Children's home run by PIC Children’s Services in St. Helens

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 declined in effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection the leadership and management of the home has declined in effectiveness. This is because the Registered Manager spends very little time in the home, as he is overseeing an aftercare service for the organisation. Ultimately, this has had a detrimental effect upon the organisation of the home. This provides little in the way of management oversight to identify shortfalls in practice, staff supervision, and to take action to address the issues from the last inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff rota does not show when the Registered Manager is on site. Therefore, this is not an accurate reflection of the staff on duty. The responsible individual has accepted the lack of managerial oversight and is taking steps to employ a new Registered Manager who will be in in day-to-day charge of the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A significant number of issues from the previous inspection have not been addressed. The Statement of Purpose has not been updated and does not reflect the current staff team, or the support and guidance offered to young people. Similarly, a revised copy of the Statement of Purpose has not been submitted to Ofsted for some time. This does not promote transparency or provide placing authorities and parents with the correct information about the management and staffing structures in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Records including the young person’s placement plan, health care plan and behaviour plan are not current and do not provide sufficient insight into his needs and how these are being met in practice. The health care plan is ineffective because it does not reflect the issues affecting his health. For example, issues around weight loss, healthy eating, and breathing difficulties. This means there are inconsistencies in the support offered.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Risk assessments are basic and do not provide clear insight into the actual risks and what is in place to minimise or eradicate the risk. Risk assessments are not routinely updated after an incident.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Incident reports lack detail about the chain of events and what was actually said. On a number of occasions staff have failed to record significant incidents such as threats to staff. This impacts upon the homes ability to effectively monitor and evaluate any incident within the home and valuable information is lost. Subsequently, the home is not able to demonstrate how they have kept the young person safe.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some records are held electronically. However, these are not accessible to all those who need access to them and are not stored in line with the home’s data protection policy. This means information is not always held securely.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Monitoring by the Registered Manager is not robust. Shortfalls have not been identified and therefore no action has been taken to address these. Consequently, staff continue to make the same errors in recording. The Registered Manager has not completed a review of the quality of care every 6 months. This was a requirement at the last two inspections and has not been met. This impacts negatively upon the continuous development of the service. There has been some improvement in the quality of reporting by the independent person. However, this is very much in its infancy.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person is cared for by a consistent staff team who know him well. The young person is eagerly awaiting the installation of the internet in the home. This will support him in his search for further employment, education, and housing. The young person continues to do well at school and with the youth offending service (YOS) This has seen a reduction in his perceived risks from high to medium.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Contact with his family is a massive positive for him. He enjoys regular stays with his family and has successfully negotiated extended stays with them. He has a number of friends in the community with whom he spends his free time.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

He is doing well with his independence. He is confident to manage his shopping budget and is choosing healthier meal options. Staff are proud of what he has achieved. He is confident to prepare and make a selection or meals and snacks.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

He has taken ownership of his pathway plan as he has been included in its creation. Staff said he is naturally concerned about his future and where he will live. However, he is talking to them about his options so he can make an informed decision.

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Information about this children's home

The home is owned and managed by a limited company. It is registered to care for one 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

27/01/2015 CH - Interim sustained 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 maintain the records ("case records") for each child which – include the information and documentation listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child, and are kept up to date. Case records are kept securely in the children’s homes during the period when the child to whom the case records relate is accommodated. In particular, ensure the placement plan, pathway plan, health care plan, sanctions, risk assessments, incident reports, and behaviour management plans are sufficiently detailed and reflect the young person’s current needs. In addition ensure information held on electronic devices such as a laptop or pen drives are securely stored in accordance with the homes data protection principles and to prevent any loss or damage to them. (Regulation 36 (1) (a) (b) (2) (c)) 02/05/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (“the Statement of Purpose”) which covers all of the matters in schedule 1 and keep the Statement of Purpose under review and notify HMCI of any revision of the statement of purpose and send HMCI a copy of the statement within 28 days of the revision (Regulation 16 (1) (3) (a) (b)) 02/05/2016

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Requirement Due date

Maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4 in particular the staff rotas, and recording when the Registered Manager is on site. (Regulation 37 (2) (a)) 02/05/2016

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Requirement Due date

Complete a review of the quality of care provided to children ('a quality care review') at least every 6 months and supply a copy of this to HMCI within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care report is completed (Regulation 45 (1) (4) (a)) 02/05/2016 13: The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard the registered person must;

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Requirement Due date

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 homes Statement of Purpose. (b)ensure that the staff work as a team (f) understands the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home. (h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure the Registered Manager is in day-to-day charge of the home: the Statement of Purpose is up-to date and relevant and staff are appropriately supported and supervised. 02/05/2016

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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

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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