Children's Home run by PIC Children’s Services in Sefton

Unique reference number SC040785 Inspector Maria McGranaghan Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person PIC Children's Services Limited Registered person address 2 North Street Haydock ST. HELENS Merseyside WA11 0TW Responsible individual Carol Fletcher Registered manager Kelly Torpey Date of last inspection 03/09/2014 2 of 6 Inspection date 18/03/2015

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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 declined in effectiveness .

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This inspection

The home was judged as good at the last full inspection on 29 September 2014. At the time of the inspection two requirements and two recommendations were made to improve practice within the home.

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This inspection

The manager and staff have made some progress in addressing the shortfalls from the last inspection. Records of room search record where items are stored if it is deemed necessary to remove them from a young person’s bedroom. However, where items such as aerosols are removed as a result of previous misuse, there is no record indicating if these items are full or empty. This information is imperative to the risk management and continued safety of young people with a history of solvent misuse. Furthermore, the policy of storing removed items in a place of safety is not always upheld by staff. A recent record highlighted that aerosols removed from a young person’s bedroom were in fact thrown away. This is contrary to the home’s guidance.

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This inspection

Young people’s plans are now reviewed and updated although are not routinely followed by staff or young people. For example, plans are put into place on a daily basis to encourage young people to partake in education or training courses. Staff are unable to persuade young people to engage and they will opt to spend time socialising in the community. Likewise, staff are unable to engage young people with their plans for independent living. Therefore, young people are not motivated to build on their future by undertaking further education and skills or planning for their adulthood with specific skills training.

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This inspection

The internal and external monitoring reports are now forwarded to Ofsted in accordance with regulation and contain more detail about some of the progress young people make. However, although improved, records of external monitoring fail to provide a full analysis of the service provided by the home including areas for 3 of 6 further development.

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This inspection

Behaviour management systems are in place including individual behaviour management plans. Young people review and agree the plans with staff in order to help them make specific changes. However, although incidents of refusal to engage with placement planning targets or abusive behaviours are recorded, they are not reflected in the records of sanctions. Likewise, where a sanction has been imposed, it is not reflective of the behaviour being presented. Consequently, systems for managing behaviour do not enable young people to positively address matters in order to make lasting changes in their lives.

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This inspection

Consultation with young people is part and parcel of the day-to-day function of the home. Young people feel consulted and that their views are important to the home. Likewise, arrangements for family contact remains good. Young people, their families and placing social worker ensure that contact is suitable, appropriate and in the best interest of the young people resident.

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This inspection

Young people take part in community activities such as drama. It is clear they have a talent in this area because they are playing a lead role in two productions over the Easter period. Young people have also made friends within the community and have developed a social network outside of the home.

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This inspection

The Registered Manager monitors the care of all young people living in the home. However, plans to address shortfalls in practice, particularly in areas such as education and independence, are not robust and result in young people disengaging from the home. As a result, seven recommendations are made in respect of this inspection. 4 of 6

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a private organisation and is registered to care for two young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties or a learning disability.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/09/2014 Full good 26/02/2014 Interim satisfactory progress 28/06/2013 Full outstanding 15/03/2013 Interim good 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 keyworkers monitor the Placement Plan for the young person and ensures the requirements of that plan are implemented in their day-to-day care (NMS 25.2)  ensure there is a clear and effective procedure for monitoring and controlling the activities in the home, specifically when evaluating if the home continues to meet a young person's needs (NMS 21.1)  ensure the home only carries out room search and the removal of items of concern in accordance with the home's guidance (NMS 3.20)  ensure sanctions for behaviour are clear, reasonable and fair in accordance with the agreed behaviour management strategy and are understood by all staff and young people (NMS 3.8)  ensure young people are supported to; prepare for the world of work and or further education; prepare for moving into their own accommodation; develop practical skills, including shopping, buying, cooking, and keeping food, washing clothes, develop financial capabilities, knowledge and skills,

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Recommendations

understand their entitlements to financial support after leaving care (NMS 12.1 (c) (d) (e) (f) (g)) 5 of 6  ensure young people are supported to attend school, college or alternative provision regularly (NMS 8.3)  ensure records are clearly expressed with particular regard to presenting risks factors for young people (NMS 22.4) 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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