Children's Home run by PIC Children’s Services in Sefton

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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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

This home was judged requires improvement at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judge that it has sustained effectiveness .

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

The home is led and managed by a qualified and experienced registered manager. She also manages another one-bedded home in St Helen’s. The home is currently unoccupied. The former resident left in April after being here from some considerable time. He has since moved into his own flat and for the first few weeks had weekly support from the staff. This meant he was able to settle into his new home and remain in contact with people who are important to him.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

The registered manager said that sadly he continues to use aerosols and has not yet gained employment or sourced any training courses. This is despite the consistent support he received from the manger and staff. They worked tirelessly to encourage him to engage with education and/or employment. He spoke with various employment and education advice services, but chose not to pursue any options put forward to him.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

The home has cared for another young person for a two-week period. This was to support her move into another home within the organisation. The registered manager worked closely with the manager of the young person’s new home to ensure that all paper work was in place. The young person was effectively supported by all staff to aid the transition. However, records pertaining to her time at the home are minimal. This is because information such as care plans, risk assessments and healthcare plans were taken to her new placement. Consequently, young people’s information is not securely stored when they leave and this may affect their ability to review these in later years.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Monitoring of the home is not yet robust. Monitoring by the registered manager is improving and she is able to analyse specific patterns and trends, such as a young person’s aerosol usage. Consequently, she is able to adapt care practice to further support young people. Monitoring by the independent person is slowly becoming more evaluative. However, their reports are not sent to the registered manager or Ofsted in a timely manner. This impacts on the registered manager’s ability to address any issues that have arisen. The statement of purpose does not provide a clear picture of the care provided in the home. It contains incorrect information, for example, referring to the national minimum standards and does not contain Ofsted’s contact details. It does not outline the registered manager’s managerial responsibilities concerning the second home or the arrangements for deputising for her.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

The manager took effective action to ensure that Ofsted is informed of all significant incidents, such as the police being called to the home. This effectively promotes transparency. The home’s staff team are currently deployed to work in other homes in the organisation. Staff hold the required qualifications or are working towards these.

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Information about this children's home

The home is one of several owned and manged by a private company. It is registered for two 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

10/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

18/03/2015 Interim Declined in 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 within the given timescales.

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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 the matters listed in Schedule 1 (Regulation 16 (1)) 12/08/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain all of the records which include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child, in particular records are held in a secure place when the young person has ceased to be accommodated. (Regulation 36 (1) (2) (d)) 12/08/2016

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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 the registered manager makes best use of the independent and internal monitoring of the home to ensure continuous improvement. In particular, reports from the independent person are received by the registered manager and Ofsted in a timely fashion to inform the monitoring of the home and enable effective action to be initiated with regards to shortfalls, patterns or trends. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24)

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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 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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