Children's Home run by St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council in St Helens

Good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people are safe and feel safe here because of the strong, trusting relationships they have with the staff.  Young people make very good progress and thoroughly enjoy their time at the home. They relish the opportunities to engage in an extensive range of activities with their friends. Parents said their children ‘squeal in excitement’ when they arrive and others cannot wait for their parents to leave so that the ‘fun can begin.’  Supporting young people’s independence is a key strength of the home. Young people said, ‘ I am encouraged to do as much as I can for myself and I love to help others and the staff do jobs!’  Staff are extremely committed to overcoming any barriers to young people’s full participation in activities. They work tirelessly to ensure young people have the same opportunities, such as sleep overs, as would any other young person of a similar age.  Young people are listened to and their wishes and views are given the

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The children's home provision is good because:

highest priority with staff. Consequently, they are at the very heart of the home and everything that happens revolves around them, for example the choice of activities. Young people said, ‘the staff are great and help me to do the things I like, I really enjoy going to respite because we do lots of fun things.’  The home works well with parents, carers and other professional to ensure each young person’s needs are met well in practice. Social workers said ‘Staff demonstrate a good knowledge of the young people and their individual needs, wishes and feelings, which is supported by consultation sessions with the young people.’  There are some areas for improvement including the Statement of Purpose, monitoring of the home, the policy around taking photographs of young people, and improving the quality of the information in some records.

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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 (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children's home a statement ("the Statement of Purpose") which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1. (Regulation 16 (1)) 25/09/2015

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure the independent person provides a copy of the independent person’s report to the HMCI. (Regulation 44 (7) (a)) 25/09/2015

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating the quality of care provided for children, the feedback and opinions of children about the home, its facilities and quality of care they receive, and any actions the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided. (Regulation 45 (2)(a)(b)(c)) 25/09/2015

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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 policy on the protection of children from abuse or neglect includes the arrangements in relation to dealing with allegations involving e-safety, in particular the policy in relation to taking photographs of young people. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, Page 45, paragraph 9.19)

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Recommendations

 Ensure the registered person makes best use of the information from independent and internal monitoring; in particular they identify any shortfalls and the action take with particular regards to health care plans, risk assessments, fire evacuation chair checks and the staff training matrix. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, Page 55, paragraph 10.24)

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Information about this children's home

The home provides short-term breaks and respite care for children and young people with physical and learning disabilities, aged from 7 to 17 years. The home is owned and managed by the local authority.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

10/02/2015 CH - Interim Sustained effectiveness

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good

Young people benefit from highly personalised and individualised care. As a result they thrive during their stays because staff have an excellent understanding of their needs and meet these well. Consequently, they are happy, settled and enjoy their time at the home.

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good

Staff spend considerable amounts of time talking and interacting with young people. They use a wide range of communication systems effectively which ensures each young person has a voice. Staff value their wishes and views and work tirelessly to see that any barriers to achieving this are overcome. For example, two young people who are best friends wanted to have a sleep over. This happened. The boys had a sleepover in a tent in the garden of the home. This resulted in two extremely happy young people who thoroughly enjoyed their night under the stars. Parents said this was a ‘fabulous opportunity’ for the boys and they ‘haven’t stopped talking about it’.

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good

This has led to staff considering ways as to how to extend this to other young people. For example, young people with specific sleeping arrangements and how these can be met outdoors. This clearly demonstrates staff’s passion in ensuring every young person has exactly the same opportunities as other young people. Young people said, ‘I love all the staff and the things we do! We go lots of lovely places, trips, out for tea, pantomime, sensory centres, beach, and we have a beautiful garden and can play football and ride a bike.’

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good

Young people enjoy a wide range of healthy nutritious meals and snacks, which are all freshly prepared to their specific requirements. The cook is an intrinsic part of the home and is genuinely loved by the young people. She spends time talking to them and they know when she is preparing their favourite meals, such as her roast dinners. The cook carefully plans the menus with the young people, staff and parents to ensure young people with allergies are not exposed to foods that could cause an allergic reaction.

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good

In addition, staff carefully plan young people’s stays to support their needs. For example one young person who has a nut allergy does not stay at the same time as another who loves to eats nuts during his stay. Staff are well aware of the signs of anaphylaxis and are trained to administer rescue medication, such as epi-pens. Effective partnership working with parents, carers and external partners means young people are well supported. Parents said, ‘The care my daughter receives at the home is actually over and above what I would expect. She is thoroughly spoilt rotten by the staff and loves it so much that she doesn't want to come home sometimes.’ Social workers said the home provides young people with an extensive range of opportunities that they have never or have had limited experience of. These activities effectively support young people’s health, well-being and social interactions. This is because they try new experiences, such as going swimming

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good

Young people health needs are known and understood by staff. Most health care plans are well recorded. However, in some instances there is a lack of information about some conditions or illnesses, such as diabetes, or what they have drunk that day. This shortfall in recording is minimised by staff’s understanding of their individual needs. Similarly the risk assessments and information around the use of splints for young people who self-harm is not sufficiently detailed. Despite this shortfall there has been an improvement in young people’s records. Young people are kept safe because their epilepsy plans are now detailed and clearly demonstrate the action to take should a young people have a seizure.

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good

Developing young people’s independence is a strength of the provision. They are all actively encouraged to be an independent as possible. Some young people are taking more responsibility of their personal care needs. One young person has just begun to self-administer some of his medication with the support of staff. He carefully measures out his medication and checks this with staff before taking it. This is a massive achievement for him and something staff said they had not considered in the past. However, once they are confident that he can take this medication they plan to introduce others for him to administer. Consequently, this young person is learning effective skills that will help him to move forward into adulthood.

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good

Another young person refused to drink during their stay at the home. This limited their stays to one night to prevent them from being dehydrated. Staff continued to talk to her about this and eventually she indicated she would drink from a syringe. Staff made this into a game and over several visits she progressed from the syringe to drinking from a sports bottle. This is a significant achievement for her. She is now able to stay for more than one night and her parents have been able to decorate her bedroom something they had been trying to do for a long time.

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good

Careful, considered planning means young people who are new to the home settle quickly and are able to make new friends. The Registered Manager said the diversity of the staff team in instrumental in this process as is the matching of the key worker. A young person who experiences challenging behaviour sought the support from different members of staff at times of stress and anxiety. For example, one member of staff who she calls ‘Dude’ provided fun activities and she will go to ‘Gran’ when she needs reassurance. Consequently, she is more able to manage stressful situations.

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good

Young people and parents know how to make a complaint. Parents said, ‘whenever a problem arises they are totally open and honest, even about insignificant minor things which to a worried parent are exactly the calming response you want. They are always willing to listen to your concerns and address them fully and to your satisfaction.’

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good

Consultation and partnership working with parents and carers are effective. Staff offer high levels of support to families, such as helping to get young people to school on time, visiting young people when they are in hospital and putting families in contact with other agencies who can offer them assistance. Parents said staff go out of their way to ensure they and their child is happy and confident about their stay.

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good

Young people are safe and protected because staff give the highest priority to their safety and well-being. All staff are trained in child protection and safeguarding children with disabilities. Staff know what to do should they have a concern about their young people’s safety or well-being. The manager uses appropriate systems to protect young people should an allegation be made against a member of staff. Young people do not go missing from this home. The home has improved upon its recording in the missing from care risk assessments and is in the process of completing further revisions. Staff are aware of the missing from care procedures and what to do should a young person be missing.

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good

Staff are aware that their young people are vulnerable when using the internet. They carefully monitor their access when in the home and work in partnership with parents to ensure the appropriate parental controls are in place. Staff take regular photographs of young people to chart their time in the home and to share with parents. On some occasions staff use their own phones to take the photographs and then print them of for the files. However, there is no clear policy in place with regards to this practice. This leaves them in a vulnerable position and does not effectively safeguard young people.

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good

Staff are skilled in supporting young people in reducing their anxieties and stress that may lead to challenging behaviours. They effectively use distraction, such as taking young people to the sensory room to allow them to relax. Young people said ‘everyone knows how I tick! They are all amazing as I'm very challenging at times as my mum says I'm awesome or awful nothing in between and I’m just me!’ Parents say staff ‘help him understand something must finish or he has to take a turn, or wait for something he likes to happen.’ Staff effectively use each young person’s preferred communication system to help him understand what is happening next, and thus reduce his anxieties.

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good

The home is generally well-maintained. There are currently some areas of the home which are looking tired and worn, but a planned refurbishment is in place for these areas. The installation of electronic gates has significantly improved upon young people’s safety. Additionally, this has enabled new activities, such as camping in the grounds, to take place. Regular checks are conducted of all fire detection equipment and fire drills are practised on a regular basis. Any issues, such as missing, fire extinguisher pins are identified and swift action is taken to replace these. There are no clear systems in place for checking the fire evacuation chairs or staff’s competence in using these.

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good

Recruitment and vetting procedures are sound. Young people are safe because all staff are vetted prior to starting working at the home. Robust procedures are in place for visitors, which include them being supervised, signing in and out of the home and their identification verified.

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good

The home is led by and enthusiastic, committed and experienced Registered Manager. He has been a manager for a number of years and is suitably qualified. He is effectively supported by an extremely dedicated and committed team of staff. Staff said they are very well supported in their role and said they feel privileged to work with the young people. Staff have a very ‘can do’ attitude and go to great lengths to support young people, for example getting funding for young people to have a computer tablet and a specific programme to support their preferred method of communication. This has significantly improved this young person’s ability to talk with others.

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good

High staffing ratios means they are always sufficient staff on duty to support young people and enable them to engage in a wide range of activities in the home and in the community. There have been some staff issues in the past year due to illness and maternity cover. Staff undertook additional shifts and the Registered Manager increased the hours of some part-time staff. This has worked well but, has resulted in some key worker sessions not taking place regularly and affected the quality of recording.

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good

Staff attend a wide range of training to enhance their individual knowledge, skills and professional development. The training records are not always clear about staff’s expertise. One entry shows a member of staff has been trained in physical interventions in their other role outside the home. But there is also no information about how their competence in this area has been assessed. This has not been picked up via the internal or external monitoring of the home.

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good

The Statement of Purpose contains incorrect information regarding the current regulations, how staff are assessed as competent in physical interventions, and the address for Ofsted is incorrect. Welcome packs for young people are detailed and are provided in various formats so they are accessible to everyone.

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good

Monitoring of the home is not yet robust. Internal monitoring has not identified the shortfalls identified at this inspection. The current format does not record young people and parents’ views on the service and does not make clear on the action taken to address any issues. Independent monitoring visits are taking place, but reports are not sent into Ofsted within the prescribed timeframe. Reports by independent visitors are not consistent and some lack detail. This hinders the home’s ability to address any issues identified.

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good

Despite the issues identified in some records, in general the quality of recording has significantly improved since the last inspection. Staff are increasing in confidence in their own abilities. They are providing more detailed information about the young people. They are looking at new ways of compiling information, for example the new young people consultation forms and they are currently trialling a new missing from care risk assessment document.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place, however, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This 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 Children's

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Information about this inspection

Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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