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 requires improvement at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person’s progress, experience and outcomes remain steady since the last inspection. This is supported by a stable and experienced staff team that provides consistency for him to settle, feel safe and develop. This is particularly evident in staff working hard to build a positive relationship with him.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person now undertakes a variety of activities, for example joining a rugby team and attending rugby training sessions, playing basketball and a number of outward bound activities including rock climbing. The young person has access to a gym and a music studio in a local youth centre.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been progress in education, but this can be limited because of exclusions. When this happens, the young person receives home tuition. At the time of the last inspection, a recommendation was made to ensure that the young person in placement has access to a computer and internet to facilitate further studies. Some progress has been made, in that the staff report that they have been ordered, but no clear date for installation could be found. Staff in the home have undertaken internet safety training last year. This may need refreshing once the equipment is installed in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some presenting behaviours upon admission to the home by the young person have improved and behaviour is managed well. There have been no complaints by the young person, and all notifications of significant events are reported to the appropriate persons.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager is currently working on the development plan for the home for the next six months and will supply this to Ofsted in due course. Independent visits to the home are conducted regularly to monitor the care that the young person receives. The approach to reporting the findings of visits has improved, although this is in its infancy. There is scope for better future evaluations of the visits made.

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Information about this children's home

This home is owned by a private provider and is registered to provide care to one child or young person with emotional behavioural difficulties (EBD).

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

15/12/2015 CH - Full Requires improvement

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:  Ensure that young people have access to a computer and the internet to support their education and learning, unless there are specific safeguarding reasons why this would be inappropriate (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 29, paragraph 5.19).

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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 that 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 whom 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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