Children's home run by Supporting Futures Limited in Sefton

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 effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, managers have taken appropriate action to meet the requirements and recommendation. They have spent time with young people and re-designed both the children’s guide and complaints procedure. These are now in both picture and a written format. This ensures young people are aware of how they will be supported while living in the home, and their entitlements. The Statement of Purpose has also been updated. The manager also completed direct work with staff through supervision and team meetings, to ensure they all have a clear understanding of the ethos and vision for the service and their roles and responsibilities. Staff said’ It was really helpful, as I did not really understand its purpose at the beginning, but now I’m very clear.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Two young people have successfully returned to live with their families. Transition plans were designed with the input from both the young people and their families. This involved a gradual increase in visits including overnight stays before a planned re-integration to the family environment. Prior to the day of moving celebration events were held were young people went out for meals and were given cards and gifts to celebrate their moving on.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A new compatibility risk assessment has been implemented which evidences the risks and historical information that will be considered as part of a new young person moving into the home. However, this is yet to be tested as there have not been any young people move in since it was introduced.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people feel safe and are kept safe by the staff who know them well and understand their individual needs and vulnerabilities. Staff follow procedures diligently to fully promote young people’s needs, welfare and safety. For example, they balance risk with supporting independence, by enabling a young man to have free time socialising with friends, with regular monitoring by staff. Although this practice is working well because staff are vigilant, the individual risk assessment had not been updated to reflect this positive change and evidence of clear progress for the young person.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All staff have attended safeguarding training and are clear about their roles and responsibilities and therefore respond appropriately to all safeguarding concerns. Such as when concerns have been highlighted around staff practice, immediate action is taken by the Registered Manager to ensure a swift investigation. This includes notifying all relevant safeguarding professionals and when necessary suspending staff. This demonstrates robust, fair and transparent safeguarding practice.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some young people have gone missing from care, although there has been a reduction in frequency. On the occasions this has happened, staff have acted quickly, and followed procedures and risk assessments to secure the young person’s safe return home. For example, They have actively looked for young people, visiting family and friends to try to locate them. When young people return home, they are greeted warmly; staff discuss the events with them to determine the reasons for the absence and develop strategies to prevent recurrence.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Although local authorities have not completed independent return home interviews, the provider has challenged this and has funded a local resource to carry out these interviews. This provides young people with an opportunity to discuss any concerns with someone independent and the manager uses the information provided as a further opportunity for learning. One young person said ‘I know they will come looking for me and will ring and call my friends to find me.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some young people are making progress in their educational attendance and attainment. However, a young person who moved to the home on a short term plan, while his local authority secured a residential school placement, is still without a suitable education provision. The Registered Manager has challenged this continually and has raised his concerns around the ongoing delays with both the local authority and education department. The provider has sourced a home tutor to bridge this gap in education and has designed a skills based plan, which he completes daily with staff support. This is helping the young person to develop essential independence skills and increase his confidence in the community.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have now all received professional supervision and team meetings are held on a regular basis. This provides an opportunity for staff to reflect on their professional’s development and practice. One staff member said ‘supervision takes place regularly and has helped develop my practice. We have specific tasks set after each session looking at the Quality standards and how we meet them.’ The Registered Manager has introduced a number of audit and quality assurance systems to support ongoing improvement and development in the home.

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Information about this children's home

This is a privately run children’s home for four young people.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

19/02/2015 CH - Interim improved effectiveness

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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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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 staff continually and actively assess he risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. Where there are safeguarding concerns for a child, there placement plan, agreed between the home and the placing authority, must include details of the steps to be taken by the home to manage any assessed risk on a day to day basis. With particular regard to ensuring that the home's risk assessments consistently reflect the placing authorities. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, paragraph 9.5, page 42).

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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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