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

Unique reference number SC042652 Inspector Graham Robinson Type of inspection Interim 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 16/07/2014 2 of 5 Inspection date 16/02/2015

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Previous inspection good Enforcement action since last inspection None

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This inspection

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

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This inspection

Progress has been maintained since the previous inspection with a number of new initiatives being introduced. For example, the manager has created and introduced a new risk assessment management plan. This combines into one document, the individual assessments of risk for young people, along with greater detail regarding the strategies in place to manage those risks. The manager has also introduced into the internal monitoring reports a new section which gives greater evaluation of practice, and the impact this is having on young people.

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This inspection

The young people living in the home continue to make significant progress in all areas of their lives. For example, since the previous inspection one young person has re-engaged positively with their education following the home securing a full time educational placement at a community based school. Extra tuition has been brought in for another young person to supplement their current full time educational placement and assist them in fulfilling their ambitions for the future, linked to their choice of career. Educational attendance for all young people is high with good attainments being achieved.

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This inspection

The stability of the staff group allows young people to form trusting relationships with adults who understand their individual needs and vulnerabilities. This provides young people with a high consistency of care and continuity, with the boundaries and structure of the home helping young people to feel safe and secure. As a result, placements are settled, with outcomes for young people in all areas continuing to improve.

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This inspection

The home has retained its good links with external services and continues to look for improvement. For example, new arrangements with local police have improved both relationships and the implementation of return interviews, should a young person go missing. Any safeguarding issues are managed through a multi -agency response. 3 of 5 Plans, assessments of risk and strategies reflect the vulnerabilities of the young people in their care. These ensure appropriate responses are put into place in times of crisis. These arrangements help to keep young people safe.

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This inspection

The management and staffing of the home remains stable. Staff are supportive of the ethos and working practices created and work collectively to meet the needs of the young people in their care. Staff and young people enjoy one others company, which creates a warm, relaxed and open environment, where young people are confident to air their views, knowing they will be listened to.

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This inspection

Despite the best efforts of the manager to obtain this, some historical medical information about young people remains missing. This generated a recommendation at the previous inspection. Some progress has been made but the task is not fully completed, so the recommendation has been repeated. It should be noted this has not had any detrimental effect on young people who have access to, and are receiving, the full range of medical services expected. 4 of 5

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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

16/07/2014 Full good 29/01/2014 Interim good progress 17/09/2013 Full good 05/11/2012 Interim satisfactory progress

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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) Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Recommendations

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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.

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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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