Children's home run by New Start 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

The home continues to be managed by a qualified and experienced Registered Manager. She is enthusiastic and committed to improving outcomes for young people. This enthusiasm is infectious and permeates throughout the staff team. Staff have a secure understanding of the young person’s needs and are meeting them well in practice. For example, initiating and supporting contact with family who are important to him by going on bowling activities. This means he is able to build and maintain positive relationships with his family.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Recording in the home has improved. For example the admissions and discharge book is now completed correctly. This is because the Registered Manager created a detailed aid memoire for staff. This outlines all of the information to be included in the record and who needs to be notified of a young person’s admission or discharge from the home. This document is now being shared with the other homes in the organisation as an example of good practice.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The workforce development plan is now a working document and outlines what the home wants to achieved in the forthcoming year and how they are going to do this. The manager has conducted an analytical report of the placements over the last year and the reasons for them ending and what staff can learn from this. This evaluative report enabled her to pinpoint areas of development, such as the impact of not receiving all of the relevant information prior to accepting a placement. As a result, she is assertive and is confident to challenge to placing authorities on the information provided. Consequently, she has refused to take placements until the necessary information is clarified.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This means the young person who is coming to home in the next two weeks has undertaken a well-planned and thorough indication to the home. Her school placement has been confirmed, so that there is no break in her education. She has attended tea visits and one overnight. Consequently, she is happy with the move and has had the opportunities to meet the staff and the other young person in the home. The manager analysed the incidents of poor, inappropriate behaviour and missing from care and staff’s responses to this. This included looking at out of borough placement and their proximity to home that had a negative impact upon the young person. This has resulted in more detailed impact risk assessment being undertaken to ensure placements are in the best interests of the child and prompted further training for staff on managing difficult behaviour.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager’s monitoring of the home is more robust and is more effective at identifying shortfalls, the action needed to address this. For example, she is reviewing the recording systems in the home. She has recently introduced a new complaints record to ensure all information is captured this has not yet been tested out in practice. All staff bar one has undertaken CHANNEL training to enhance their awareness of this important area of work.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Missing from care for the current young person has significantly declined as it had for other young people living here. This is because the Registered Manager and staff work in partnership with other agencies to identify risks to young people and then implement effective strategies to minimise these. On the day of inspection, the young person had left school. Staff acted quickly to report him missing and to make contact with his family and all known associates. This resulted in him being located quickly and returning home safely.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Monitoring by the independent person is currently under review by the registered provider. This is to ensure they effectively challenge the manger and the correct level of scrutiny of records is taking place.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The current young person has lived her for a few months. He said he is happy and settled here, although he would like more free time, his television back and to move bedrooms. He understands why he has limited free time, but would like to earn more. He is going to speak with the Registered Manager about this. He said he feels safe here and can talk to the staff about anything that is worrying him.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

He admits to struggling at school and has spoken to the Registered Manager about this and he said she is looking into this for him. He said he knew he should not have walked out of school but it was that or hitting someone. Overall, he felt he made the better option. Staff are aware of the issues in school and are liaising closely with them to minimise these.

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Information about this children's home

The home is one of three owned and managed by a private company. The home is registered to care for four young people with emotional and or behavioural difficulties or learning difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

05/03/2015 CH - Interim sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

19/03/2014 CH - Interim Satisfactory Progress

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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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