Children's Home run by Liverpool City Council in Liverpool

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has improved in effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people continue to thrive during their well-planned short break in the home. Staff have high aspirations for them, and work hard to ensure their safety and wellbeing. Under the leadership of the Registered Manager, key workers have continued to refine and improve care planning, recording, and evaluation of young people’s outcomes. As recommended at the last inspection, target areas for development are now clearly identified and measured for improvement. Young people progress because staff understand their role in providing additional opportunities for them. Staff take part in multi-professional reviews, and absorb educational, health and communication goals into the plans for the short break. In this way, young people experience continuity of approach to meet their needs. While enjoying challenging and interesting social opportunities such as going to youth clubs, trampoline club, cooking, sensory play, and being out and about in

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

the local community, young people use their independence, social and communication skills. This helps to embed their learning in lots of different environments. It increases their flexibility by applying their skills in less structured situations than school, and with a greater number of people outside of their family. Parents say they can see the difference the home is making, as their children become more adventurous, communicate their feelings and wishes more clearly, and develop ways to self-regulate when they are upset. The home provides opportunities for short breaks for over 50 young people. Managers ensure that groups have compatible needs and interests. Equally, the service remains sufficiently flexible to accommodate changing needs or in short term emergencies, such as family crisis. The provider has applied for a variation to their registration, to provide permanent accommodation for one young person in

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

the short-term. This provides continuity of care while more permanent plans are identified. It builds on relationships of trust and familiarity for the individual and their families and it enables staff to support effective transition to the new placement. As recommended at the last inspection, the home now works closely with other professionals, to support actions necessary for young people to be supported well as young adults. Follow-up contact after the move has shown that they settle well into their new home or services. The manager uses regular, wide-ranging and comprehensive monitoring to assess and improve the quality of care provided. This includes effective partnership with parents, the local social work team, and senior managers. His findings drive improvement because he ensures that staff training and development opportunities reflect the needs of the home. During a recent full week’s learning programme,

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

staff focused on analysing behaviour, supporting complex health needs, and multi- professional working. In addition, they focused on how to improve the way they support young people’s diverse communication skills. This has resulted in increased use of augmentative communication tools such as photographs and signing. There is a clearer communication environment, with simple schedules and symbols for young people to access independently. Procedures for the management and administration of medication are safe and effective, with the exception of unlabelled syringes of medication that are drawn up to administer through gastrostomy sites. Typically, staff had begun to think about how to improve this practice before the inspection was completed. The independent visitors for the home complete monthly reports regarding the quality of care within the home as required. There are delays in those reports being sent to Ofsted, affecting the timeliness of additional external review of the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

home. While reported actions are addressed by home staff to improve practice, the report does not fully evaluate the well-being and safeguarding afforded to the group. The final recommendation made at the last inspection related to improving the information available to staff should young people go missing. Pen pictures now accurately describe individual needs and vulnerabilities. Additional information, such as routes young people may take, or people they may try to visit, will further improve their protection. Staff use greater reflection of why young people behave violently or unpredictably. They have matched this understanding with improved incident debriefs, and improved practice. As a result, there has been a continuing decrease in the number of physical interventions. Staff coach young people to identify and adopt routines and strategies that reduce stress. The manager is very skilled in analysing critical

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

incidents, and has supported staff and social workers to understand incidents they have witnessed in the home. The social work team manager for children with disabilities values the collaborative working approach of the home. This improves young people’s overall safety and welfare because staff contribute clear and detailed information about significant incidents, behaviour and the physical condition 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 independent person must produce a report about each visit which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether- (a) Children are effectively safeguarded; and (b) The conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being; and provides a copy of that report to Ofsted. Regulation 44 (4) a and b; (7) a. 31/03/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation:  Further improve the safe administration of liquid medication by ensuring any medicine drawn up into a syringe is identifiable before being administered through a gastrostomy site. (The Guide to the Quality Standards page 35, paragraph 7.15).

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Recommendations

 Enhance procedures that staff follow if a young person goes missing, by providing details of routes they may take or people they may visit, to improve searches for them. (The Guide to the Quality Standards page 45, paragraph 9.28).

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Information about this children's home

The children's home is managed by a local authority, providing short-term breaks for up to seven children and young people at any one time. The home cares for children and young people with learning disabilities and physical disabilities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

11/11/2014 CH - Interim sustained effectiveness

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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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 focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

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 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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