Children's home run by Autism Initiatives (UK) in Sefton

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged outstanding 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

Young people continue to thrive of living here. This is because of the extremely warm, caring, and nurturing relationship they have with staff. A social worker said, ‘they are a highly professional staff team. I cannot praise them enough they are wonderful. They are so person centred, but also family centred’.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are extremely happy and settled. They thoroughly enjoy spending time with their friend’s whether it is at the swimming pool or chilling in the lounge areas. Parents said the staff are ‘wonderful and we could not ask for more for our children’. Young people are much more confident and enjoy the opportunities to engage with visitors in the home. One young person was eager for me to play ‘candy crush’ with him. He again played ‘jokes’ on me by raising the skill level so that it was impossible for me to complete the level. He tutted and shook his head at my failure telling me ’again.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are taking a greater interest in their own safety. A young person checked I was supposed to be in the home, by taking the Registered Manager to the staff board to make sure my picture was there. He settled and indicated to the Registered Manager that it was ok that I was in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Other young people eagerly called various staff in to the lounge to dance with her to her favourite music. Her laughter resonated around the home as she laughed in delight and told them how well or poorly they danced. Young people are increasing in maturity and it is wonderful to see.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person has started to ask for more decorative items in her bedroom such as three-dimensional butterflies. This is a massive achievement for her that has been carefully crafted by staff over the years. As a result she is able to tolerate different things in the immediate surroundings. Another young people asked for a new bin in her room that did not depict fairies. This happened. She has since been instrumental in selecting new bedding and is very pleased with this as it is more ‘Grown-up’. Staff know the young people extremely well and are able to notice the slightest clues that something may be troubling them. This means they can take swift action to address this. For example, one young person was unusually quiet and later threw their headphones. Staff had already spoken to her prior to this, and then looked at the headphones to see they were not working. This was quickly resolved and the young person was able to enjoy her music.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The Registered Manager and staff are highly committed to providing high quality care and support to each young person. Parents said the staff fully support them and their children, for example, helping to secure the funding so that they have their ‘home for life’ in the area even though they are out of borough young people. Parents said it was important that they remained in the area to see their friends and to maintain the links with the organisation and staff. Parents said staff are always there for the children and for us.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The Registered Manager and staff continually look at ways in which to improve the service. For example, they have recently been fund raising for a sunken trampoline for the garden. The have reached their target and are in the process of purchasing this. This will provide endless fun for the young people and help to keep them fit and active.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The Registered Manager initiated a new visitors and social worker signing in book, this means it is much easier to collate information on visitors. The area location risk assessment is more detailed. It effectively takes on board the views and information from other agencies. This helps to keep young people safe. The revised format for the training matrix means it is easier to track staff’s training and to identify when refresher training is due.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All staff hold an NVQ3 or are working towards it. Young people are safeguarded because of the secure recruitment and vetting procedures. This is because the Registered Manager ensures all reference and checks are completed, suitable and signed off for each member of staff. Overall, recording in the home remains robust and tells the story of the young person’s time in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Monitoring of the home is secure. However, in recent months reports by the independent person lack any real evaluation. For example, they report missing person’s records are in place, but now how effective they are in keeping a young person safe. Also. it is not always clear to identify the specific shortfall reported. Ultimately, this takes additional time for the Registered Manager and deputies to locate the issue. This is a recording issue that may affect the homes ability to sustain continuous improvement if this was to carry on.

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Information about this children's home

The home is registered to care for up to eight young people with a learning disability. All young people considered for placement experience autistic spectrum disorder with associated communication and sensory impairment and possible learning disability. The home is owned by a national organisation. Young people who access this service access the organisation's school.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

11/02/2015 CH - Interim improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

26/03/2014 CH - Interim Satisfactory Progress

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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 person makes best use of any information from independent monitoring to ensure continuous improvement. In particular, reports are evaluative, show what the home does well and identifies any shortfalls, patterns or trends 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. 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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