Children's Home run by After Care (NW) Limited in Sefton

Unique reference number SC042652 Inspector Graham Robinson Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person After Care (N W) Limited Registered person address 31-33 Hoghton Street SOUTHPORT Merseyside PR9 0NS Responsible individual Timothy Arthur Blundell Registered manager Susan Cashman Date of last inspection 29/01/2014 2 of 10 Inspection date 16/07/2014

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Previous inspection good progress Enforcement action since last inspection None

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Overall effectiveness good

Outcomes for children and young people good Quality of care good Keeping children and young people safe good Leadership and management good

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Overall effectiveness

A stable staff team, well led by the manager, provide a consistency of care to the young people that allows them to settle and make progress in all areas of their lives. For example, the home has been successful in engaging young people with a history of rejection, back into education.

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Overall effectiveness

This well organised, child centred home provides the young people with an environment where they can settle and come to terms with their recent history. Clear and consistent boundaries, viewed as fair by the young people, allows them to make constructive relationships with appropriate adults. This provides a supportive layer as they journey through the home, giving young people the opportunity to settle and make constructive plans for their future

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Overall effectiveness

A stable staff group, with the skills to develop constructive relationships with young people, works collectively to provide a continuity of care. The strong relationships developed, underpin the working practices of the home, allowing behaviour management issues to be dealt with constructively and supportively, often in a non- punitive manner. This reduces the number of serious management incidents taking place in the home and also build trust between staff and young people.

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Overall effectiveness

The home works alongside a range of external services with the aim of keeping 3 of 10 young people safe and in promoting their welfare. Working partnerships with these agencies are well established, with young people benefitting as a result of this. For example, the home and a young person's placing authority are currently collaborating effectively to ensure their immediate training needs are being met.

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Overall effectiveness

The home is managed by an experienced, child-focused manager who possesses good organisational and leadership skills. The staff group respond to this in a positive way, which helps to create a team centred approach, which is beneficial to meeting the needs of the young people in their care.

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Overall effectiveness

No requirements are made as a result of this inspection. However, one recommendation has been made, linked to ensuring young people's immunisation and health histories are included in their individual health plans. 4 of 10

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private company and is registered to provide residential accommodation for up to three looked after young people with emotional and behavioural needs.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/01/2014 Interim good progress 17/09/2013 Full good 05/11/2012 Interim satisfactory progress 26/06/2012 Full good

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 ensure the health of young people is fully promoted by obtaining their immunisation and childhood illness records and reflecting them in health plans (NMS 6.5) 5 of 10

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Outcomes for young people are good. This is based on their starting points and their current journey point through the home. For example, young people say they settle well and develop trusting relationships with staff who they like. This gives them greater motivation to improve their behaviour, make better lifestyle choices and set themselves achievable goals for the future.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people who have previous knowledge of the care system compare this home favourably to others they have lived in. For example, one young person said; `This is the best one out of all the children homes I have lived in.' Young people generally speak well of staff, recognising the support they receive and appreciating the relations they develop with them. Another young person said, `Staff listen, do things with you, I get on well with them, I like them.'

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Outcomes for children and young people good

All aspects of a young person's health are being promoted positively. Day-to day health needs are being well met and the home has retained good links into more specialist services which are made available as and when required. For example, with mental health, sexual health and alcohol related issues. Underpinning a young person's health needs are individualised health plans. However, the plans currently miss out certain areas of information such as a young person’s immunisation and health history.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people take an active role in in planning menus, shopping and in preparing food. They are encouraged to eat healthily with nutritious, balanced menus in place, which cater for choice and individual taste. Young people are encouraged to try unfamiliar foods, appreciate different cultures and try international cuisine. Recently, this has been through the introduction themed evenings which are proving to be popular. Festivals and religious events are regularly celebrated.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people are encouraged to improve their lifestyles through diet and exercise. They are provided with information and given every encouragement and practical support to modify certain aspects of their lifestyle, such as tobacco, drugs and alcohol usage. The excellent working relationships established by the home with other services benefit the young people in a variety of ways. For example, the home is able to access memberships to local leisure centres, giving young people the opportunity to improve and maintain their general fitness. There are also strong links with independent counselling services. Collectively, this results in young people enjoying improvements to their general health and fitness levels.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Overall, young people's educational outcomes, based on their starting points, are good. Staff work hard and are skilled at re-engaging young people with their education. They are well supported by local schools, colleges and other educational 6 of 10 agencies who they have developed good links with. Attendance figures are good and educational achievement is monitored and promoted. For example, one young person has just taken five GCSE's and another young person has earned a significant reward from their place of education for high attendance and achievement.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Staff work flexibly and sensitively to support and facilitate contact arrangements. All young people have appropriate arrangements which ensures their contact needs are well met.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

The home is well established in the community, with young people given every encouragement to integrate and make a positive contribution to community life. For example, staff and young people are currently raising funds for a locally based charity. This is being achieved with a series events designed to raise money. This is helping to develop young people's social awareness and help them to recognise there are others less fortunate than themselves.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

The arrangements for preparing young people for transition and developing skills to promote a more independent lifestyle are good. The working practices and general expectations staff have for the young people promotes the development of independence skills. For example, planning, shopping and preparing meals. Where appropriate, pathway plans, underpinned by the homes own programme for independence, promotes and develops young people's skills and competences. This helps to develop practical skills that should serve them well for the future, giving the young people greater self-esteem and confidence.

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Quality of care good

Young people are benefitting from receiving a good standard of care which is helping them to experience positive changes to their lives. This is recognised by young people, with one saying, `This place is helping me to turn my life around.' A social worker described in some detail the positive affects the home has had on their young person and how plans for the future have become more aspirational as a result of this.

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Quality of care good

Young people confirm they feel well supported even in times of difficulty and stress. This helps to create meaningful and trusting relationships between themselves and staff. Young people understand they can make mistakes and will continue to receive continued support from staff, giving them a feeling of safety and security. This also contributes to minimising the number of serious behaviour management incidents that occur in the home.

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Quality of care good

Young people have access to information which promotes their rights and highlights how the complaints procedures can be accessed if necessary. All young people, even those recently admitted, confirm they understand how to make a complaint and say they are confident to do so. 7 of 10 The good relationships within the home allow for on-going, daily communication between young people and staff to take place. Young people confirm they are consulted regularly, describing young people's meetings and key worker sessions as areas where more formal consultation takes place. The practice of continuous consultation and acting upon it, gives young people a feeling of worth and a sense that their opinions and views do matter. It also empowers them to control certain aspects of their own daily lives.

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Quality of care good

Young people and staff are relaxed with each other and enjoy each other's company. They are at the centre of the home’s daily routines, which is run for the benefit of them, not staff. This practice contributes significantly to the high quality of care being provided.

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Quality of care good

A range of documents that centre on planning and the assessment of risk, overlap effectively to produce an individualised series of plans, strategies and risk assessments. They identify individual need and lay out the plans and strategies designed to meet those needs. The plans highlight a young person's identity, religious and cultural requirements. Documents are reviewed and updated regularly to keep them current. Young people confirm they are familiar with their plans and are involved in the processes which review them. This gives young people the opportunity to plan for their own futures and take on some areas of responsibility, as they journey towards greater independence.

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Quality of care good

This home is modern and has retained its welcoming and homely environment. It is well kept, with good standards of repair, equipment, fixtures, furnishings and décor in place. A number of improvements to the home have been made since the previous inspection which include: the complete refurbishment of the kitchen and dining area, some new carpets, décor and equipment such as new televisions in young people's bedrooms. All young people have their own bedrooms which are personalised to suit the tastes and interests of the occupant. Photographs and mementos on display reflect young people’s positive experiences in the home and celebrate achievement.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

The overall arrangements to protect and safeguard young people are good. Good links have been retained with partner agencies tasked with the role of keeping young people safe. Fellow professionals report good levels of communication between the home and themselves. This enhances and promotes the collaborative and cohesive working practices that are in place. Staff work pro-actively to reduce risk, demonstrating an understanding of their role, responsibilities and duties to promote young people's welfare and keep them safe.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Bullying is not an area of concern for any young person currently living in the home. Young people are confident staff would step in quickly if such an incident occurred, 8 of 10 giving them a feeling of security and general safety.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

The home has pro-active procedures in place to address incidents where young people go missing. They follow the agreed, local multi-agency protocol, which is in place for missing young people. Multi-agency strategy meetings are triggered should a young person be missing for a set number of occasions. This ensures a multi- agency approach and perspective is taken when dealing with such incidents. Missing from home events are evaluated and this has helped to minimise the number of incidents taking place.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Staff work supportively rather than punitively with young people, even during times of unrest and challenge. The structure and boundaries in place are designed to protect young people, something they recognise and usually respect. Staff are clear that physical intervention is used only as a last resort and this is reflected in practice, with only one incident taking place since the previous inspection.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Consistent and effective monitoring, of all behaviour management incidents and issues, means young people’s individual strategies are kept under review and adapted as required. This ensures that any serious behaviour management incidents are safely managed.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

A stable, permanent staff group is in place, which has had little change since the previous inspection. Appropriate recruitment policies and practice ensure that any new staff are suitably cleared prior to taking up their posts. Longer serving staff are being re-checked at regular intervals. This ensures that only suitably checked people have contact with young people.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people are protected through a range of risk assessments which are reviewed regularly and updated where necessary. Young people participate in regular fire drills and can safely exit the home in an emergency. Safety checks to maintain a safe environment are regularly undertaken. Individual risk assessments, coupled with coping strategies, promote a safe environment for all young people. Individual strategies are updated in light of reviews of young people’s risks and progress.

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Leadership and management good

The home is managed by an experienced, qualified manager who has been in post since early 2009. The child centred, highly motivated manager is well supported by a cohesive, staff team who provide young people with a consistency of care. Difficulties and challenges are overcome using a team centred approach where all staff work collectively to meet young people's needs and improve outcomes.

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Leadership and management good

Formal staff supervision and appraisal programmes take place consistently, with staff acknowledging the high level of support they receive. The manager has a strong commitment to professional development and staff training which helps to keep the 9 of 10 skills of staff current.

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Leadership and management good

Both the internal and external monitoring of the home are taking place regularly. Since the previous inspection, the organisation has made changes to the person undertaking the external monitoring of the home. This has resulted in visits now being made by someone independent of the home and organisation.

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Leadership and management good

The home has a good record of compliance, and there were no requirements or recommendations carried over from the previous inspection. A written development plan is in place and the manager remains keen and motivated to move the service forward.

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Leadership and management good

The manager is very active around the home and has a high profile with both staff and young people. There is a commitment towards continued development, with the manager being receptive to suggestions put forward to improve practice. For example, around evaluation and the way it could be improved in the reports being completed as part of the internal monitoring process. Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Leadership and management good

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Judgement Description

Outstanding A service of exceptional quality that significantly exceeds minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Good A service of high quality that exceeds minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Adequate A service that only meets minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Inadequate A service that does not meet minimum requirements.

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Information 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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Information about this inspection

The report details the main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the framework of inspection for children's homes.

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