Children's home run by After Care (NW) Limited in Sefton

Requires improvement

The children's home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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The children's home provision requires improvement because:

 Young people are not routinely safeguarded against bullying within the home, with staff failing to follow the provider’s anti-bullying policy and procedures.  Where damage has been caused to furniture or other areas of the home, this has not been repaired or replaced in a timely manner. This does not then provide a consistently well-maintained or welcoming home environment and could present safety issues if not addressed.  Insufficient staffing means that young people are not always safeguarded and the individual needs of each young person are not being met.  Some of the records that the home is required to maintain are not in place, in particular, health plans and placement plans. This hinders the formal processes needed to monitor young people’s progress and to properly address how identified needs are met.  The statement of purpose had recently been updated, but it still does not reflect the ethos and objectives of the home. Therefore, key stakeholders

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The children's home provision requires improvement because:

and young people do not have access to information that they need to know.  Managers have failed to ensure that there is appropriate monitoring within the home to adequately review the quality of care and identify areas for improvements.  Safer recruitment procedures have not been adhered to and fail to safeguard the young people and minimise any potential risks to them.  Monitoring of the home is ineffective as potential risks are not identified and addressed. Internal monitoring of the home fails to identify weaknesses in practice, such as those found by the inspectors.

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The children's home strengths

 Young people are cared for by a committed staff team.  Young people who previously had been at high risk of child sexual exploitation are now safer and have significantly reduced the risks that they formerly faced.  Young people have made progress within their education provision.  Staff work well with other professionals to support young people.  Young people are supported to maintain contact with important people in their lives. This enables young people to maintain their identity.

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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

5: Engaging with the wider system to ensure children's needs are met In order to meet the engaging with the wider system standard, the registered person must— (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. 6 June 2016

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Requirement Due date

12: The protection of children standard In order to meet the protection of children standard the provider must— (1) The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— (a) that staff— (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; (ii) help each child to understand how to keep safe; (iii) have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; (v) understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; (vi) take effective action whenever there is a serious concern 6 June 2016 about a child's welfare; and (vii) are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home's

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Requirement Due date

child protection policies; (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; (d) that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child's health; and (e) that the effectiveness of the home's child protection policies is monitored regularly. This specifically relates to staff failing to follow anti-bullying policies and damaged furniture not repaired or replaced in a timely manner.

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard In order to meet the leadership and management standard the provider must— (1) The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children's home that— (a) helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and (b) promotes their welfare. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— (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; (c) ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; (d) ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child; (f) understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality

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Requirement Due date

of care provided in the home; (h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. 6 June 2016 16: Statement of purpose The registered person must keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it and notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision (Regulation 16 (3)(a)(b)). 6 June 2016

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Requirement Due date

32: Fitness of workers The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children's safety. The registered person may only employ an individual to work at the children's home if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3). 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; and full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2 (Regulation 32 (1)(2)(a)(3)(a)(b)(d)). 6 June 2016

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Requirement Due date

44: Independent person: visits and reports (2) When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person— (a) if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires; and (b) to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home's records (except for a child's case records, unless the child and the child's placing authority consent) as the independent person requires. The independent person must produce a report about a visit ("the independent person's report") which sets out, in particular, the independent person's opinion as to whether, children are effectively safeguarded; and whether the conduct of the home promotes children's well-being (Regulation 44 (2)(a)(b)(4)(a)(b)). 6 June 2016

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Information about this children's home

This privately owned children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to four young people with emotional and behavioural needs.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

30 March 2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

2 January 2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Requires improvement

The physical environment of the home is not maintained to a high standard. The home is worn in places. Young people’s bedrooms are not kept in a good state of repair and cleanliness. For example, one young person was sleeping on a mattress on the floor. When this was brought to the attention of the manager, he reported that the bed had been broken for seven days and a new one had been ordered. During the inspection, the manager did take action to rectify this and a new bed was delivered. A further issue was identified within one of the bedrooms, where bedroom cabinets had cigarettes burns on them. Staff reported that a young person who had occupied the room previously had caused the damage. No action had been taken to replace the furniture. As a result, certain areas of the home are less than welcoming and do not provide young people with furniture to meet their needs at all times. This is not conducive to a warm, comforting environment for

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Requires improvement

young people. Care planning is not effective at meeting the needs of young people. Managers do not ensure that all relevant paperwork is obtained from placing social workers, to ensure that the home provides continuity of care in accordance with young people’s care plans. The registered person does not always challenge the placing authority effectively and in the best interests of young people. This is apparent in respect of the lack of care plans. The absence of care planning documents has resulted in the lack of bespoke interventions for young people. Staffing arrangements require improvement because the ratio of staff to young people fails to meet the needs identified in local authority plans. For example, two young people required one-to-one staffing at all times. However, on the day of the inspection, three young people were living at the home and only two staff members were rostered to work with them. This does not demonstrate how staff

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Requires improvement

are working within local authority care plans to meet the individual needs of all young people. Young people’s health and well-being is promoted in the home and their individual health needs are being addressed. Staff spend time talking to young people about their health and general well-being and provide support to attend all appointments, such as dental and optician appointments. One young person said, ‘I don’t like the dentist but I suppose you need to go.’ Young people have made progress, even in the short time that they may have been living in the home. Examples given by professionals and families include a significant reduction in risk-taking behaviour, such as criminal activity and long absences from education. A youth offending professional said, ‘The staff have been really proactive in getting him to his appointments, this has helped and he is engaging really well in our programme.’ A parent commented, ‘I know that it is

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Requires improvement

small steps, but she has been out of school for so long I am delighted that they have got her back into some sort of education.’ Young people who were at high risk of child sexual exploitation are now safer. Staff have talked to young people about the risks that they were placing themselves at, including discussions around appropriate and safe friendship groups. They have identified additional support systems that young people can use if they are vulnerable. For example, contacting the staff directly while out in the community if they feel that they are at risk. This has significantly reduced the risks that they formerly faced. One parent said, ‘We can relax a bit better because I know that she is safer living there and that puts my mind at rest a bit.’ Young people have been fully supported to develop and maintain family contact and friendships. The staff have been proactive in their approach and have re-

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Requires improvement

established links with family members. Staff fully understand how important it is for young people to keep in contact with their families. They ensure that safe and suitable arrangements are in place for young people who live a distance from their families, to maintain contact and sustain important relationships. This allows young people to maintain their sense of belonging within their families.

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Requires improvement

Some young people said that they ‘feel safe living in the home’. One young person commented, ‘It used to be a four out of ten, now it’s seven out of ten.’ However, one young person reported to staff that they had felt bullied by another young person. This was not acted upon and the provider’s procedures for bullying within the home were not followed. Systems exist for the recording of and response to such concerning behaviours, but these have not routinely been applied. This does not safeguard all young people living in the home. Staff have a positive approach to young people and use effective strategies when young people are angry or frustrated. They tailor behaviour management to each young person’s needs and clearly outline their safety and supervision needs in their behaviour support plan. Staff rarely use physical intervention but know how to do this safely. Staff prefer to talk to young people about what it is that is causing

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Requires improvement

them to be upset. Staff have positive relationships with young people, which enables them to use talking and humour effectively in most situations. Staff give measures of control for poor behaviour. These are appropriate and often take on a restorative form of putting right what young people have done wrong, rather than taking something away from them. Young people said that ‘the rules and consequences of breaking the rules are fair’. Some young people who were previously at high risk of child sexual exploitation have been supported to take measured risks in their use of social media and time spent in the community. For example, staff have ensured that a young person completed an online course for internet safety prior to having access to social media sites. The approach taken by staff has allowed the young person to take a safe and gradual return into the cyber world enjoyed by her peers. Young people who have previously persistently gone missing have greatly reduced

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Requires improvement

such incidents as they settle in the home. Staff follow good procedures when young people go missing and liaise with external professionals to ensure young people’s safety. Young people who were previously absent from education are supported by the home’s use of additional tutor sessions to help the young people catch up on GCSE work. This ensures that young people are afforded the same opportunities as their peers to attain their full potential educationally. New staff have an induction programme that includes all mandatory training and familiarisation with the home’s policy and procedures. Ongoing training has included training around child sexual exploitation and radicalisation. Supervision and annual appraisal provide opportunities for continuing development to ensure that staff have the skills and ability to help and protect the young people that the home cares for. Staff commented that they felt ‘supported’ and ‘listened to’ by

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Requires improvement

managers. This ensures that young people are looked after by a strong, knowledgeable staff team. Staff recruitment is not consistently robust. A sample of paperwork examined, including for a recent appointment, revealed that gaps in the applicant’s employment had not been addressed. Furthermore, the independent person employed by the organisation to undertake monthly monitoring of the home did not have a recruitment file. The provider also did not ensure that the independent person had a Disclosure and Barring Service check.

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Requires improvement

The home is managed by a suitably experienced and qualified manager who has a level 4 qualification in leadership and management. He is in the process of registering with Ofsted. He knows the young people extremely well and supports his staff team in their roles. Staff members comment that ‘he is very supportive’ and ‘always there for you’. Some essential documents, including statutory care and education plans were missing from young people’s files. The manager was unable to provide sufficient evidence to demonstrate that he or the team had robustly followed this up with the relevant professionals. Consequently, the home does not hold all of the information for each young person concerning their individual needs, as required by law, including consent for medical treatment. The independent monitoring of the home has been ineffective. The reports still do not provide a rigorous evaluation of the care and protection provided to young

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Requires improvement

people living in the home. Concerns, as highlighted in this inspection, have not been identified including lack of effective plans for young people, the damaged furniture and a failure to follow the organisation’s policies and procedures in relation to bullying. As a result, action to improve the quality of care within the home has been impeded. The provider has failed to obtain the appropriate permissions to allow the independent person to have sight of individual young people’s documents. The home’s statement of purpose requires updating. It currently does not clearly identify the home’s aims and objectives. When this is updated, it will provide placing social workers, parents and carers with full information about the home’s ethos and objectives. There are good professional relationships between the manager, staff, family members and professionals involved in the lives of young people. This promotes

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Requires improvement

good information sharing for the benefit of young people. A parent commented, ‘I get a weekly report, the same one that social workers get and this helps me to feel part of things and I know what’s going on.’ The manager and staff are proud of the progress that young people have made since moving into the home. They demonstrate a commitment to making further improvement in the lives of the young people who live in the home. They take pride in the young people’s achievements and celebrate differences. However, some of the language used by some staff in describing the cultural background of young people is inappropriate and requires further training in diversity and equality. The staff have received training. They are all either qualified to the required level or are in the process of achieving this qualification. They have all received mandatory training, such as physical intervention, first aid and safeguarding to

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Requires improvement

ensure that they are competent to care for the young people. Although areas of leadership and management require improvement, the manager demonstrates a commitment to improve the service He has a ‘hands on’ approach and knows the young people and their families very well. Young people commented that ‘he’s lovely and I can talk to him’ and describe him as ‘fair and friendly’.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against ‘Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection’.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place. However, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or that result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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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 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

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Information about this inspection

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

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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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