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

Unique reference number SC051947 Visit date 16/10/2014 Inspector Maria McGranaghan Monitoring report for a Children's Home Monitoring Report: SC051947, 16/10/2014 2 of 5

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This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated. Monitoring Report: SC051947, 16/10/2014 3 of 5

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Brief description of the service

The home is owned by a private organisation. It is registered to provide care for up to two young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Outcome of monitoring visit

A monitoring visit was conducted on 15 October 2014 after a concern about the safeguarding practices at the home had been raised with Ofsted. A number of matters were assessed as part of the visit including, placement planning, risk assessment, behaviour management and the management and staffing of the service. This visit highlighted significant shortfalls in the care practices in the home. As a result, a number of requirements are made in order to improve the service provision.

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure young people have access to a telephone to make a receive calls without reference to persons working in the home (Regulation 15 (4)(a)) 14/11/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure the home is organised so as to further young people's participation in education, including regular attendance at school and participation in school activities (Regulation 18 (10(b)) 14/11/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that a written record is made of any complaint, the action taken and the outcome of the investigation (Regulation 24 (5) 14/11/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure at all times, having regard to the size of the children's home and the individual needs of the young people, there are a sufficient number and gender balance of suitably qualified, competent and experienced persons working in the home in order to safeguard and promote their health and welfare (Regulation 25 (1)(b)) 14/11/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

27 ensure staff employed at the home receive suitable training, 14/11/2014 Monitoring Report: SC051947, 16/10/2014 4 of 5

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) supervision and appraisal (Regulation 27 (4)(a)

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure the registered person maintains and keeps up to date in respect of each child accommodated in the home a permanent record as specified in Schedule 4 relating to that child (Regulation 29 (1)(a)) 14/11/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure the registered person establish and maintain a system for monitoring the matters set out in Schedule 6 at appropriate intervals in order to improve the quality of care provided in the home (Regulation 34 (1)(a)(b)) 14/11/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure the statement of purpose is kept under review , and where appropriate revised (Regulation 5 (a)) 14/11/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure a written record is kept of any allegation of abuse or neglect, and the action taken in response (Regulation 16 (2)(d)) 14/11/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that any event as listed in column 1 of the table in Schedule 5 shall without delay be notified to person's indicated in respect of the event in column 2 of the table (Regulation 30 (1)) 14/11/2014

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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 home only provides admission to young people whose assessed needs they can reasonably expect to meet (NMS 11.2)  ensure there is a clear written policy on managing behaviour, which includes supporting positive behaviour, de-escalation of conflicts, discipline, control and restraint, that all staff understand and apply at all times (NMS 3.3)  ensure staff actively promote the welfare of young people living in the home (NMS 4.2)  ensure risk assessments are proportionate and include the actions to be taken to reduce risk (4.5)  ensure young people have access to a doctor or other health professional when required, specifically should it be felt that a young person has sustained injury (NMS 6.4)  ensure where only one staff is on duty at any time, a risk assessment has been carried out and recorded in writing, identifying any likely risks to young people, staff and members of the public (NMS 17.9)

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Recommendations

 ensure the staff group who are in day-to-day contact with the young people includes staff pf both genders (NMS 17.10) Monitoring Report: SC051947, 16/10/2014 5 of 5

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Recommendations

 ensure there is a good quality learning and development programme which all staff undertake in order that staff are equipped with the skills required to meet the needs of the young people (NMS 18.1)  ensure the manager monitors in line with regulations, all records kept by the home to ensure compliance with the home's policies, to identify any concerns about specific incidents and to identify patterns and trends. Immediate action is taken to address any issues raised by this monitoring (NMS 21.2)  ensure all records are clear and precise (NMS 22.4)

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About this monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and progress made by the Children's Home following an Ofsted inspection.

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