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 make good progress due to staff’s tireless support and determination.  They feel safe and secure. Their positive relationships with staff and each other makes them feel safe, valued, and respected.  They benefit from maintaining contact with their families in a safe and planned way.  Their self-esteem and confidence grows as they take on new challenges through a range of fun activities and hobbies.  Strong partnerships with schools and virtual heads is improving young people’s engagement with education and providing them with good training opportunities.  Young people are fit and healthy. Their physical and emotional health is effectively promoted through staff and specialist health support.  Their wishes and feelings are regularly sought and valued. Consequently, young people are fully involved in decision making about their care and their future.  Effective joint working with safeguarding professionals, including social

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The children's home provision is good because:

workers, the police, and drug and alcohol services is reducing risk and enhancing young people’s safety.  Staff are supported by a committed manager. She understands the strengths of the team and shows enthusiasm and capacity for continued development. This is reflected in the quality of care provided to young people.  There are some areas for improvements. These are in relation to the home’s placement plans; risk assessments; and, internal and external monitoring of the home.

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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

13: The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard, the registered person must –

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Requirement Due date

(2)(h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. With particular reference to the auditing of the home's records to ensure they are consistently accurate and sufficiently detailed. 26/02/2016

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the care planning standard, the registered person must –

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Requirement Due date

14(1) (a) ensure that children receive effectively planned care in or through the children's home. With particular reference to the home’s placement plans. 26/02/2016

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that an independent person visits the children's home at least once each month. The independent person must produce a report about the visit ("the independent person's report") which sets out, in particular, the independent person's opinion as to whether children are effectively safeguarded; and, whether the conduct of the home promotes children's well-being. The independent person must provide a copy of their report to: Ofsted; the registered provider; and, the registered manager. (Regulation 44 (1) (4 )(a & b) (7)(a & d)) 26/02/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Ensure to continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. Where there are safeguarding concerns for a child, their placement plan, agreed between the home and their placing authority, must include details of the steps the home will take to manage any assessed risks on a day to day basis. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, paragraph 9.5, page 42)

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Recommendations

 Ensure that the registered person's review of the home identifies areas of strength and possible weakness in the home's care, which will be captured in the written report. The report should clearly identify any actions required for the next six months of delivery within the home and how those actions will be addressed. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, paragraph 15.4 page 65)

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Information about this children's home

This local authority children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to four young people with emotional and/or behavioural needs.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

16/02/2015 Interim sustained effectiveness

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good

This home is making a positive difference to young people’s lives. This is reflected in their comments: ‘They are helping me with my education’, ‘the best things are the staff’, and, ‘I like my bedroom, activities and the food.’

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good

On the whole, young people make good progress with their learning and development. For one young person school attendance has increased from zero to over 70%. This was achieved through good routines and effective partnership working. Improvements in school attendance are increasing young people’s opportunities to learn and obtain better educational outcomes.

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good

Staff work closely with schools and virtual head teachers to explore all options available to young people. This has led to some young people undertaking vocational training, such as car mechanic and hair and beauty courses. This valuable work experience is supporting them to realise their future goals and succeed in the future. Teachers speak highly of the support provided by the home, describing staff’s input as ‘invaluable’. One teacher said, ‘the home is absolutely helping him with his education. He has really come on since living there.’

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good

Staff have good knowledge of each young person’s individual health needs. Young people are supported and encouraged to attend all routine health checks and assessments. The home’s thorough medication administration system is ensuring that young people’s medical needs are safely met. Young people are supported to self-administer medication when appropriate to do so; this includes administering their own injections under staff supervision. Not only is this preparing them for independent living, it is encouraging and enabling them to take responsibility for their own health.

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good

Staff ensure that young people’s emotional health is appropriately addressed. When necessary, they refer young people to specialist counselling and therapeutic services which support young people with developing emotional resilience. All of this is ensuring that young people benefit from improved physical and emotional health, as well as improving behaviour in the home.

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good

On the whole, staff nurture warm, trusting relationships. They know young people well and have a good understanding of their needs and vulnerabilities. Interactions between staff and young people are positive, warm and relaxed. This was confirmed by a social worker who said, ‘she has developed good relationships and is always happy to come home. Staff are vigilant and they genuinely care for her.’ Young people are fully supported to maintain contact with their families and friends. Parents and relatives visit the home where they spend quality time, which often involves having a meal together. This is helping young people to develop and sustain positive attachments with people who are important to them

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good

A wide range of activities are on offer to young people, such as the gym, boxing, horse riding and holidays with staff. Staff work tirelessly at trying to find the right activity for each child. When young people give up on a hobby staff persist and help them to explore other interests. Staff have introduced young people to fishing and scuba diving; these new experiences are developing their skills, confidence and self-esteem.

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good

The home does not provide individual placement plans that bring together, in a single document, young people’s assessed needs, or strategies for meeting them. To date, this has not impacted on young people’s care because staff know young people well and effective team working is ensuring consistency in care. This does not support effective care planning because staff are not being guided by approved and up-to-date plans. Furthermore, it does not follow the home’s Statement of Purpose that clearly states: ‘All young people have a comprehensive placement plan’.

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good

Young people are safe and feel safe. This is down to an experienced and knowledgeable team who prioritise young people’s safety, both inside and outside of the home. Effective on-going training on a range of safeguarding matters, such as, child sexual exploitation (CSE), drug awareness, and e-safety, is assisting staff to keep young people safe. Furthermore, the manager plans to arrange e-safety training to young people to teach them how to recognise and avoid risk when using the internet.

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good

Staff follow missing from home procedures well and incidents of missing are significantly reducing. A key strength of the service is partnership working with safeguarding professionals including social workers, the police and CSE services. This multiagency approach is ensuring that all safeguarding professionals are alerted to concerns, and are managing risk together.

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good

Dangerous behaviours, for example fire starting, are tackled well. Such incidents are currently rare but, nonetheless, remain a concern. Young people who present a fire risk are linked in with the fire service and now attend the fire cadets. Furthermore, Regular health and safety checks, including fire alarms and fire equipment, prevent potential hazards, accidents and emergencies. Frequent fire drills are ensuring that young people and staff are aware of the evacuation procedure in the event of a fire. Robust health and safety procedures are further enhancing the safety and security of young people, staff and visitors to the home.

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good

Staff have a good understanding of their own and other professionals’ safeguarding responsibilities. They know who to turn to for further guidance and support, such as social workers, CSE workers and the local community police officer. Professionals praise staff’s safeguarding practice. A police officer said, ‘staff are proactive. They go out looking for children when they are missing. It is one of the best homes that we work with.’

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good

Young people’s safety is further enhanced through safer staff recruitment practice. All staff are appropriately vetted prior to working in the home. In addition to this, young people are involved in the recruitment process and, therefore, have a say on who is employed to look after them.

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good

Young people are supported to have their say in the home. They know how to make a complaint and are confident that staff will deal with them fairly. Staff encourage young people to raise their grievances, no matter how small. An independent advocate visits the home on a monthly basis to support young people to voice their opinions. Having access to an independent person is further promoting their rights and involvement in making decisions.

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good

Improvements in the home’s risk assessments would further enhance young people’s safety. Risk assessments currently omit important detail and do not provide a robust evaluation of possible danger. For example, compatibility assessments do not thoroughly consider the potential impact young people may have on each other. Although, so far, this has not directly affected young people’s safety. Risk assessments do not support appropriate matching or provide staff with clear and effective risk management strategies.

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good

This home is run by a suitably qualified and experienced Registered Manager. She knows the young people extremely well and their welfare and progress is her main priority.

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good

The team are extremely proud of young people’s achievements, which are constantly celebrated, no matter how small. Young people’s enrichment files are proof of this, providing a wealth of evidence, including awards and certificates from school and clubs.

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good

The manager ensures that staffing levels are sufficient and there is a good gender balance to accommodate young people’s needs and interests. This is ensuring that young people have a good choice of staff to turn to for guidance, support and to explore new interests. Staff have introduced young people to their own hobbies, such as scuba diving and fishing. This demonstrates staff’s genuine commitment to improving the quality of life of young people in their care.

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good

Staff feel well supported. One member of staff commented, ‘(manager’s name) stimulates me and gets us to reflect, I feel valued safe and happy here. Everything feels like it is in place. I love working at this home.’

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good

The manager provides regular professional supervision, where they reflect on practice and evaluate strengths and areas for development. Good systems are in place for staff to get together and share their learning and experiences, such as weekly team meetings and daily handovers. Guest speakers, including the virtual head teacher, attend these meetings to introduce staff to their service. All of this is further supporting staff’s knowledge, consistency in care and effective team working.

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good

Young people benefit from being cared for by a well-trained and skilled team. Staff have undertaken numerous courses which are specific to young people’s needs. These include, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), behaviour management, restorative justice, and CSE. New staff receive a thorough induction into the home’s policies, procedures and practice. They are provided with ample time and opportunities to shadow experienced staff, get to know young people, and observe the routines of the home. This effective training and support is reflected in the high standard of care provided by the team.

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good

The home works effectively with other professionals, including specialist CSE workers, the ADHD foundation, and drug and alcohol services. Young people and staff are, therefore, benefitting from expert support and guidance.

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good

The manager is a good advocate and role model for young people and staff. She is not afraid to challenge other professionals if she feels they are compromising young people’s outcomes. When necessary, she has reported poor practice to senior leaders within the placing authority.

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good

Internal monitoring systems are in place and this is providing the manager with a clear understanding of young people’s progress and how well staff are promoting their needs and safety. However, some shortfalls are not always being picked up. In particular, inaccuracies in young people’s records, lack of individual placement plans and the quality of risk assessments. Furthermore, although the manager demonstrates a good understanding of the home’s strengths and weaknesses, these are not captured in her report on the review of the home.

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good

This is further compounded by the lack of external monitoring undertaken by the independent visitor. The manager, and Ofsted, has not received an independent monitoring report for over six months. The manager has raised this, on several occasions, with senior leaders within the organisation; escalating her concerns rigorously but without success. Not only is this undermining the home’s monitoring systems and hindering continued development. It is a breach of the requirements set out in The Children’s Home Regulations 2015.

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good

Since the last inspection, the service has reduced its placement capacity from six to four. This reduction in numbers has benefitted young people as the team can now offer them more individual time and support. The updated Statement of Purpose reflects these changes and provides a clear overview of the service aims and objectives.

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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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