Children's Home run by PIC Children’s Services in Sefton

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

In the short time between the two inspections the Registered Manager has taken positive steps to address the shortfalls identified. The home has employed a new member of staff and they are currently undertaking their induction.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered person has taken steps to address the lack of scrutiny and evaluation in the independent person’s reports. A new report format has been devised and will come into effect in March. The effectiveness of this reporting will be fully evaluated at the next inspection. Similarly reporting by the Registered Manager cannot be fully assessed due to the short time frame between inspections. The operations manager said, the Registered Manager has been heavily involved in redesigning the formats for the monitoring of the home and is confident this will result in clearer oversight and identify what the home does well and the areas for improvement.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Action has been taken to provide young people with access to computers and the internet in the home. Contracts have been signed and the home is awaiting an installation date. Computers have been purchased for young people. This will mean they will be able to spontaneously research for employment, housing and education. In the interim period the young person continues to use the internet at his friends’ houses or in internet cafes so that he can apply for and search for employment. The young person refused to attend the Princes Trust and remains out of education. He is now searching for employment and has applied for several jobs and sent his curriculum vitae to a number of shops and businesses. He is provided with good support in his endeavours by staff and connexions.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A number of risk assessment have been updated and now provide greater insight into the perceived risks for the young person and the action taken by staff to minimise this. However, these have not been updated in relation to an incident where the young people let an unknown male into the home. This resulted in an altercation the early hours of the morning when the police were called. The recording of this incident is not robust. This is because it does not provide information as to how the young person got past the member of staff, the action taken by the police, the dates do not correlate with information in the risk assessment, and log book. The Registered Manager has not evaluated the report and the risk assessment do not say what action other than to fit a new lock to the door is needed. Staff said new lock up procedures are in place of a night but this is not recorded anywhere. Ultimately this can result in inconsistencies in the way this

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

is applied by staff. Therefore, records do not show how the home has kept the young person safe.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The incident has not been scrutinised by the independent person as part of their monitoring of the home. Ofsted has not been notified of the incident, this was an oversight by the Registered Manager and did not influence the care provided.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person’s health care plan and placement plan now reflect the actual care offered to him. However, his risk assessments and plan do not say what to do should he return under the influence of cannabis or alcohol. This means an inconsistent approach is taken to supporting him for example not all staff contacting NHS direct for medical advice. The young person wrote in his plan that he, ‘doesn’t feel he has any issues with his health. He does not want any help from professionals.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The safety and wellbeing of the young person has improved. This is because the stair carpet has been replaced and their bedroom has been treated for the mould on the wall, but continues to smell strongly of aerosols. The young person’s usage of aerosols continues to a massive concern. He does appear to have reduced his usage in the last two months but his only amounts to his usage in the home. The Registered Manager and staff continue to work with a range of professional to support him in making positive steps to reduce this further. The young person was out at the time of inspection and did not want to speak to the inspector in person.

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Information about this children's home

The home is owned and managed by a limited company. It is registered to provide care and support for two children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

15/12/2015 CH - Full Requires improvement

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Recent inspection history

18/03/2015 CH - Interim declined in effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

26/02/2014 CH - 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

12: The protection of children standard In order to meet the protection of children standard the registered person must ensure; 12. - (2) (a) that staff – (iii) have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; (b) that the home's day-to- day care is arranged and delivered in so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. In particular ensure risk assessments are sufficiently detailed, clearly identify the risks and the action taken to address these. Incident reports are sufficiently detailed and include the action to take when a young person is/or may be under influence of drugs or alcohol. 14/04/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if an incident requiring the police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious ( Regulation 40 (4) (b)) 14/04/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Ensure the registered manager makes best use of the independent and internal monitoring of the home to ensure continuous improvement with particular regard to the scrutiny of records and care provided, identifying shortfalls and the action taken to address these. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 55, paragraph 10.24)

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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

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Information about this inspection

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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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