Children's home run by Independent Living Services (North West) Limited in St. Helens

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 manager and team of staff who know them well, listen to them, and promote their safety and well-being at all times.  Young people have positive experiences and make good progress in their lives through living at the home. They develop positive and trusting relationships with others.  Young people are listened to and their views, wishes and feelings are prioritised by the manager and staff. Consequently, they are at the very heart of the home, and everything that happens revolves around them.  Young people live in a nurturing, supportive environment which is furnished and decorated to a good standard. They have personal items around the home, and this provides a very homely environment for them.  Young people have access to a wide range of social and recreational opportunities, both inside and outside the home.  Partnership working promotes the safety and well-being of young people

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The children’s home provision is good because:

effectively, and ensures that they receive the appropriate support and intervention to support their education, health and emotional well-being. Staff strive to ensure improved outcomes for young people and will challenge professionals to ensure that this happens.  The manager and staff have high aspirations for the young people living at the home. Team meetings and staff supervision are effective and take place regularly. Staff training is important and valued. The manager and staff are all keen to undertake training to improve their practice and the quality of the care provided to young people continually.  Plans for young people need to include up-to-date information in relation to their health and education needs and relevant safeguarding information.  The safe storage of recruitment files needs to be more robust to ensure that full and satisfactory information is available in relation to each member of

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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 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).

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Requirement Due date

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)). 28/12/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records („case records‟) for each child which include the information and documents listed in schedule 3 in relation to each child are kept up to date, and are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36(1)(a)(b)(c)) 28/12/2016

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a private company, providing care for up to four children and young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 29/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 23/06/2015 Full Good 02/10/2014 Full Adequate 12/08/2014 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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Good

Young people receive a good quality of care that is making a positive difference to their lives. The staff have a good understanding of their individual needs and meet these well. Consequently, they are happy, settled and enjoy their time at the home. A young person said, „I am much more settled now than when I first came to live at the home. I don‟t “kick off” now and I manage my anger much better.‟ This young person‟s social worker said, „He has made significant progress since living at the home and is like a different young person.‟

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Good

Relationships between the manager, staff and young people are positive. Young people know that the manager and staff want what is best for them, and that they will ensure that the most appropriate support is in place to meet their individual needs. A young person said, „The staff are really nice and I get on well with all of them.‟ Young people‟s views, wishes and feelings are regularly sought through discussions with the manager and staff, young people‟s meetings, key-work sessions and monthly reviews of their placement plan. The education room in the home shows cases some of the requests that young people have made and the staff response to these. For example, a young person wrote, „I would like more contact with my family.‟ The staff response was, „We will check dates for this with your social worker.‟

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Good

Young people‟s health needs are well known and understood by staff. Young people are well supported to attend medical appointments and work with health professionals to ensure their health needs are met. There has been some delay in one young person receiving support from the child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS), but the home has liaised with professionals to ensure that any further delay is minimal. The staff team has agreed to work together with CAMHS and the young person to ensure that the most effective intervention is in place. Healthcare plans are in place for young people. However, not all healthcare plans clearly outline all of their health needs. For example, one young person has had a recurring ingrown toenail, and antibiotic medication has been prescribed a number of times with limited effect, so a referral has now been made to the hospital for a specialist consultation. However, there was no reference to this in the young

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Good

person‟s healthcare plan. Although young people‟s health needs are met, the health care plan for this young person does not reflect this.

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Good

Young people generally have good attendance at their education provision and are making progress. The manager and staff support and encourage young people with their education. They work effectively with education professionals to ensure that young people are supported to achieve successful outcomes. A teacher said, „The manager and staff are really supportive of the young person and school; homework is always completed and the levels of communication are good.‟ The home has been proactive in making arrangements for a young person who has recently moved to the home to access the most appropriate education provision. However, records within the home did not reflect this. For example, the home incorporates young people‟s education plan in their placement plan and this did not reflect the work that the home had done in relation to this issue. The young person is very keen and motivated to be in education and was frustrated at the delay. Therefore,

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Good

for this young person in particular, her education needs are not currently being met, although efforts are being made to ensure that provision is in place at the earliest opportunity.

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Good

Young people benefit from a wide range of social and recreational opportunities with the staff team and peers. These include going to the cinema, bike rides, attending the gym, football, music lessons and shopping. One young person who had no particular interests and is reluctant to engage in group activities is given plenty of opportunities to try to find something of particular interest. He has really taken to bike riding and is now engaged in charity work by riding his bike the distance to the North Pole, for charity. The staff and young people do many things to raise money for charity and they find this very rewarding. Plans are in place to do much charity work around Christmas time to help the homeless. The social and recreational opportunities and charity work have empowered young people and supported them in building their social interaction, confidence and self-esteem.

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Good

Young people are well supported to have regular contact and to maintain relationships with people who are important in their lives. The manager and staff have good relationships with family members and support young people to have regular contact that they enjoy. The home invites family members and friends to visit the young people and to stay for tea. Plans are in place for a young person to have a birthday party at the home with family members. This is important to the young person and will make his birthday a memorable one. Another young person has been supported to attend a bonfire night get together with friends. The manager has ensured that appropriate safeguards are in place to enable this to happen. The efforts by staff in relation to facilitating contact for young people means that they have continuing meaningful relationships with people who are important to them.

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Good

There have been some home improvements to the home‟s fabric and decor since the last inspection, including redecoration, new carpets and the sofas being recovered. There are many photographs around the home of young people clearly showing the positive experiences that young people have had. For example, there are photographs of young people with family members, staff and peers engaging in a range of activities. There are also a number of plaques around the home with various quotes that are very positive and enhance the pleasant home environment. For example, one quote read: „Together, we make a family‟. The young people proudly showed me their bedrooms that are personalised, decorated and furnished to a good standard. A young person who has recently moved into the home was very excited about choosing wallpaper and furniture for her bedroom. The home‟s environment and young people‟s contribution to it have created a welcoming

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Good

atmosphere, conveying to the young people that they are valued.

p.8

Good

The home‟s procedures in relation to young people moving in and out of the home are good. A full assessment is completed prior to any young person being admitted to the home. This determines if the placement is appropriate, if the young person‟s needs can be met and what, if any, impact the placement will have upon other young people already living in the home. Once a placement has been agreed, a supportive transition plan is implemented to ensure a smooth transition for the young person into the home. Furthermore, the procedures in relation for young people moving out of the home are generally good and ensure a smooth, planned transition for young people. A young person has recently moved out of the home and the manager challenged the local authority about their decision not to inform the young person of the plan. This was discussed in a multi-agency meeting and the manager ensured that due consideration was given to the potential negative

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Good

impact that the plan would have on the young person in the home prior to him moving out. The manager and staff supported the young person as much as possible and ensured that he was clear about the plan for him to move out of the home as soon as it was deemed appropriate to do so. The young person had a short but smooth and supportive transition from the home. He remains in contact with the manager and staff, who continue to offer him support while he settles into his new home.

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Good

The manager has introduced a daily diary for young people that staff members complete each day. The information in the diary is always constructive and sets out the experiences and progress of young people. This is a lovely record of young people‟s positive experiences and the progress that they have made. Young people are encouraged to contribute to their diary and read it regularly, to allow them to reflect on their positive experiences and the progress that they are making. This diary belongs to the young person and they can take it with them when they move out of the home to ensure that they have a record of their time living here.

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Good

Safeguarding practice in the home is good, and promotes the welfare and safety of young people. Staff have a clear understanding of the risks to young people from going missing, child sexual exploitation and self-harm. Staff members are adequately trained in safeguarding, which enables them to recognise and respond appropriately to any safeguarding issues that arise.

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Good

The home has appropriate strategies in place to manage the risks associated with young people who self-harm. They have worked closely with professionals to ensure that appropriate safeguards and support are in place for a young person who self-harms. They have a clear risk management plan that clearly outlines how the risk is to be managed and when further intervention is required. This young person played a key role in the development of the plan and is willing to work with staff to ensure that any self-harming behaviours are managed appropriately, with safeguards in place. This means that the young person is able to work together with staff to ensure that she is safe and receives the appropriate support, and that her welfare is promoted.

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Good

Behaviour management within the home is well understood by the staff and young people. Young people are clear about what is expected of them and they generally behave well. Therefore, the rewards for positive behaviour far outweigh the consequences of negative behaviour. The robust behaviour management practice in the home has resulted in minimal use of physical intervention. Consequently, young people develop strategies to manage their own behaviour. This has resulted in a reduction of challenging and inappropriate behaviours. A young person said, „I am now able to manage my anger much better and will go to my bedroom or watch television to calm down, instead of kicking off.‟

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Good

Risk assessments and risk management plans are in place for young people. These are reviewed monthly by staff and generally include the necessary information about how the risks are managed. However, one young person‟s plan had not been updated in relation to historical child sexual exploitation issues that the home had only recently been made aware of. This does not demonstrate an adequate response to the review and monitoring of significant safeguarding information.

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Good

Young people have access to the internet in the home and appropriate safeguards are in place to ensure its safe use. The manager and staff have a clear understanding of the risks that young people face when using the internet, which enables them to keep young people safe online. Internet access is password- protected in the home and young people can access the internet only at certain times when staff members monitor it. The manager responded to a safeguarding issue when young people had access to the internet from a neighbour‟s wifi, which was not password-protected, by speaking with the neighbour, who then ensured that its access was password-protected. This means that young people have access to the internet to socialise, explore and learn in a safe way.

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Good

The home‟s location risk assessment is detailed and evaluative. Information has been obtained from various agencies in the area, which has contributed to the risk assessment being clear and effective in managing known risks to young people within the local community. This means that young people are safeguarded in the community in which they live.

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Good

The home is well maintained and any damage is repaired promptly. Staff members carry out regular health and safety checks to ensure that the environment is physically safe and secure. Recruitment and selection procedures for new staff are mostly strong and records demonstrate that all checks and references are completed and followed up before staff are appointed. Photographic evidence of identification was not on file for a recently appointed member of staff. The inspector was told that this had been on the file and may have been misplaced when the file was moved from the head office to the home for inspection purposes. This highlights that the safe storage and movement of recruitment files needs to be strengthened within the company.

p.9

Good

The registered manager is motivated and committed to the home, staff and young people. She has high expectations and aspirations for young people, and leads the home effectively. She is suitably experienced and is currently working towards gaining her level 5 qualification in leadership and management. She leads by example and is actively involved in all of the home‟s operations. This enables her to monitor everyday practice in the home, as she works alongside staff and young people. Young people and staff speak highly of their manager.

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Good

Effective monitoring systems continually review the quality of care provided and outcomes for young people. They include evidence of actions taken following visits from the independent person, for example the repairs needed to the home and consultations with placing authorities in relation to plans for young people. The manager has a very good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home.

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Good

The staff team feel supported and receive regular effective supervision that allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of young people. Supervision for new staff is more frequent and they benefit from a supportive induction plan. Records of supervision are detailed and include an action plan that is reviewed at each subsequent supervision session. A staff member said: „Supervision is very thorough and I am expected to prepare for it. My personal development is a feature of supervision, and the manager delegates things to me to develop my knowledge and skills further and enable me to undertake additional tasks effectively.‟

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Good

Regular team meetings take place to provide opportunities to reflect on practice among the team and the progress that young people living in the home are making. Staff members report that team meetings are informative and are a good way of sharing information to ensure consistent working practices in the home. For example, the team meeting held at the time of the inspection showed staff excitedly planning for young people‟s birthdays and Christmas in order to ensure that they are special occasions for young people that will provide fond memories to look back on. Most staff members are qualified in caring for young people and those who are not are working towards gaining their qualification. Mandatory training is up to date for the more experienced staff, and the two newest members are currently working towards completing their mandatory training as part of their induction programme. The manager is keen to incorporate new training opportunities for staff that will

p.10

Good

have a positive impact on the care and experiences that they provide to young people. For example, she is currently looking at sourcing training for staff in play and sports therapy. A staff member said, „We get the opportunity to do lots of different training, which is great as I love training.‟ The manager and staff are very focused on training and consider this to be an essential aspect of their continuous professional development, so that they can ensure that the quality of care that they provide to young people is of the highest standard.

p.11

Good

Professional relationships between the home, families, social workers, independent reviewing officers, police, and health and education professionals are good. Professionals share information regularly about young people to ensure that the appropriate support is in place to meet their needs. This results in a consistent approach to supporting young people in all areas of their lives. A professional said, „I have never worked with a home that responds so quickly to us when we raise an issue.‟ The effective working practices between the home and others mean that young people benefit from a collaborative approach which ensures that their needs are met effectively.

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Good

The home is operating in accordance with its statement of purpose, which clearly sets out the ethos and objectives of the home. The statement of purpose has recently been updated and includes information relating to the two new members of staff.

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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‟. 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

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What the inspection judgements mean

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 harmed or at risk of harm or 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 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

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

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

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