Children's Home run by Considerate Care Limited in Liverpool

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

There is a new acting manager in place. She has submitted a full application to Ofsted to become the registered manager. She is suitably qualified and has been a registered manager at a previous establishment for a significant number of years. She is support by a well-qualified deputy manager and a long-standing staff team. She has spent a good period getting to know the young people and staff and this is evident in the excellent improvements made since the homes last inspection. Young people are making measurable progress across all areas of their lives because they are very well supported by a consistent and well-qualified, staff team. The new acting manager has had a significant impact on having the young people’s voice heard and in motivating the staff team. One staff said, ‘She has been instrumental in ensuring that young people are involved in their care and that their views, wishes, and feelings are sought in all matters.’ He continued to say,

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

’She is totally child centred and is striving for the best possible outcomes for them.’ Young people are prepared well for leaving the home and there are now good transition plans in place. These reflect the work, research, professional views, and young people’s thoughts around them moving on. Good contingency plans ensure that if plans break down, alternative plans are quickly followed. The staff have completed an outstanding area of work for a young person whose plan is to move into foster care. She will be meeting several foster carers to make a decision on who she would like to live with. Staff have helped her to draw up at list of her criteria of what she would like such as them having a pet, her own room and her favourite past times. She has completed a profile about herself so the foster carers know a little about her. These include what subjects she likes at school and how they should manage her behaviour such as giving her space. In addition to this,

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

she has also put together a form that she can complete after the visit of their answers and her experience. A member of staff said, ‘As she is seeing several foster carers this will help her remember each couple and she will be able to reflect on this before making a decision.’ These excellent practices ensure that the young person is well-prepared and is fully involved in the process. Young people attend school placements that have been sourced to meet their individual educational needs. Staff work closely with the schools to ensure that young people progress well. For example, one young person sees an educational psychologist on a weekly basis. These appointments were happening in a morning session and this affected the young person being able to focus in the afternoon. This meant her attendance was falling. The manager discussed moving it to the end of the school day and this allowed staff to meet her and give her the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

emotional support that she needed. As a result, her attendance has greatly improved. In addition to this, good educational plans show what additional support is required, their academic level and future plans for further education. Therefore, young people have very good attendance at school; they are progressing in line with their peers and they are looking at plans for their future careers. Young people are in good health and routinely attend all health appointments. Some young people receive extra support with their emotional health from psychologists or therapists. When young people have struggled with health concerns of their parents, the home ensured that they receive excellent support. For example, the manager has got them additional information off the internet from the association for young people with parents with substance misuse illnesses. The manager said, ‘Often are young people take on the blame or do not

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

know how to deal with the issues that arise. There are leaflets available that explain the signs and symptoms and discuss that it is not the young person’s fault. Staff are using these to help young people manage their emotions.’ Young people are also given the telephone numbers that offer additional confidential support from this service. There is also a youth club that they can access. Young people’s mental and emotional health is improving because of these good practices within the home. All safeguarding issues or concerns are robustly reported, monitored, and acted upon. One young person was placed for her own safety and the home is working closely with the police on the current investigation. One young person was persistently reported as being missing and continued to return to his parets. A strategy meeting took place and it was agreed that given his age and that he refused to engage in any work with the home, other professionals, incentives and

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

safety work that he would be moved to a semi-independence setting. A clear transition plan was put in place and he moved. Before he left the staff ensured that he had the essential things such as bedding, kitchen utensils, and soft furnishings. They tried to celebrate his time at the home by scheduling several meals out but he did not engage in this. However, since he has left he has remained in touch with the home. The other young people have significantly reduced their episodes of being reported missing from home because of the good incentives in place, the safety work completed within key worker sessions and the good routines, structure and boundaries within the home. As a result, they have not been reported missing for a significant period of time. Staff are fully trained in all aspects of safeguarding and demonstrated a good knowledge of the protocols to follow and agreed actions to take. These are highlighted within young people’s risk assessments and they are

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

updated regularly to reflect any changes. This means staff work consistently in their approach with young people. Staff receive regular support through month staff meetings and supervision. Staff talked about the improvements the new manager has made in these areas. They said that staff meetings were more purposeful and open. For example, the Regulation 44 report findings around the quality of care is shared with them and any suggestions of how to improve is fully discussed. All staff have now received their appraisal. As part of this, the manager devised a form to capture the young people’s views. She sat with them and discussed the Children’s Homes Regulations and Quality Standards to get their opinion on how well staff do things or what they could do better. This means that the manager has been able to share with staff areas for improvement for their development and recognise their good practice.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This shows that young people are fully included in their care. There have been many improvements in capturing the young person’s voice within the home. For example, young people’s meetings have improved and they have seen their requests responded to such as having a smoothie maker and snack boxes. The manager personally responds in writing so it can be fed back to the young people at their next meeting. The manager robustly monitors the effectiveness of sanctions and young people are now given the opportunity to choose a sanction or complete a reparation task. For example, one young person was given three alternatives for coming in late and she choose to have an earlier bedtime. In addition to this, the manager has challenged staff around including personal comments and for heavily sanctioning young people for things that have happened in school where they have already received a consequence. She said, ‘It

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

is important that records are factual and that young people are treated fairly. I have discussed with staff that incidents in school would be more appropriate and important to discuss within key worker sessions to help them improve or to discuss any concerns they may have.’ There has been no complaints made since the homes last inspection but the manager has discussed with young people that complaints are not a negative thing. She has told them by raising issues helps her improve things within the home. A member of staff said, ‘Prior to the new manager coming, we thought that we knew best and we were the adults. But because of the managers approach we are looking at things differently and really listening to young people. This has made a marked improvement on them taking responsibility for their actions and being at the forefront of their care.’ The outcome of these approaches is that young people’s behaviour has significantly improved.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection, the manager identified that the independent visitor was not robustly monitoring the care within the home because she was not consulting with the young people or monitoring the records within the home well. Therefore, she has identified another independent service to complete these. She said, ‘They are a lot better because they visit at the weekend or evening when young people are in, so they talk to them about their care.’ In addition to this, they have identified improvements or good practice issues for the home to consider. For example, the manager has put in place two key workers per young people, so sickness, absence, or annual leave is covered. The independent person suggested having a protocol in place to share information between them. The manager said that this was an area that she had not thought about and has now been able to address. This shows that the home is continuing to improve and young people are benefiting from the good

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Information about this children's home

This privately run children’s home can accommodate up to four young people with emotional or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

17/03/2015 CH - Interim sustained effectiveness

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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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