Children's Home run by New Start in Knowsley

Good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children’s home provision is good because:

 Young people are cared for by a committed and supportive staff team who build positive relationships with them. Young people know that staff want what is best for them.  Young people feel safe living in the home because staff have a clear understanding of the individual risks to them. Staff work together effectively as a team and with other agencies to reduce any risks, including those associated with child sexual exploitation, substance misuse and young people going missing from the home.  Staff promote the educational and health needs of young people and provide them with access to a wide range of recreational and social opportunities.  Behaviour management in the home is effective due to the systems in place and strategies used by staff. Young people respond well to the positive behaviour strategies in place and the consistent approach by staff.  The home is effectively managed in the best interests of the young people.

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The children’s home provision is good because:

The staff are committed to supporting young people to improve opportunities and outcomes for them. They understand how their work and commitment is helping to make a difference and they work together to achieve this.  Leaders and managers have good monitoring systems in place which enable them to regularly review the quality of care provided, identify any areas of development and make improvements.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is one of three owned and managed by a private provider. It is registered to care for four young people who may have emotional and behavioural difficulties, learning difficulties and/or disabilities or mental health issues.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 23/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 22/06/2015 Full Good 12/08/2014 Full Adequate 04/07/2014 Full Inadequate

p.4

Good

Young people live in a warm, nurturing and supportive home. They receive high- quality, individualised care from a committed staff team who strive to ensure that their needs are met well and outcomes are improved for them.

p.5

Good

The high level of commitment to young people starts prior to their admission, with good systems in place to ensure that the home is able to meet their needs effectively. A carefully planned admission procedure is in place. For example, they insist on detailed information so they can fully consider whether the placement will be appropriate for the home prior to a placement being agreed. In the case of a recent admission to the home, a plan was in place in preparation for the admission. This included meetings with professionals and the young person and visits to the home. This practice reduced the anxiety levels of the young person and resulted in a smooth admission.

p.5

Good

Staff form positive relationships with young people and spend a considerable amount of time talking, listening and interacting with them. They engage young people in a range of social and recreational activities. This creates a positive shared experience between staff and young people. Activities include going to the gym and the cinema, and shopping.

p.5

Good

Young people’s health and well-being is promoted positively in the home. Healthcare plans identify their individual health needs and they are fully supported in this area. For example, during the inspection a young person was taken to the walk-in centre for treatment to a whitlow on his finger. While at the centre the young person was also provided with information on quitting smoking and given an appointment for smoking cessation. Staff respond appropriately to any health needs and take necessary action to ensure that these needs are met.

p.5

Good

Changes have been made to the on-site education at the home. It is now managed within the company, which has employed its own teacher. The company has consulted educational professionals to ensure that the education provision in the home is of a very high standard and in line with the national curriculum. Psychological assessments of young people are undertaken to provide the basis for a highly personalised curriculum tailored to meet their identified needs, aptitudes and aspirations.

p.5

Good

The registered manager and staff know the importance of education for the future life chances of young people, and they make every effort to promote regular attendance and participation. This was evident during the inspection when young people were reluctant to engage in the education provision. A staff member said to a young person, ‘come on, let’s go into the education room because it is really important for your future to have a good education’.

p.5

Good

The staff and young people are supported by the company psychotherapist. A range of therapeutic strategies are in place to provide the best-quality care. Staff have regular consultations with the psychotherapist, who provides them with guidance, support and understanding in working with a range of issues that young people face and possible behaviours that they present. Aims and objectives are set by the psychotherapist for key-work sessions based on the young person’s individual circumstances. These are regularly reviewed and changed to ensure that the treatment plan is providing the most informed and effective support to young people.

p.6

Good

Staff record a daily log for each young person which outlines their day. This is very child-friendly and written to the young person. It is an innovative way of recording the child’s experiences and progress at the home. Young people are encouraged to contribute to the log and read it each day. The log is an excellent way of encouraging young people to reflect on their actions, as well as outlining the young person’s journey and measuring the progress that they have made since they came to live in the home. Comments in the logs in relation to concerning behaviour include: ‘unfortunately you became very agitated in the classroom and you were in crisis, you were very aggressive and threatening your teacher. This isn’t acceptable mate, we need to be buying into education, its crucial for your future.’ The logs include lots of positive comments including ‘welcome to the home’, and ‘good morning, let’s have a positive day today’, illustrated with drawings of the sun and

p.6

Good

The views, wishes and feelings of young people are ascertained through key-work sessions, young people’s meetings, child looked after/statutory reviews and everyday conversations with staff. They are clearly taken into account when plans are being made for them about their care and future plans. For example, young people did not want their televisions removed from their bedrooms at night and this resulted in a decision that they should be given the opportunity to prove they could be trusted to switch their television off at an appropriate time so they were able to have a good night’s sleep. A young person said, ‘staff talk to me all the time and I feel they listen to me’.

p.6

Good

The strong safeguarding practices within the home ensure that young people feel emotionally secure and that they are protected from harm. A young person said, ‘I know staff are doing their best to keep me safe’. Young people are safe and protected because safeguarding young people is a priority for the staff team and central to their practice. Staff are able to identify individual risks for young people and they respond appropriately to reduce risk and safeguard them. The home has effective relationships with safeguarding colleagues including social workers, missing from care coordinators, police, the local authority designated officer, the youth offending service and substance misuse workers. This multi-agency working helps to keep young people safe.

p.6

Good

Risk assessments clearly identify risks and how they will be managed effectively. These assessments are regularly reviewed and updated to capture the changing circumstances of young people and the strategies that staff should implement to manage risks. For example, the risk assessments for young people were updated following recent safeguarding concerns in relation to young people going into each other’s bedrooms and young people running off from staff in the community. As a result, staff are fully aware of the current risks and ensure that strategies are implemented to adequately safeguard young people.

p.7

Good

The manager and staff have a clear understanding of the risks to young people associated with going missing from the home and child sexual exploitation. They are proactive in their approach, assessing the risks and putting arrangements in place to protect young people. When young people go missing staff act appropriately in a timely manner to ensure their quick, safe return to the home. They inform relevant professionals, try to contact young people and their friends and family, and go out to look for them. Staff have even viewed CCTV and accessed web cams to try to locate young people. When the young person returns to the home staff offer them a warm welcome home, check on their welfare and arrange an independent return interview. The efforts of the staff team have resulted in young people being effectively safeguarded.

p.7

Good

A social worker said, ‘the risks have significantly reduced for [name of young person] in relation to being missing from care and child sexual exploitation since coming to the home. This is due to the safeguarding practices within the home and the good relationships between the staff and young people; the young person no longer feels the need to run off.’

p.7

Good

Staff undertake searches of young people’s bedrooms if there is a specific safeguarding issue that warrants this. All room searches are carried out sensitively and recorded appropriately. There have been five room searches since the last inspection due to safeguarding concerns. Room searches have been successful and prevented potential safeguarding incidents of self-harm in the home. This proactive approach reduces risks to young people in the home.

p.7

Good

There are clear, consistent and appropriate behaviour expectations within the home, which are clearly understood by staff and young people. Staff believe in rewarding positive behaviour and dealing with negative behaviour in a restorative manner to create a learning environment. This has contributed to positive changes in young people’s behaviour. For example, key-work sessions have taken place and resulted in some really positive changes in behaviour, which young people have been rewarded for.

p.7

Good

The physical environment of the home is safe and secure and protects young people from harm. The home is in its own grounds with CCTV externally that can be viewed in the office. This enables staff to be aware of anyone entering or leaving the grounds. There is also CCTV on the landing and hallway of the home; furthermore there is an alarm system on the bedroom doors which is turned on at night to alert staff if young people leave their bedrooms. The security equipment in the home allows staff to respond appropriately to any potential safeguarding issues in a timely manner, which protects young people from harm or the risk of harm.

p.8

Good

Appropriate action was taken following an incident during the inspection when a young person climbed through the office window. Due to the potential safeguarding issues in relation to a data breach or other safeguarding incident, immediate measures were put in place to ensure that this did not happen again. The registered manager arranged for a restrictor to be fitted to the window the same day. This quick response highlights the commitment of the registered manager to safeguarding within the home.

p.8

Good

The home is led by enthusiastic, committed and experienced leaders and managers. The manager is qualified to level 5 Diploma in Management. She has recently moved from another of the company’s homes and is keen to take on the new challenge. She is passionate about her work and ensures that young people receive the best possible care to meet their individual needs. She said, ‘young people need to live in a nurturing environment with structure, routine and boundaries. They respect and thrive on it as it offers them comfort and nurturing. I am embedding this into the home, as young people should have it.’

p.8

Good

Staff feel well supported and motivated by the registered manager, and share the manager’s high expectations and aspirations for young people. One staff member commented, ‘the manager is nurturing and supportive and empowers staff to take initiative and be creative. We are all really child centred here and go above and beyond what you would expect. It is the best place I have ever worked.’ The benefit to the young people of having a well-supported, committed staff team in the home is the high-level consistency of care afforded to them.

p.8

Good

Staff benefit from regular professional supervision that is reflective and considers their personal and professional development as well as the overall experiences and progress of young people. In addition to formal supervision, staff receive regular consultations and training from the company psychotherapist. The consultations provide a forum for discussing and agreeing how best to respond to young people and any negative and/or worrying behaviour they may present. They also provide staff with personal therapeutic support in dealing with the emotional impact that their work has on them. A staff member said, ‘the psychotherapist is visible around the home and has a wealth of knowledge; he identifies ways of working and supports staff with emotional issues linked to their role’.

p.8

Good

The leaders and managers have a very good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses in the home. They have a vision for the development of the home which includes a consistent staff team, establishing the education provision within the home and further enhancing the therapeutic interventions. The home’s development plan needs to be updated to accurately record the plans for the future which will ultimately have a positive impact on the staff and young people through improved working practices.

p.9

Good

Monitoring for the home is carried out on a regular basis internally and externally by an independent person. The manager is keen to develop this integral function further. This regular monitoring has enabled the manager to identify areas for development and take action to address any minor shortfalls identified, thus ensuring that dips in the quality of care are quickly rectified, practice is strengthened and children’s continuing progress is central to the home’s practice.

p.9

Good

The statement of purpose clearly sets out the ethos and philosophy of the home; for example, ‘we recognise the value of young people, their uniqueness and personal needs; we are committed to respond to young people with dignity and respect’. This was evident during the inspection when a young person was experiencing a difficult time and expressed this with some challenging behaviour. The manager and staff responded in a very calm manner, clearly having regard to why he was presenting in this way. This response did not provoke him or escalate the behaviour, which is unlike his past experiences in another children’s home when the police had been called or he had been restrained. This approach by staff resulted in the young person calming down and taking time out to relax and watch television. Information in the statement of purpose was clearly put into practice on this occasion to clearly evidence that it is an accurate account of the working

p.9

Good

The statement of purpose was updated during the inspection to reflect the change in manager and the change following the decision to no longer accept emergency placements. The director of childcare is in the process of updating it further to reflect the changes in the education provision within the home. It is important that the statement of purpose is regularly updated to provide an accurate account of the service that the home provides and the management of the home.

p.9

Good

The staff team work well together and share information appropriately to ensure that the needs of young people are being met and that they are safeguarded. Recording is clear and detailed. Staff sign specific records to confirm that they have read and understood them; in particular those relating to safeguarding. Staff handovers are thorough and well recorded, which ensures a good transition from one staff team to another and provides young people with consistency on working practices. Team meetings are well attended and cover a wide range of issues relating to the home, staff and young people. This high level of communication between members of the staff team ensures that staff are fully aware of important issues and there is a consistent approach to the care provided to young people.

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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 children looked after 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 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 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 children looked after 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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