Children's Home run by Eastfield Group in Sefton

Unique reference number SC064663 Inspector Michelle Bacon Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

p.1

Registered person Mr Jim Buchanan & Mrs Ivy Thompson Registered person address Eastfield Group, 6d Ryeground House 6b Ryeground Lane Formby Mersyside L37 7EQ Responsible individual Ivy Thompson Registered manager Ivy Thompson Date of last inspection 24/09/2014 2 of 6 Inspection date 03/02/2015

p.1

Previous inspection good Enforcement action since last inspection There has been no enforcement action since the last inspection.

p.2

This inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has sustained effectiveness .

p.2

This inspection

The home is led by the very experienced and effective Registered Manager. She and her deputy use regular monthly monitoring to assist them in delivering good quality care that improves outcome for young people. Copies of the reports provided by the independent visitor are now forwarded to Ofsted every month. This ensures the regulator has good overview of the home in between inspections.

p.2

This inspection

Five young people have been placed in the home, and four have left since the last inspection. One young person who was living at the home at the time of the last inspection moved to a foster placement. This was a positive move for them as they moved nearer to home. However, not all admissions have been adequately planned. Impact risk assessments have not been undertaken in all cases prior to a new admission to help ensure the safety and compatibility of the young people already living in the home. In one case a young person stayed for a total of three days before being transferring to a secure placement. This does not promote continuity of care and can adversely impact on existing young people.

p.2

This inspection

Most young people are engaging well. They have developed positive relationships with the staff and the other young people. A social worker for one of the young people commented ‘the staff are child centred and child focused…it is early days yet but she likes it here.’ However, some young people have made limited progress since the last inspection. For example, they have not engaged fully in their education, are regularly going missing and engaging in risk taking behaviours. There are very good working relationships between the home, education providers, families and other key professionals to help improve young people's outcomes. Young people are very complimentary about the home, in particular the Registered Manager. Young people enjoy consistency of care from a small stable staff team. 3 of 6 The previous inspection resulted in two requirements and five recommendations. One requirement and two recommendations have not been met and are therefore

p.2

This inspection

repeated. There is still insufficient evaluation by the manager as to the effectiveness of any sanction imposed. Furthermore, additional information has been added in different coloured pen to one of the entries in the records. It is not clear from the record who has done this. Consequently this does not provide a clear audit trail that can be effectively scrutinised and that ensures the integrity of the data recorded. Young people's views are not consistently recorded in the missing from care records, and there are gaps in some of the other young people's records. For example, not all young people have a behaviour plan in place, and some records have not been signed to confirm all staff are fully apprised of any changes. Inconsistencies have also been identified in some health care plans, as they lack detail about certain health conditions. In addition the home does not have a sharps bin, in order that

p.3

This inspection

sharp instruments used by individuals can be disposed of safely. That said, young people's health needs have not been directly compromised by these shortfalls.

p.3

This inspection

The Registered Manager and her deputy work well together to ensure that staff are equipped to deliver good care practice. Regular supervision, team meetings and training ensure that staff are well able to meet the specific needs of all young people. For example, they have recently undertaken medication and epi-pen training. This helps ensure young people receive a safe level of care. 4 of 6

p.3

Information about this children’s home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to five children or young people with emotional or behavioural difficulties. The home is owned by a private organisation.

p.4

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/09/2014 Full good 25/03/2014 Interim good progress 20/11/2013 Full good 08/03/2013 Interim good progress

p.4

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.

p.4

Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that the children's home is conducted so as to promote and make proper provision for the safeguarding and welfare of children accommodated there; specifically that an impact risk assessment is completed prior to any new admission to the home (Regulation 11(1)(a)) 13/03/2015

p.4

Reg. Requirement Due date

17B (2001) ensure that within 24 hours of the use of any measure of control or discipline in a children’s home, a written record is made in a volume kept for the purpose; this particularly relates to the recording of any sanctions imposed. (Regulation 17B (3)) 13/03/2015

p.4

Recommendations

5 of 6 To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

p.5

Recommendations

 ensure that written records are kept when a child goes missing detailing action taken by staff and the circumstances of the child's return, any reasons given by the child for running away from the home, and any action taken in light of those reasons (NMS 5.10)  ensure the home has any physical adaptations or equipment needed to provide appropriate care for children. This specifically relates to the home having a sharps bin in place (NMS 6.16)  ensure there is a system in place to monitor the quality and adequacy of record keeping and take action where needed. This is specifically in relation to health care plans, records of direct/key work sessions and behaviour management plans.(NMS 22.1) Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.5

Recommendations

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.

p.6

What inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspections we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection.

p.6

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.

p.6

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.

p.6