Children's Home run by Quality Protects Children Ltd in Knowsley

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 make good progress in developing their emotional well-being, attachments to staff, personal safety and achievements.  Staff work hard to provide young people with a sensitive, nurturing environment in which they feel safe and can start to address other issues in their lives.  The home is a safe place to live and young people feel safe living there.  Young people significantly reduce their levels of risk taking behaviour such as missing from home, substance misuse and criminal activity.  Staff have a good understanding of each young person’s needs and vulnerabilities. They work effectively to make sure needs are met and risks are reduced.  Leadership and management is focussed on improving the experiences and progress of young people.

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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 recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children's safety. (2) The registered person may only- (a) employ an individual to work at the children's home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3) including that- (3)(d) full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a) and (3)(d)) 31/08/2015

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person- (2)(b) to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home's records (except for a child's case records, unless the child and the child's placing authority consent) (Regulation 44 (2) (b)). In particular no consent means no permission for staff to read out or share case records with the independent visitor. 31/08/2015

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  The registered person must ensure that recruitment of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 61, paragraph 31.1). In particular there must be robust decision making and practice in deciding to appoint staff when references are obtained from their relatives and friends.  Any individual appointed to carry out visits to the home as an independent person must make a rigorous assessment of the home's arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children in the home's care. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 65, paragraph 15.5)

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Information about this children's home

This home is owned by a private company. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three young people of either gender with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

30/03/2015 Interim Sustained Effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

26/03/2014 Interim Satisfactory Progress

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good

Staff provide a strong focus for young people to continue their education. This helps young people successfully enrol in college to further their learning and improve job prospects through vocational education courses. For young people who struggle in mainstream settings there is in-house education tutoring. Alongside this the manager continues to plan with placing authorities regards future needs and re-engagement for young people with education out of the home.

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good

Young people experience a safe, sensitive and nurturing care which is in contrast to their previous experiences prior to admission. One of the aims of the service is to ‘create opportunities for young people to work and play together in a range of activities in a stimulating and therapeutic warm and safe environment.’ The manager and staff work hard to deliver well on this objective which is part of the Statement of Purpose for the home.

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good

Young people experience positive group living. They develop positive relationships with staff and each other and build their social skills, which facilitates their progress and development. Young people benefit from the attachments they make with staff, learn to trust them and make significant change in their lives.

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good

For example, previous missing from home behaviour is now non-existent, substance misuse has stopped, criminal activity is a thing of the past and risk taking involving sexual exploitation is no longer an issue. Instead young people are building up relationships with important family members. As a result of increased safety levels young people now enjoy significant periods of unsupervised contact. This helps promote their identities and sense of belonging which is additionally important for young people placed out of their own local authority area.

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good

Staff provide a strong focus for young people to continue their education. This helps young people successfully enrol in college to further their learning and improve job prospects through vocational education courses. For young people who struggle in mainstream settings there is in-house education tutoring. Alongside this the manager continues to plan with placing authorities regards future needs and re-engagement for young people with education out of the home.

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good

Young people have good opportunities to experience normal teenage activities such as a recent holid ay, ‘pamper’ nights for the girls, dance classes, go swimming, laser quest, cinema and enjoy day trips such as to Alton Towers and a safari park. At home young people can use laptops, watch television and play out on the trampoline and punch bag. Two of the young people recently worked together to erect their new outdoor swimming pool. Young people are also involved in housework and learn new skills by making drinks, cooking, menu planning, washing and changing their bedding. They also learn to travel independently and develop responsibility for their money. As a result they develop in confidence, improve their social skills and their achievements are significant when considering their behaviour patterns prior to moving into the home. Support for young people’s emotional and psychological health needs is strong and

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good

has a good impact on their resilience and well-being. Young people feel valued as individuals and benefit from staff that show a keen interest in their welfare and want them to succeed. Young people also enjoy good physical health, keep up to date with routine health checks and have access to specialist support. They take part in regular exercise and eat a healthy diet.

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good

This is a relaxing, calm, happy and comfortable home. There has been significant recent investment in making the physical environment more homely. As one young person commented ‘It’s better than good innit!’ Young people’s views are respected and acted upon in their day to day lives, the running of the home and longer term care planning.

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good

The Statement of Purpose states ‘The team work particularly well with young people who have been displaying high risk behaviours and may have had significant traumas in their lives.’ This aspiration is reflected in the nurturing, affectionate and caring relationships that young people have with staff. The manager and staff know this is key in helping young people feel safe, secure, to experience stability and trust. As a result the home gives young people a safe environment to live in; they respect each other and staff, in the main keeping to boundaries set for them. Staff help facilitate this further by their friendly nature while being clear about expectations and boundaries.

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good

Staff encourage young people to find constructive, positive and fun things to occupy their time with. Along with the quality of care this has led to a significant reduction in risk taking behaviours such as running away, criminal activity, aggression, substance misuse and risk of sexual exploitation. Risks about child sexual exploitation and missing from home are managed well. This includes strategies around unsupervised contact, access to internet and social media. As a result young people are able to be more independent and take age appropriate risks. Staff have built good relationships with families and take sensible steps to check young people are safe when away overnight visiting. The trusting relationships based on honesty and openness also means young people are responsive to staff checking their social media communication for appropriate use. As part of normal everyday life staff will discuss with young people the risks about

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good

exploitation, missing from home and sexual relationships. This helps educate young people and helps them make sensible choices.

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good

Staff are familiar with the missing from home procedures should these be needed and have used them in the past to promote young people’ safety. Where necessary planning meetings are coordinated with other safeguarding agencies and placing authorities to manage risks effectively.

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requires improvement

The manager started to work in this home a few days before the inspection. He has a degree in Youth and Community work and previously managed a semi- independent home for young people. He has started to complete the required Level 5 qualification in Leadership and Management.

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requires improvement

There are failings on the part of the registered provider to ensure that recruitment processes are robust. In particular for this home the quality of reference checks is poor and requires improvement. It has not currently impacted on the safety of young people but there is potential for this. The registered provider has an action plan in place to improve this aspect of practice.

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requires improvement

The independent visitor’s monthly monitoring reports give a descriptive overview of the home but lack rigour in their evaluation of the service. Issues about the quality of independent visits have been by children’s homes managers within the organisation but the registered provider is not effectively managing this. As a result the quality of independent scrutiny is compromised and does not sufficiently challenge for future improvements. Another failing with these visits is that when young people refuse consent for the independent visitor to look at their case records, this is not sufficiently respected.

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requires improvement

In the few days the manager has been in post he has started to build up an overview of the strengths weaknesses of the home. Additionally the registered provider has made changes to monitoring and record keeping processes. These are new and yet to be tried and tested for their impact.

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requires improvement

Staff say they are well-supported by the manager the senior managers. There is regular staff supervision that is effective in maintaining standards of care and addressing weaknesses in practice. Staff complete a good range of training which is relevant to young people’s needs such as self-harm and sexual exploitation.

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requires improvement

The manager and staff work in partnership with other professionals involved in the lives of young people, such as placing authorities, health services, education, the police and youth justice.

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requires improvement

Action has been taken to meet the shortfalls identified at the last inspection. There are now monthly independent visits, education records have improved in quality and there are better risk assessments to inform appropriate decisions about admitting young people to the home.

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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

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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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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