Children's Home run by The Partnership of Care Today in Liverpool

Requires improvement

The children's home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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because:

 Not all children benefit from developing positive relationships with staff and each other. Some are unwilling to accept staff’s support and guidance and are not learning about acceptable behaviour. Consequently, they have experienced bullying at the home and some have been arrested for threatening and aggressive behaviour.  Lack of compatibility assessments has led to the making of inappropriate placements. Children’s needs and risks have not been carefully assessed, at the point of them moving in. Opportunities to identify how their behaviour will impact on each other have been missed. This has led to children and staff being placed at risk, and, children’s experience of living in the home has not always been positive.  Care planning is not yet good. All children do not benefit from having statutory care plans on file, or education plans in place. Some children have not had their care plans reviewed by an independent reviewing officer and

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because:

the home’s own plans are not consistently kept up-to-date.  Other professionals’ poor practice is not effectively challenged to ensure that all children’s needs and care are effectively planned for and appropriately reviewed.  Measures of control and discipline are not consistently evaluated for effectiveness. Neither do they provide sufficient detail of the measure used, or include the child’s view. They are not, therefore, compliant with the Children’s Home’s Regulation 2015.  Ofsted are still not being informed of all serious safeguarding incidents and this affects the regulating body from evaluating how these concerns are responded to and managed.  Internal monitoring systems do not pick up on shortfalls in staff recordings, or ensure that all previous inspection actions are adequately addressed. This weakens service development.

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The children's home strengths

 Effective partnership working with schools and virtual head teachers is supporting some children to maintain school placements and progress with their learning.  Children benefit from having regular and positive contact with their families. This is helping them to maintain meaningful relationships with people who play an important role in their lives.  They are cared for by a stable, experienced and well supported team. Staff are suitably trained and demonstrate a good understanding of their own, and other professionals, safeguarding roles.  The manager and staff recognise the areas which require improvement and have started to take action to address the concerns identified at this inspection. This demonstrates a commitment and capacity for improvement.

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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

5: Engaging with the wider system to ensure children’s needs are met standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the wider system to ensure children’s needs are met standard, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff — (a) seek to involve each child's placing authority effectively in the child's care, in accordance with the child's relevant plans; (c) if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority's or a relevant person's performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child's needs are met in accordance with the child's relevant plans. 01/01/2016

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the positive relationship standard, the ensure that — (1) 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. 01/01/2016

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered person must ensure that — (2)(a)(iv) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other. 01/01/2016

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard, the 01/01/2016 registered person must — (2) (h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. Particularly in relation to: auditing of records and ensuring progress and placement plans are kept up-to-date; young people’s confidentiality is maintained in recording systems; and, records adequately reflect the action and interventions taken by staff and managers.

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the care planning standard, the registered person must ensure that children — (1) (a) receive effectively planned care in or through the children's home; and (b) have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. 01/01/2016

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint is relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes a description of the measure and its duration; the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and, within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(v)(vii)(C)) 01/01/2016

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Requirement Due date

Ensure to maintain records ("case records") for each child which include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child: a copy of any plan for the care of the child prepared by the child's placing authority, and of the placement plan; and, the date and result of any review of the placing authority's plan for the care of the child, or of the child's placement plan. (Regulation 36 (1)(a) (schedule 3, point 19 & 20)) 01/01/2016

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that the registered person notifies HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)) 01/01/2016

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Information about this children's home

This children’s home is owned by a private company. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children with emotional and behavioural difficulties and learning disabilities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

24/02/2015 Interim sustained effectiveness

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Requires improvement

The home was closed in August 2015 while the property underwent renovations and refurbishment. This work has vastly improved the property, providing a welcoming and homely environment. However, these improvements are undermined by the offensive graffiti, visible from the home’s kitchen window, sprayed onto a neighbour’s wall. The Registered Manager has reported this to the local council and endeavours to get it removed.

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Requires improvement

The home reopened in October 2015 and three new children moved in within a ten day period. Moving all children in so quickly, limited staff’s time to get to know each child’s individual needs and behaviour; and, reduced staff’s opportunity to fully support each child to settle in. Consequently, the home experienced a period of instability and this affected children’s progress. This was confirmed by a social worker who stated ‘her behaviour has gone off the wall since moving in; she is possibly being influenced by other young people.’

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Requires improvement

Children do not benefit from effective care planning. For example, some children did not have statutory care plans to inform staff of their needs and how they should meet them. Furthermore, the home’s own placement plans are not always kept up-to-date, and some children’s care plans had not been independently reviewed. Consequently, children’s care is not being regularly evaluated to ensure that their needs and welfare are effectively promoted and maintained. Furthermore, the manager could not evidence how she had sought to involve placing authorities in the planning and reviewing of children’s care; or, that she had challenged placing authorities’ poor practice.

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Requires improvement

Children’s progress is variable. Not all children benefit from having personal education plans (PEP) in place. Delays in agreeing such plans weakens partnership working, where children’s needs and required support is clearly identified and carefully planned for. For example, one child moved to the home with on-going school attendance and behaviour issues. She did not have a PEP. Despite staff’s support and close working with the school, she has now been excluded. On a more positive note, staff have successfully supported other children to remain in school and continue with their education. This has been achieved through effective joint working with the school and virtual school head.

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Requires improvement

Staff work hard at establishing positive relationships with children. This is reflected in one child’s comments, ‘I get on with most of the staff; they made me feel welcome when I moved in. I like it better here than foster care, staff don’t try to be your mum.’ She said the ‘rules are fair’ and scored the home ‘9.5 out of 10.’ Not all children hold the same view. Another child said that she felt unfairly treated and she disagreed with staff’s view that she had been bullying another child. This is not a reflection of staff’s practice. Rather, it demonstrates that some children are not fully understanding how their actions affect others, or gaining an understanding of acceptable behaviour. Furthermore, it shows some children have yet to develop respectful and trusting relationships with staff.

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Requires improvement

Children are supported to maintain contact with their family and friends. Staff understand the importance of contact and therefore ensure that arrangements are safe and stuck to. For example, a child wanted to have one-to-one time with her mother and staff have made this happen. Her mother now visits the home once a week and this is providing them with the opportunity to have quality time together in a safe and ‘natural’ home environment. The child said that she really enjoys her mother’s weekly visits.

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requires improvement

Compatibility risk assessments are not completed for all children moving into the home. This has resulted in children being inappropriately placed and their needs and welfare have not been fully protected. For example, one child was bullied during his stay at the home. Staff were alert to the signs of bullying and took action to try and prevent it, such as, challenging the perpetrators at the time and raising it regularly in key work sessions. However, some children did not understand how their actions impacted on others and were reluctant to take on board staff’s support and guidance. The Registered Manager recognises that this is down to the children’s conflicting needs and has taken effective action to address this. For example, she called an emergency meeting with the social workers and a support plan has now been put in place.

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requires improvement

Frequent incidents of disruptive and aggressive behaviour involving children threatening and assaulting each other and staff, has led to an increase in restraints and police visits to the home. On two occasions children have been arrested and risked criminalisation. Staff are well trained in de-escalation techniques and restraint practice so they know how to restrain children safely. Restraint is only used as a means of protecting both children and staff.

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requires improvement

Improvements have been made in the recording of restraints. Staff now document any injury to the child and detail the methods used. However, this is not replicated in the recordings of other measures of control used within the home. Staff do not always detail the measure used, evaluate its effectiveness, or include the child’s views. Consequently, behaviour management strategies are not fully effective and unsuccessful measures, such as monetary consequences, are being repeated despite having little impact.

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requires improvement

Allegations against staff are, in the main, appropriately managed. Incidents are reported to the child’s placing authority and more serious concerns are referred to the local authority designated officer. However, recordings of allegations do not consistently document the action taken, the decisions made or outcomes of the investigation. This weakens the monitoring and evaluation of serious complaints made against staff.

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requires improvement

Ofsted are still not being notified of all serious safeguarding concerns, including, serious incidents which have involved the police attending the home. This prevents its regulator from evaluating their handling of all serious safeguarding matters.

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requires improvement

Staff are experienced at dealing with high risk behaviours such as missing and child sexual exploitation. They are provided with regular training on such matters and this ensures that they have the knowledge and skills to manage these situations. Furthermore, they have a good understanding of other professionals’ safeguarding roles and responsibilities and know who to turn to for guidance and support. They have forged good links with the local community police officer who visits the home to speak to the children about keeping themselves and others safe.

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requires improvement

The Registered Manager took up post in April 2015. She has over 14 years’ experience of children’s residential work, including 7 years’ at a management level. She is suitably qualified and demonstrates enthusiasm and capacity for continuous improvement. She is actively involved in all of the home’s operations, including covering shifts. This enables her to monitor everyday practice in the home as she works alongside her team.

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requires improvement

The home is almost fully staffed with permanent and experienced workers. They do not use agency workers and this helps to promote continuity in care. Staff consulted with said the new manager is supportive and approachable. They also benefit from the on-going support of the previous Registered Manager, who has been promoted within the company and visits the home regularly. Staff are encouraged to reflect on their practice, share new ideas and work as a team. They are kept up-to-date with relevant training, including safeguarding, first aid and behaviour management. This ensures that they are fully equipped with the knowledge and skills to carry out their roles. Both the manager and staff receive monthly professional supervision, which provides them with opportunities to reflect on their practice and continue to develop. Regular and structured team meetings ensure that young people’s needs and behaviour are discussed regularly with the team, which further enhances

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requires improvement

Supportive links have been established with parents and other professionals, such as, the local community police officer, virtual school heads and placing social workers. These partnerships are essential to promoting better outcomes for children. At times, the placing authorities have not completed their statutory duties, for example, not reviewing children’s care plans within the required timescale. This has not been effectively challenged by the home.

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requires improvement

The home’s statement of purpose has been updated and provides a clear picture of the service aims and objectives and how children will be cared for. This ensures that parents and placing authorities know what to expect from the start.

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requires improvement

Monthly independent monitoring visits are helping leaders to continually appraise the quality of care and protection provided within the home. Furthermore, Ofsted receive these reports in good time and this is enabling the regulator to evaluate the service and the views of children and other professionals. Improvements can be made in the manager’s monitoring of the service to ensure that the home’s records are sufficiently detailed, updated and document all decisions and actions taken by staff and other professionals.

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requires improvement

Most of the requirements and recommendations from the previous inspection have been effectively addressed. However, the manager is not ensuring that Ofsted is notified of all serious safeguarding incidents. Therefore, this previous recommendation has been raised to a requirement.

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requires improvement

The manager is a reflective leader and this is ensuring that important lessons are learnt. Consequently, plans are now in place to address the concerns raised at this inspection. For example, the manager has now introduced a new system for auditing children’s files which will alert staff to missing documents, including placing authority plans, which will enhance partnership working and improve care planning. Additionally, she recognises that the home has experienced a period of instability and does not intend to move another child into the home until the current children are settled.

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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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