Children's Home run by iMap Centre Limited in Cheshire West and Chester

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good 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 home continues to provide good care for young people with disabilities and complex needs. Observations confirm that young people enjoy warm and trusting relationships with staff. They are well supported to make sustained progress in developing social and independence skills and education. For example, one young person is taking more responsibility for his personal needs, including a doctor’s appointment and booking a meal at a restaurant of his choice. Consequently, their confidence and self-esteem are growing.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has appropriately addressed the requirement that was raised at the last inspection regarding the transition arrangements for one young person. There is a detailed plan in place to ensure that he settles into his new home. This includes a clear handover and building relationships with key staff prior to the move. This provides consistency of care and enables the new staff team to have a good understanding of his needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A qualified and experienced manager continues to lead the stable staff team. He is fully supported by a qualified and motivated deputy manager who also leads shifts. Since the last inspection, the managers have reviewed how they monitor young people’s progress by introducing an achievements diary. This also includes a summary of need and a monthly target evaluation. Although this is work in progress, it will enable managers clearly to measure young people’s progress from their starting points and identify any further support needed.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Records since the last inspection show that, with the exception of the registered manager, most staff receive regular supervision. Therefore, the manager has limited opportunities to consider and plan their continual professional development. This issue was a requirement at the last inspection and is repeated. Furthermore, a recommendation to ensure that the home provides appropriate accommodation and facilities for staff who sleep at the home overnight is also repeated. This is because, when shortages occur with waking night staff, the day staff sleep at the home. There is no staff bedroom, so they sleep on a bed-settee in a communal room downstairs. Managers have revised the statement of purpose. There is also a clear record in the form of a register showing when young people have been admitted and discharged from the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers and staff have effective working relationships with parents, education providers, and health and social workers. They take appropriate action when concerns arise about a young person’s welfare. For example, they sought medical advice when they noticed a change in a young person’s behaviour. Consequently, he received well-timed and suitable medical treatment.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are obvious improvements to the independent monitoring of the home. For example, the visits take place when the young people are at home. This means that the visitor is able to talk to the young people and staff, as well as observe their interactions. That said, the manager’s own monitoring continues to be very formulaic. There is no evaluation or analysis of practice to identify where improvements can and should be made. However, the deputy manager did show the inspector a new monitoring format that they plan to use in the future.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people have a strong sense of safety, and high levels of supervision ensure that they are safe in the community. They do not go missing from the home. Staff provide effective support to young people when they experience difficulties and struggle to communicate their feelings. They have a clear understanding behind the reasons for young people’s behaviour and provide plenty of reassurance. Staff have introduced a ‘think sheet’ for one young person. This enables him to talk about and identify when things have not gone so well. This is helping him to understand the impact of his negative behaviour and find effective ways of showing his frustrations. Consequently, this reduces the need for physical interventions and sanctions.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and operated by a private, independent organisation to provide care and accommodation for up to five young people with learning disabilities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 30/01/2015 Full Good

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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 ensure that all employees receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33(4)(b)) 07/12/2016

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete the quality of care review, the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating the quality of care for children, the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive; and any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. (Regulation 45(2)(a)(b)(c)) 07/12/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Ensure the design of the home provides the staff who sleep at the home overnight with appropriate accommodation and facilities to do so. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 17, paragraph 3.26)

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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 0300 123 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, work- based 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

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Information about this inspection

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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