Children's Home run by Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council in Knowsley

Good

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

p.2

The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people make good progress from their starting points. This is reflected in the improvements made in their education and learning.  They have access to a range of health services, including sexual health clinics and drug and alcohol services. Staff work hard to encourage their attendance at all health appointments. When they refuse to attend staff persist with on-going support and encouragement.  They benefit from developing positive and trusting relationships with staff, based on mutual respect.  They enjoy spending time with staff. This includes going on trips to the beach, visits to the cinema and local art galleries.  Young people clearly have a voice. Their views are actively sought and they are meaningfully involved in the making of decisions about their daily care and future. This is further supported through monthly visits from an independent advocate and good links with the children’s participation

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

project.  Staff support young people to stay in contact with their family and friends. They forge good working relationships with parents, which enhances consistency in care and effective partnership working.  Staff are pro-active and innovative. They face new challenges head on and find solutions rather than problems. For example, they found effective ways of communicating with a young person who doesn’t understand or speak English.  Staff are alert to danger and manage risk taking behaviour well. Effective joint working with other safeguarding professionals is enhancing young people’s safety and welfare.  The home is led by a strong and committed Registered Manager. Staff are fully supported and this enables them to provide a good standard of care and protection.  Areas for improvement are specifically around the home’s records and staff is training.

p.3

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.

p.4

Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard

p.4

Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard the registered person must ensure that staff -

p.4

Requirement Due date

(2)(c) have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. With particular reference to all staff completing mandatory training. 26/02/2016

p.4

Requirement Due date

Ensure that at all times, at least one person on duty at the home has a suitable first aid qualification. (Regulation 31 (2)(a)) 26/02/2016

p.4

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

p.4

Recommendations

 Ensure that case records are kept up to date and signed and dated by the author of each entry. (The guide to the Quality Standards, paragraph 14.3, page 62)

p.4

Recommendations

 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. With particular regard to risk assessments reflecting all significant incidents and how staff intend to prevent and/or minimise harm. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, paragraph 9.5, page 42)

p.4

Information about this children's home

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

p.5

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.5

Recent inspection history

12/05/2015 Interim sustained effectiveness

p.5

good

Young people benefit from personalised care. Their needs are promoted by an experienced and committed team. The service has recently reviewed its Statement of Purpose and it now accepts emergency admissions. The manager has put in place clear procedures for ensuring that any young person admitted in such circumstances is appropriately placed. They are currently working on devising a compatibility assessment which will demonstrate, more clearly, matching considerations and any actions required.

p.6

good

Young people make good progress from their starting points. This is particularly evident in young people’s education and learning. Young people’s attendance at school increases and their behaviour and engagement significantly improves. This is down to staff’s close partnership working with schools, young people and their parents.

p.6

good

For example, one young person was unhappy in school and this impacted on his attendance and behaviour. Staff and teachers listened to him and devised an alternative plan. He now attends a full-time vocational course that includes maths and English. His attendance is now over 80%, which is a huge achievement. His mother said, ‘The home is brilliant. He is doing really well, he now attends school. This is the best he has done for 4 years. I know he is settled, he has come on loads.’ Staff’s effective partnership working was also reflected in his teacher’s comments, ‘Good communication between the home, school and his work base provision is ensuring that we all know where he is and how well he is doing.’

p.6

good

Staff work hard to promote good health. Most young people are up-to-date with their routine health appointments. However, some young people are reluctant to attend regular check-ups with the dentist. When such occasions arise, staff persist and continue to make appointments and encourage them. Staff’s determination is showing young people that they genuinely care for them as well as promoting good health.

p.6

good

Staff demonstrate a good understanding of emotional well-being and how this can be compromised by certain behaviours, including substance misuse. The home has forged strong links with local drug services and refers young people when necessary. Staff’s direct work with young people around risk taking behaviour compliments this work, particularly when young people refuse to engage directly with this service. Young people benefit from developing positive relationships with staff. This is achieved through staff showing genuine interest in all that they do. Staff are constantly taking young people out on trips to the beach, cinema, shopping, as well as relaxing and chatting in the home. This is helping young people to settle and make positive changes in their behaviour. Furthermore, because they learn to trust staff they are more willing to engage and take on board their guidance and support. Consequently, young people are making positive changes in their lives.

p.6

good

Staff are extremely experienced and confident in their roles. They embrace new challenges and situations in a positive and creative way. This is evident in their care of a young person who was placed in an emergency and does not speak English. Staff communicate with him by using translation applications on their mobile phones. They have also arranged for an interpreter to visit the home on a weekly basis to help him understand and participate in his care plan. Furthermore, they have made links with services and support groups that represent his heritage and culture, including, education centres where he can learn English.

p.7

good

Staff know young people well. They demonstrate in-depth knowledge of young people’s needs and vulnerabilities. Furthermore, they understand their own, and other professionals, safeguarding roles and responsibilities. This is helping to keep young people safe.

p.7

good

High risk behaviours, such as missing from home, gang involvement, criminal, and child sexual exploitation (CSE) are managed well. Staff follow clear and effective protocols and escalate serious concerns to specialist multi-disciplinary teams. This is ensuring that all relevant professionals, including, social workers, the police and specialist exploitation teams are jointly working to tackle risk and minimise harm.

p.7

good

Positive relationships with staff further enhance young people’s safety. As young people learn to trust staff, they spend time and confide in them. This ensures that they have a trusted adult who they can turn to. These trusting relationships are helping them to improve their behaviour and make an informed choice, which in turn, enhances their safety.

p.7

good

Young people have the benefit of using technology in a safe environment. They each have a computer in their bedrooms that has protection filters installed. Safer internet use agreements are devised with young people from the start of their placements. This ensures that they understand and agree to the terms and conditions of the home’s e-safety policy. Young people benefit from consistent boundaries and routines. Physical restraint has not been used in this home for some time. Staff use effective de-escalation techniques, such as calmly talking to young people when they are angry and aggressive. Positive behaviour is encouraged through rewards and incentives, and when necessary appropriate sanctions are used. For example, reparation payments towards damage that they have deliberately caused. The home’s sanctions records support effective practice; however, they can further improve by consistently recording the effectiveness of the measure used.

p.7

good

Young people feel listened and safe. They are fully aware of the complaints procedure and feel able to raise their concerns. Complaints are managed fairly and resolved swiftly. An open and transparent complaints procedure is further supporting young people’s well-being by providing them with another means to voice their worries and concerns.

p.8

good

All significant events, including child protection referrals and allegations are robustly managed. Serious incidents and concerns are reported to the relevant agencies, including Ofsted, which enables prompt investigation and independent evaluation the home’s safeguarding practice.

p.8

good

Improvements can be made in the home’s risk assessment records. Risk assessments are not consistently updated to reflect new concerns and incidents, for example, fire risks and potential gang involvement. Additionally, the home’s records do not clearly state the author or date it was devised or reviewed. This reflects shortfalls in the recording of information rather than the safety and safeguarding practice adopted within the home.

p.8

good

Young people benefit from living in a home that is effectively managed by an experienced Registered Manager. He is fully supported by the senior and they are both in the process of completing the Diploma Level 5 in leadership and management. Suitable cover is in place when the manager is absent from the home, including out of office hours. This ensures that staff and young people have access to management support and guidance at all times.

p.8

good

The service has recently undergone a review. This has involved a change to the home’s terms and conditions, which now includes accepting emergency admissions. This has been carefully thought out and planned to ensure that young people’s welfare remains a priority. Staffing is a particular strength of the home. An experienced and suitably qualified team provides young people with consistent boundaries, care and support. Staff demonstrate enthusiasm towards their work and are clearly very committed to those in their care. This is reflected in the positive relationships established within the home and young people’s improved outcomes and behaviour.

p.8

good

Staff benefit from regular support, including, professional supervision, structured team meetings and development days. Guests are invited to team meetings to share their particular area of expertise. This has included adult care leavers speaking to staff about their personal experience of being in care. Staff are, therefore, provided with ample opportunity to reflect on their practice and broaden their knowledge, skills and resilience.

p.9

good

Effective monitoring systems provide the Registered Manager with good insight into the service’s strengths and areas for development. He has a clear development plan in place to enhance staff’s performance and the quality of care provided in the home. For example, gaps in training have been identified and raised with senior managers and the training department. However, despite his constant requests for this training, some staff’s mandatory training, including first aid, remains outstanding. This has resulted in the home not having a qualified first aider on duty on every shift, which compromises health and safety within the home. The manager has challenged this and first aid training has now been arranged.

p.9

good

Strong links have been made with local services and professionals, including the police, multi-disciplinary safeguarding teams, and specialist missing from care and CSE services. Consequently, both young people and staff have access to expert support and guidance on a range of safeguarding matters.

p.9

good

Social workers regularly visit young people at the home. Young people are fully supported by staff, advocates and, when necessary, interpreters to meaningfully engage in the making and reviewing of their plans. Progress is clearly measured and monitored by the manager; social workers and parents confirm that they are kept fully up to date on young people’s progress.

p.9

good

The manager actively seeks young people’s views and listens to their requests and suggestions. For example, young people asked for a computer and now each bedroom has one installed with internet access. The home is well maintained and suitably resourced. As a result, young people profit from living in a caring, welcoming and homely environment.

p.9

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.

p.10

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

p.10

What the inspection judgements mean

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

p.10

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

p.11

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 .

p.11

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,

p.12

Information about this inspection

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

p.12

Information about this inspection

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

p.12

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

p.12