Children's home run by Inspire Children’s Services Limited 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:

 Very positive relationships are evident between staff and young people  The staff team is largely stable, enabling them to develop trusting relationships with young people  Young people have made very good progress since moving into the home  Young people are safe in the home and do not engage in risk taking behaviours  Young people attend school and are making good educational progress  Young people receive support to maintain relationships with their family and friends  Young people have learnt to manage their behaviours well and physical interventions have not been required for some time  Staff demonstrate a commitment to young people and understand their needs well  The Registered Manager seeks regular feedback on the services provided by the home in order to improve  Staff work well with social workers and other professionals  Young people are tolerant of each other

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The children's home provision is good because:

Areas for improvement include; the need to ensure the necessary information is obtained on agency staff prior to them commencing work in the home; the familiarity of all staff with children’s placement plans and the delivery of the children’s health care plans.

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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

Ensure that if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home, that full and satisfactory information is available in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32(2)(3)(d) 11/03/2016

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Recommendations

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

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Recommendations

 ensure that the specific responsibilities of the home towards supporting the health and well-being of each child are agreed with the placing authority and recorded in the child's placement; specifically that this includes details of what action staff should take if young people refuse to engage with this plan and that the placing authority are made aware of this (The Guide para 7.7)

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Recommendations

 ensure that all staff consistently follow the home's policies and procedures for the benefit of the children in the home's care; specifically that everyone understands their role and responsibilities in delivering consistent care in line with the child's individual care plan. (The Guide para 10.20)

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Information about this children's home

This children’s home is one of a number of homes operated by a private organisation. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two children and young people with emotional and/or 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

03/09/2015 CH - Interim sustained effectiveness

p.4

good

The home has a positive impact on the progress of those who live here. Young people receive consistent care, clear boundaries and good routines. They learn that they are safe in the home and become confident in the level of care they can expect to receive. They are thriving as a result.

p.4

good

The staff team has been largely stable since the last inspection. Some staff have worked in the home since it opened. Consequently, staff and young people know each other well. Warm and positive relationships are evident. Young people know that they can rely on staff and that their needs will be met. They really do feel that this is their home.

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good

Young people’s engagement with education improves when living here. This applies to those attending the organisations school, as well as those that attend school in the community. Staff keep in regular contact with school staff and consequently are able to resolve most issues that do arise in a timely way. They help young people with their homework and are keen for them to make the most of their schooling, appreciating the significance of this for their employment opportunities in the future. Young people receive encouragement to think about future employment and staff are currently working with them to consider work experience opportunities.

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good

Staff are attentive to the wishes of young people. They involve them in day-to-day decisions about the running of the home, as well as holding regular young people’s meetings to ascertain their views. Young people are able to personalise their home. This helps them feel that they belong here. Young people receive encouragement to pursue their interests. For example, one young person with a keen interest in animals has a number of small caged animals. He takes responsibility for their care. Staff support young people to spend time in the community with their friends and to partake of usual teenage activities. Young people have has sleepovers at a friend’s home and friends are invited back to the home. Young people also engage in activities with staff, such as ice-skating, swimming and going to the cinema.

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good

Staff successfully facilitate a range of different contact arrangements, both inside and outside of the home. They appreciate the significance of maintaining these relationships. Staff will go out of their way to ensure that planned meetings go ahead and that the experience is a positive one. Family members and social workers are appreciative of this.

p.5

good

Staff ensure that young people are registered with appropriate health services on their admission. However, their engagement with health services is variable. Young people have a health care plan containing the specifics about their care. However, young people have not consistently received their prescribed medication in accordance with this plan. While staff are working with young people to help them learn to manage their own long-term health needs, in the interim, it is unclear what action they have taken or should take if they are unable to fulfil the detail of the plan.

p.5

good

Professionals are positive about the home. Their comments include, ‘I am very happy with the support provided’ and ‘The placement meets X’s needs. They are helping him develop positively in all areas of development. The positive change in his behaviour is significant.’ Young people’s relationships with professionals has also improved. They are now able to represent their own views at review meetings and were happy to engage the inspector in conversation during this inspection.

p.5

good

Young people say that they feel safe living here. Staff engage in safe caring practice and the home’s procedures ensure that staff are clear about their responsibilities in ensuring the safety of young people. Staff foster an atmosphere of acceptance and young people get on together for the majority of the time.

p.5

good

Behaviour management plans and risk assessments provide a basis for responding to young people's needs and keeping them safe. These are subject to regular review and update. High staffing ratios, along with positive relationships ensure that staff are able to respond effectively. Everyone is clear about the standards of behaviour that are acceptable within the home and young people respect these boundaries. There have been no restraints or negative consequences since the last inspection. However, young people have been rewarded for positive behaviour. They are able to earn incentive points for fulfilling their individual targets and for managing difficult situations well. Incentive points are converted to cash for young people to spend on items of their choosing. Young people are motivated by this positive reward system.

p.5

good

Similarly, there have been no incidents of the young person going missing from the home or engaging in other risk taking behaviour. Staff complete work with young people in order for them to keep themselves safe, such internet safety and effects of drug and alcohol use. Consequently, young people are able to make their own informed choices.

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good

There has been very little staff turnover since the last inspection. However, agency staff have worked in the home on a few occasions. While the Registered Manager has received some information on these individuals prior to them working in the home, he has not been in receipt of all the information required to satisfy regulatory requirements and to ensure their integrity. Consequently, this would not prevent unscrupulous individuals from working in the home. When potential concerns about the actions of staff have been brought to the Registered Manager’s attention, he engages in consultation with other agencies with a safeguarding role, such as the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) until the incident has been thoroughly explored.

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good

Young people know how to make a complaint should they wish to so. Details are included in the young person’s guide to the home, which they receive on admission. There is also a suggestion box in the home, where young people can contribute ideas as they think of them. This fosters a feeling of openness in the home.

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good

The Registered Manager has been in post since the home was registered in June 2014. He has the necessary skills, qualifications and experience to manage the home. He also has management responsibility for a further two homes in the organisation. A deputy manager works in this home, to support him. They both know the young people well and utilise the strengths of the staff team to good effect.

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good

Staff receive regular supervision and appraisal and report that this is beneficial to their practice. The Registered Manager seeks young people’s views and these clearly contribute to the appraisal process. Staff are able to reflect on their practice in the home. Staff training is seen as a priority and a range of training opportunities are available. The vast majority of staff have achieved a minimum of a level three qualification. Staff speak positively about the support and training they receive. They have ready access to advice and support from the deputy manager in the absence of the Registered Manager.

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good

A comprehensive Statement of Purpose outlines the aims and objectives of the home. This is subject to regular review and update. The home is located in a residential area of the town; it is indistinguishable from other properties; and is close to community resources. Positive relationships exist with local residents.

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good

The Registered Manager has a development plan for the home. The views of young people and staff contribute to this. He also seeks regular feedback from individuals involved with the home, on its performance. Feedback is positive and confirms the progress that young people are making. The Registered Manager demonstrates an awareness of the strengths and weaknesses of the home and acknowledges where further improvements can be made.

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good

Liaison with other agencies is effective. Social workers speak positively about staff communication. One social worker commented, ‘Staff are excellent at communication, they always let me know if there has been an incident.’ Monthly update reports also keep social workers up-to-date on young people’s progress. The internal and external monitoring of the home is completed regularly as required. Managers use these to identify shortfalls and ensure that they rectify any issues in a timely way. However, the manager’s internal monitoring had failed to identify that the procedure for ensuring that all staff were familiar with young people’s placement plans was not being effective. This is of particular significance when agency staff are working in the home, who are unfamiliar with the young people, their routines and needs.

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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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