Children's Home run by New Start in Knowsley

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 Registered Manager has been in post for almost a year. He is a very experienced manager who came from another home within the organisation. During the past year he has worked tirelessly to build a strong team. He has updated and changed numerous documents within the home and has placed a strong emphasis on recording with care and staff training. This has seen the staff grow in confidence. As a result, they are working well together as a team.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is in the process of updating the Statement of Purpose. This is because they have made the decision to no longer accept emergency placement,due to the potential to have a detrimental effect upon other young people in the home. This decision was taken following an effective review of the placements over the last 12 months. The Registered Manager said this will help to build stability in the home and to ensure that all necessary information is received prior to a young person being admitted. The Statement of Purpose now reflects who will undertake the supervision of the school staff and the psychotherapist.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have undertaken a range of training recently on PREVENT, FGM, child trafficking, child sexual exploitation and counter terrorism. The home worked in partnership with Knowsley S.H.E.I.L.D to access some training of which a number of the course have been on line. As a result, the Registered Manager initiated supplementary training and discussions to ensure staff have taken on board their learning and are able to effectively implement this in to practice. Learning zones are now part of staff meetings and a recent one was undertaken on safeguarding. Staff are provided with various scenarios involving young people and staff to ensure they are fully aware of their roles and responsibilities; in particular, concerning whistleblowing. Consequently, staff have a secure understanding of the action they should take to protect young people from harm.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Record keeping in the home is improving. The Registered Manager regular monitors the records and takes swift action to address any shortfalls. For example, during a recent missing from care episode he identified that staff were not recording in detail all of the action they had taken to try and locate the young person. This was rectified and subsequent information in the chronology shows the effective action taken.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The placement plans and risk assessments are regularly updated. However, the placement plans do not always accurately reflect the action staff are taking to support young people. For example, how they are helping them to manage their challenging behaviours. In one case the plan alludes to a young persons’ challenging and extreme behaviour, but does not say what this is. The plan does not make clear that the young person has in the past made racially and homophobic comments to staff and others. All staff are aware of the young person’s needs and are working with him to help him develop coping strategies. This is a recording issue but could result in staff not being consistent when managing challenging situations.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Monitoring by the Registered Manager is robust and enables him to make positive changes within the home. Such as the introduction of a racial abuse policy which, clarifies the action staff are to take should any incidents occur.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person is in full time education at the school on site and is doing well. She has moved on to completing written work something she has previously refused to do. She is to take foundation exams in the next few months and said she feels ‘ok’ about doing these. The other young person is currently engaging for two hours a day. The Registered Manager is holding a meeting with education colleagues about this as currently there is not a clear plan in place to increase this.

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Information about this children's home

The home is one of three owned and managed by a private provider. It is registered to care for four young people who may have emotional and behavioural difficulties, learning difficulties and/or disabilities or mental health issues.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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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 maintain all of the records which include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child, in particular placement plans are sufficiently detailed. (Regulation 36 (1) (a)) 29/04/2016

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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 expectations of behaviour are clear, unambiguous and are consistently applied (The Guide to the Quality Standards page 39, paragraph 8.11)

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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

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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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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