Children's home run by After Care (NW) 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 declined in effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been a considerable amount of disruption at the home since the last inspection, which has impacted on young people’s progress and experiences.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Three young people have moved from the home in the past four months. Transition planning for two was appropriate and these young people moved on in a positive way. However, the third young person, who had made noticeable progress, moved in an emergency and did not have the same positive experience. She was due to move to semi-independence and her placing authority had served notice on her placement. During the notice period, her behaviour deteriorated and staff could not encourage her to engage with her education or keep her safe. Throughout this time, incidents of missing and the risk of child sexual exploitation (CSE) increased. Staff struggled to manage her aggressive behaviour and on two occasions, they called the police to the home for support. On the last occasion, she was arrested and charged with criminal damage and her placement ended. This did not provide the young person with a positive ending to her time at the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Another young person who recently moved into the home is settling in and is starting to make some progress. Her social worker is very pleased with the placement and the progress she has made since moving into the home, especially with regards to her education. She has started to re-engage with her education and attends the company’s tutor for one hour per day. Prior to moving to the home, she was constantly going missing and did not attend school at all. In addition to this, staff are working with the education department to source a suitable school for her to eventually attend. The social worker was also highly complementary of the manager and the positive relationships that staff are already developing with the young person. Although there was evidence of partnership working with the education department and placing social worker, there was no clear plan in place to demonstrate how the home intends to further progress with the young person’s

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

education. The home has not yet received her statement of educational needs and there was no confirmation of this being followed up. Consequently, this young person is not yet benefitting from effectively planned care where targets and strategies for continued progress are identified.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Prior to young people moving into the home the Registered Manager undertakes compatibility risk assessments. However, these assessments do not address all potential risks. For example, they had not assessed the potential impact of placing two young people together who are both known to be at risk of CSE. On two occasions both young people went missing together and met up with older males. There was no evidence of the home anticipating this risk or ensuring that measures were in place to prevent it. Effective strategies have since been put in place and specialist CSE and sexual health services are now working with young people to help them to understand their vulnerabilities and learn how to keep themselves safe.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Most staff are skilled at developing warm trusting relationships with young people and this helps them to manage behaviour effectively. On one occasion two members of staff called the police to the home because a young person was refusing to go to bed and making a noise. The manager acknowledged that calling the police on this occasion was unnecessary and placed the young person at risk of criminalisation. This demonstrates inconsistency in staff’s practice and undermines the development of respectful and trusting relationships within the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

In the main, most staff manage and record significant events appropriately and in line with company policy. However, not all safeguarding incidents have been recorded. This includes an incident where a young person went on to make an allegation against two members of staff. This highlights shortfalls in some staff’s understanding of their safeguarding roles and responsibilities, in particular, the importance of recording information to support future investigations.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, there have been several sudden changes in the staff team. One member of staff was dismissed following an investigation into unsafe practice and a further two members of staff are currently suspended, pending an investigation into a safeguarding allegation. Consequently, to avoid using agency staff, the manager has covered vacant shifts herself and this has impacted on her ability to focus on all management tasks. Three out of the four requirements raised at the last inspection have not been adequately met. Staff’s annual appraisals are still outstanding; therefore, opportunities to evaluate staff’s practice have been missed. The managers monthly monitoring is still not highlighting all errors in staff’s recordings, such as, inconsistencies in young people’s placement plans and missing details in the home’s admissions book. Although the manager has swiftly addressed all allegations and consistently reported these concerns to the local

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

designated safeguarding officer, she has not informed Ofsted of each incident as required.

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Information about this children's home

This privately owned home provides care and accommodation for two 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

27/01/2015 Interim sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

12/02/2014 Interim Satisfactory Progress

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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

In order to meet the positive relationship standard, the registered person must –

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Requirement Due date

11 (2) (viii) ensure that staff strive to gain each child's respect and trust. 29/04/2016

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard the registered person must ensure that staff –

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Requirement Due date

12 (2) (i) assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child's relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child; and (v) understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person. 29/04/2016

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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

13 (2) (a) lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home's statement of purpose; (b) ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate; 29/04/2016 (d) ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child; (h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.

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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; and, (b) have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. 29/04/2016

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that all employees have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4) (c)) 29/04/2016

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Requirement Due date

Notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40 (4) (c)) 29/04/2016

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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. procedures set out in 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

regulates and inspects to 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

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Information about this inspection

Policy Team, 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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