Children's Home run by Milestones Care Homes Ltd in Wirral

This monitoring visit

A full inspection was carried out on 11 and 12 August 2015 and the home was judged to be inadequate. A large number of failings were identified including: a lack of effective action by staff in response to serious safeguarding concerns; risks relating to young people’s risk of child sexual exploitation; unsafe recruitment practices; absence of behaviour management plans; absence of education plans; lack of staff training to meet the needs of young people and management failure to inform Ofsted and other relevant parties of serious incidents. As a result, six compliance notices were issued on 21 August 2015 to address these concerns together with a restriction of accommodation notice for a six week period between 3 September 2015 and 16 October 2015. An unannounced monitoring visit was carried out on 6 October 2015 to monitor the six compliance notices served, and adherence with the restriction of accommodation in place.

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This monitoring visit

This inspection found that no young people have been admitted to the home since 3 September 2015 and therefore, the restriction of accommodation notice has not been breached.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection some steps have been taken to improve staff responses to safeguarding issues. For example, all staff have attended in-house training on how to respond to disclosures from young people and the steps to take thereafter. There is evidence that new systems are to be introduced so that decision making processes relating to safeguarding are clearly recorded. Furthermore, risks assessment documents have been reviewed and improved to ensure young people’s needs are clearly identified and strategies put in place to manage these in line with the local authority care plan. This further supports the health and safety of young people as staff are better equipped to recognise and respond to concerns. However, there are currently no children living in the home, so the impact of these new systems could not be fully tested.

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This monitoring visit

The interim manager has created new care planning documents to ensure that behaviour management responses are recorded and created with input from young people. Staff have all received training on Autism Awareness and two staff members have received training on restraint. However, although further training is planned, staff have not yet received training on safeguarding, child sexual exploitation, medication and food safety. A requirement is raised following this inspection to ensure that improvements currently underway are finalised.

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This monitoring visit

Care planning documents, including placement plans, risk assessments and behaviour management plans have now been updated to ensure that the document has clear participation of young people in their creation. This means the interim manager has taken some positive measures to involve the young people and staff in the development and review of individual plans. A new education planning document has been created which enables staff to clearly identify each individual young person’s ongoing needs in relation to their education. The document sets out professionals responsibilities, such as the designated virtual head teacher for each individual young person. This will ensure that a multi-agency approach will be taken in relation to young people’s education and their individual needs will not be allowed to drift.

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This monitoring visit

The interim manager has attended training on safer recruitment to ensure ongoing robust recruitment procedures are followed. She has also created management monitoring systems to provide a robust review of the home’s practice relating to the quality of young people’s care and secure improvements in young people’s safety. A new system is now in place to ensure that staff understand the threshold for and reporting of serious notifications to Ofsted and other relevant parties.

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This monitoring visit

No further enforcement action is planned. However, a further inspection will take place to review how these improvements are being embedded to improve the quality of care provided.

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Information about this children's home

This is a privately owned children’s’ home. Registered to accommodate three young people with emotional and behaviour difficulties.

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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

In order to meet the positive relationships standard the registered person must ensure:

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Requirement Due date

(1) that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on— (a) mutual respect and trust; (b) an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and (c) positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

(2) (a) that staff— (i) meet each child's behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child's relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

(ii) help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

(iii) encourage each child to take responsibility for the child's behaviour, in accordance with the child's age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

(iv) help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

(v) communicate to each child expectations about the child's 30/11/2015 behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child's age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

(vii) help each child to develop the understanding and skills to recognise or withdraw from a damaging, exploitative or harmful relationship;

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Requirement Due date

(viii) strive to gain each child's respect and trust;

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Requirement Due date

(ix) understand how children's previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the home since their last Ofsted inspection. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. 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

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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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