Children's home run by Independent Living Services (North West) Limited in St. Helens

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last 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

The registered manager has taken effective action to meet the requirements and recommendations made at the last inspection. The statement of purpose has been updated and provided to Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector (HMCI), medication and behaviour management policies have been revised and discussions have taken place with all staff in team meetings, to ensure that they are fully aware of the service objectives and their roles and responsibilities.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people benefit from individualised and exceptionally well-planned care, from a committed and enthusiastic team and knowledgeable manager. The high quality care provided by staff empowers young people to make and sustain excellent progress in all areas of their lives, including education and health. Carefully planned contact with families is helping young people to sustain important relationships, and for some children, successfully return to their families.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Social workers confirm that young people are actively supported in making the right choices, and any areas of concern are highlighted and effectively addressed. A social worker commented, ’I receive weekly updates that provide a clear overview of the progress (young person) is making, this is very helpful.’ Some young people have lived at the home for a considerable period of time and remain settled and happy. This demonstrates that they are being provided with stability and continuity of care.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Transitions are carefully planned for young people moving into the home, and for the three young people who have moved out. Young people have been included in developing and reviewing their plans to ensure that they are fully involved and consulted throughout. One young person had spoken to the manager about the plan being too long and this was causing anxieties. The plan was adapted and the young person had increased overnight stays with his family. This was successful and the young person returned to live with his family. He has continued to make very good progress, completing his education and maintaining positive friendships in the community.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are provided with opportunities to have a say about the running of the home and any planned changes. They were recently involved in updating the children’s guide and developed a new section with their thoughts about the home. This included ‘if you are upset or angry you can talk to someone about it, the staff will try and help you and you will feel better’ and ‘You can change the colours in your bedroom, your keyworker will help you.’ They had also developed a ‘have your say board’, where their ideas, thoughts or suggestions about anything within the home can be recorded. This included suggestions around new foods and activities they may like to try. One young person had written, ‘Can I have a change of food in my packed lunch?’ This was actioned by his keyworker and he had the opportunity to go shopping and buy the food he likes. Young people report that ‘staff always listen to them’, ‘take their complaints seriously’ and ‘try hard to sort

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

things out for them’. This clearly evidences meaningful engagement and consultation with young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff effectively support and address the behavioural needs of young people. Established relationships, coupled with good risk and behaviour management plans, are diverting young people from unsafe behaviours and enhancing their safety. Staff constantly praise, reward and celebrate the achievements of young people. This is supporting young people to develop their emotional resilience and understand the benefits of positive behaviour. Staff work with young people to help them identify ways to express their frustration or distress in a safer way, without resorting to aggression. Consequently, the need for punitive behaviour management strategies, such as withdrawing privileges, is reducing as behaviour is clearly improving.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff effectively use their training in de-escalation to help prevent the need for physical restraint. Restraint is only used when necessary, to protect young people from causing harm to themselves or others. However, some restraint records did not include all relevant information. For example, there was no detail of how injuries, to staff and young people, were sustained or include the action taken by staff following an injury. This was discussed with the registered manager, who acknowledged the errors and identified ways of improving them, including recording all of the information in one document rather than in several different places.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager and staff work effectively with other professionals, such as allocated social workers, child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) and education professionals. As a result, young people are receiving expert support from all relevant services to move forward with their lives. Professionals praise the work of the home, citing clear evidence of young people making and sustaining progress. Comments made included ‘the registered manager is very experienced and keeps very high standards in the home’ and ‘Very homely atmosphere, staff interact in a natural and relaxed way with young people who had made excellent progress.’ This good practice ensures that young people receive integrated and comprehensive care that addresses their wide-ranging needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Strong and effective leadership and clear monitoring systems are in place to continually review the quality of care provided and improve outcomes for young people. Staff report that they are supported in their roles and have regular supervision sessions, to enable them to reflect on their practice and highlight any areas of development. A member of staff said, ‘The manager is fair but strict, but only wants the best for the young people. Supervision and staff meetings are helpful and take place on a regular basis, but we can talk to the manager if we need to in-between.’ As a result, the team is settled, content and dedicated to their roles, which is reflected in the high quality of care provided and young people’s continued progress.

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Information about this children's home

The home is run by a private company providing care for up to four children and young people 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

12/08/2014 Interim Declined in 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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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that: within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes: the name of the child; details of the child's behaviour leading to the use of the measure; the date, time and location of the use of the measure; a description of the measure and its duration; details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure; the name of the person who used the measure (’the user’), and of any other person present when the measure was used; the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)) 31/03/16

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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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