and ready for occupancy.

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Progress

Records are in place to support health and safety measures within the home, including environmental risk assessments. Checks, such as appliance testing, fire tests, electrical and gas certificates are in place; this shows that facilities and services within the home are assessed as safe.

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Progress

Systems are also in place to ensure that appropriate records will be implemented and maintained in respect of children and young people. These systems provide young people with an overview of their experience and time while living at the home.

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Progress

From the inspection findings it was concluded that the children's home meets its statutory requirements. However, a progress judgement has not been made on this occasion as there are no children or young people accommodated at this time. The home’s current conditions of registration remain appropriate. No requirements or recommendations have been made in this inspection.

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About this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

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About this inspection

The report details the progress made by the provider since the last full inspection, identifies any further strengths, any areas for improvement and makes judgements as outlined in the Inspection of children’s homes – framework for inspection.

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