Children's home run by Care Assist Children’s Services Limited in West Lancashire

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 declined in effectiveness .

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Progress, for some young people, is limited. Particularly with regards to their emotional well-being, education and safety.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, two young people have moved into the home. One young person only remained for a short period of time and due to concerns around his continued missing from care episodes, he was moved to another home within the company. This serves only to increase young people’s feelings of insecurity and disruption to their lives. There was no evidence of transition planning and how the young person had been appropriately supported.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Contrary to the admissions policy and procedures, not all young people have benefited from a comprehensive referral, compatibility risk assessment or a thorough appraisal of their needs. Some assessments and plans were of poor quality, only listing the potential behaviours or risks and not stating how the home intends to manage them. Furthermore, they did not consider the negative impact these behaviours could have on other young people living at the home.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager’s compatibility assessment did not reflect all risks identified by the placing authority. For example, a referral clearly indicated that a young person was at risk of substance misuse. However, this was not included in the assessment. A further example states that the young person requires a solo placement and should not be placed with children. This was not followed and there is no evidence on how this matching decision was reached or further discussions held with the Local Authority about the ethos of the home. Consequently, inappropriate placements have been made because compatibility assessments are ineffective.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s welfare and protection is not adequately promoted. For example, during mornings when a young person is not in education, he is left in the home alone, whilst staff transport the other young people to their school placements. This places him at risk and there is no evidence on how this decision has been risk assessed. A further example is when young people are returning to the home under the influence of unknown substances. Staff are not closely monitoring them, or seeking medical advice, to ensure that they are safe. There are no clear strategies or guidance in place for staff to follow. A member of staff reported, ‘we all do something different.’

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Missing from care episodes had increased and although staff report that they contact young people and attempt to locate them, missing from care records do not always demonstrate that appropriate action is taken. On occasions, the date and time that young people had been missing were not recorded and in some records, the time a young person had returned was omitted. Reports had not been sent to HMCI, despite the young person being classed as a high risk of child sexual exploitation (CSE). This does not provide the service regulator with all required information to evaluate how young people are being protected.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Educational progress varies. While one young person had engaged in education and was working towards qualifications, other young people were making very little progress. In addition, the home did not have detailed education plans in place and young people did not benefit from a clear structure or routine to support their attendance and learning. This was specifically evident for young people who refused to attend their education setting. Young people remained in bed and staff showed no clear expectations around their attendance. Staff did not demonstrate high aspirations for young people’s learning and did not actively prepare and support them to re-engage with their education.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Case files containing crucial information, are not maintained or updated on a regular basis. For example, risk assessments and behaviour management plans did not contain all relevant information including information where significant events had taken place in the community and police have been involved. Additional strategies to help, support and protect young people are not being identified. For example, a young person while using her mobile staff received a telephone call of a group of unknown males. She arranged to meet them and brought to the attention of staff that she did not know how they had accessed her number or who they were. She was then dropped off, by staff at a local fast food store without any discussions or consideration of her safety. The arrangements in place for the supervision of this contact were poor and as a result, staff were unable to prevent unsafe contact. During the inspection, both young people and staff talked about the inconsistent

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

approaches used by the staff team. Young people said ‘Depending on who is on shift will depend on if I get away with anything.’ Staff confirmed there were inconsistencies within the staff team as not all staff followed the agreed boundaries and routines, which caused difficulties with young people and on some occasion’s conflict. Although staff reported that this had been discussed with managers, an inconsistent approach was still evident.

p.4

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Parts of the home’s environment were poor. Young people’s bedrooms were unclean and had clothes strewn across the floor, and dirty plates with food left in corners of the rooms. Curtains had been pulled down and En-suite bathrooms were unclean. Staff report that they had been told ‘they (staff) are not allowed in young people’s bedrooms, it’s their responsibility’. During the inspection, the inspector brought to staff’s attention drug paraphernalia on the sideboard of a young person’s bedroom and the room smelled strongly of cannabis. While staff took immediate action to remove the equipment, the home’s daily routine had not enabled staff to notice this sooner.

p.4

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Not all of requirements raised at the last inspection had been met. Rotas still do not clearly show which staff were on duty and the times they were coming on and leaving shift. The Registered Manager is only recorded as on shift for two days a week, this does not demonstrate effective day–to-day management of the home. There were no managers on site or available during the inspection to provide access to both the supervision and recruitment files. Therefore, they were unable to provide evidence that staff supervision is now taking place on regular basis and all relevant recruitment checks are completed.

p.4

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Despite these failing, staff have supported young people to access all planned health appointments and there have been improvements in their general wellbeing. A new young person’s guide had been devised and medication procedures had been updated and showed clear and accurate records. Young people are provided with opportunities to develop their independent living skills. Work with them on improving their cooking, shopping and budgeting helps to prepare young people for when they come to leave care.

p.4

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.5

Recent inspection history

02/02/2015 Interim sustained effectiveness

p.5

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

5: Engaging with the wider system to ensure children's needs are met In order to meet the engaging the wider system standard , the registered persons must, and must ensure that staff –

p.6

Requirement Due date

(5)(c) If the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority's or a relevant person's performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child's needs are met in accordance with the child's relevant plans; 29/04/2016

p.6

Requirement Due date

I order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered persons must ensure that staff –

p.6

Requirement Due date

(2) (a) (i) assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child's relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child; (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 so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. 29/04/2016

p.6

Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard

p.6

Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard the 29/04/2016 registered persons must enable, inspire and lead a culture in relation to the children’s home that –

p.6

Requirement Due date

(1) (a) helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and (b) promotes their welfare. (2) (a) lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home's statement of purpose; (b) ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate; (e) ensure that the home's workforce provides continuity of care to each child; (h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.

p.7

Requirement Due date

In order to meet the care planning standard the registered persons must ensure that children - (1)(a) receive effectively planned care in or through the children's home; and (2) ensure— (b) that arrangements are in place to - (i) ensure the effective induction of each child into the home: (ii) manage and review the placement of each child in the home; (iii) plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with the arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority (c) that each child's relevant plans are followed; 29/04/2016

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children's safety. The requirements are that the individual is of integrity and good character; the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform. full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in schedule 2. In particular references have not been obtained for staff, and full employment histories with clarification sought around gaps in their employment. (Regulation 32 (1)(3)(a)(b)(d)) 29/04/2016 The registered person must ensure that all employees undertake appropriate continuing professional development; receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy ("the behaviour management policy") which sets out how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children's home; and the measures of control, discipline and restraint, which may be used in relation to children in the home. The registered person must keep the behaviour management policy under review and, where appropriate, revise it. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b)(2)) 29/04/2016

p.8

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.

p.9

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.

p.9

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.

p.9

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,

p.10

Information about this inspection

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

p.10

Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn.

p.10

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

p.10