Children's home run by Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

children and young people since the most recent full inspection. This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness . Young people living at this home continue to make extraordinary progress in all aspects of their lives. This is down to their staff’s dedicated support, nurturing care and commitment to improving young people’s opportunities. Since the last inspection in January 2016, one young person has moved on from the home into a supported living placement. His move went smoothly and successfully because staff ensured that his views were at the centre of the planning of his move. Additionally, the young person who recently moved into the home also benefited from a clear transition plan that enabled him to visit the home, meet the team and decide if he liked it before he moved in. Consequently, young people settle quickly into their new homes and build positive relationships with their carers’

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

from the start. This is reflected in an independent reviewing officer’s comments, ‘I would like to say that only with the support and high level of care from staff provided by (name of home) that (young person’s name) situation may have been different. He is now enjoying a positive relationship with his mother. Clearly, what is evident is that he has been provided with a safe and stable environment from staff who genuinely care about him.’ The team has high aspirations for those in their care. They work diligently and creatively with education and training providers to enhance young people’s employment opportunities. For example, the team has forged good links with a local construction firm, which has led to a young person obtaining a building apprenticeship with this company. This young person is thriving, learning many new skills and developing greater confidence. The team members spoke extremely highly of his accomplishments and are truly proud of his achievements and the

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

commitment that he is showing to his new job. Another example of the team’s innovative practice is the work that it has undertaken with the Duke of Edinburgh Award’s project. Two members of the team, in conjunction with the local authority’s virtual school, have received Duke of Edinburgh training and been granted a licence to practice in this field. This has enabled them to support young people to get involved and achieve these awards. Not only does this demonstrate innovation within the team, it confirms excellent partnership working with other professionals and local community resources. This in turn is improving opportunities and outcomes for the young people living in this home. Young people benefit from having increased contact with their families. The staff work extremely well with parents and relatives to ensure that contact is maintained and safe. This has resulted in a young person having overnight stays with his sister

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

and another resuming contact with his father. Such progress in contact arrangements have improved young people’s relationships with their family members and supported them to develop and maintain a positive identity. Safeguarding practice continues to be effective in this home. Staff are alert to potential risks, such as, going missing from home, sexual and criminal exploitation, drug misuse and self-harm. The home has built good links with other safeguarding professionals and works openly and collaboratively with the police, youth offending team and specialist exploitation and safeguarding teams. Furthermore, staff receive ongoing training to enhance their knowledge and skills to enable them to keep young people safe. Incidents of going missing have vastly decreased for young people since moving into this home. Young people feel cared for and therefore trust staff and accept their support and guidance. Staff’s effective relationship

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

building and high-quality key work sessions are enhancing safety and reducing young people’s risk-taking behaviours. Staff are good at engaging young people in activities, such as mountain biking, fishing and camping trips. Consequently, young people enjoy spending time with their staff, which in turn, provides staff with good opportunities to get to know the young people and gain better insight into their feelings and behaviour. A strength of this home is the positive relationships established between the staff and young people, based on trust, mutual respect and genuine care. Young people continue to benefit from an effectively managed and well-led home. There have been some changes in the leadership of the home. A new responsible individual has recently joined the management team. She has brought with her a wealth of experience of children’s residential services including management at a senior level. She plays a proactive role in the leadership of the home and is

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

providing a highly competent registered manager and team with regular support and direction. There have been new staff members recruited to the team. All have received a thorough induction and reported that they are extremely settled and happy with the team and the support that they receive. A further strength of the home is the effective team working, underpinned by reflective practice, good communication and shared ideas and goals. Most of the requirements and recommendations raised at the last inspection have been adequately addressed. The staff rosters sampled demonstrated that there is always a first-aid qualified staff member on duty in the home. Furthermore, most of the team members have completed the mandatory training set out in the home’s training programme. The registered manager has requested the mandatory training that remains outstanding for some staff. He is currently waiting for the training

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

department to arrange this. The good practice recommendation raised at this inspection will further strengthen staff’s mandatory training. The recommendation concerning young people’s case records is repeated. The home’s placement plans and risk assessments are still not being kept up to date. As a result, young people’s records do not present an accurate picture of their current situation or journey through care. Furthermore, they do not demonstrate staff’s hard work and support to enable young people’s progress.

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Information about this children's home

This local authority children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to two young people with emotional and/or behavioural needs.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 27/01/2016 Full Good 12/05/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness 04/11/2014 Full Good 17/09/2014 Full Inadequate

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:

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Recommendations

 Ensure that case records are kept up to date, signed and dated by the author of each entry. With particular regard to risk assessments and placement plans, reflecting young people's progress and current needs and risks. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3)  Ensure that there are enough suitably trained staff on duty to meet the assessed needs of all children in the home. With particular regard to all staff completing mandatory training as outlined in the home's training programme. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 51, paragraph 10.1)

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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 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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