Children's home run by Inspire Children’s Services 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 who have moved on from the home have made positive and planned transitions.  Some young people have made good progress with their education and have successfully achieved nationally recognised qualifications.  Staff know young people well and understand their needs.  Staff are imaginative and try new ways to engage young people.  Staff successfully manage young people’s medical needs. They receive the training that they require to do this.  Young people make progress following their admission to the home.  Staff are skilled at managing contact arrangements. They appreciate the significance of these relationships for young people.  Staff engage in constructive work with young people. This work helps young people to learn to keep safe and prepare for independence.  Social workers speak positively about the home and their partnership working.  There has been some recent refurbishment of the home, making it a

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The children’s home provision is good because:

warm and welcoming environment to live in.  Areas for improvement include the quality of safeguarding notifications, the detail of the independent visitor’s reports, the content of risk assessments and health care plans.

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person(s) meet(s) the Care Standards Act 2000, Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and ‘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

10: The health and well-being standard Ensure that the health and well-being needs of children are met. (Regulation 10(1)(a)) In particular, the details of young people's health care plans should be followed and include all issues pertinent to them. 06/02/2017

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Requirement Due date

12: The protection of children standard Ensure that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12(2)(b)) Specifically, risk assessments should be updated and risk ratings reviewed following any incident; and records should indicate that staff have taken appropriate safeguarding measures. 06/02/2017

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Requirement Due date

40: Notification of a serious event Ensure that notifications made to the HMCI under this regulation include details of the matter. (Regulation 40(5)(a)(i)) Specifically, sufficient detail should be provided to demonstrate the seriousness of the incident. 06/02/2017

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Requirement Due date

44: Independent person: visits and reports Ensure that reports prepared under this regulation, setting out the independent person’s opinion as to whether the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being, contains accurate information, and that these are received by HMCI in a timely way. (Regulation 44(4)(b)) 06/02/2017

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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 the behaviour management strategy is understood and applied at all times by staff. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.34)  Ensure every effort to achieve continuity of staffing so that children’s attachments are not overly disrupted. ‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards’, page 51, paragraph 10.1)

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is one of a number of homes operated by a private organisation. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two children and young people who have 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

12/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

19/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Good

Both the young people who were living in the home at the time of the last inspection have now moved on to semi-independent living. They both made this difficult transition successfully. They made good progress with their education while living here, obtaining nationally recognised qualifications. They are both attending further education and remain in touch with some staff from the home. Consequently, a new young person is now resident in the home. Staff visit young people prior to their admission. They pass on information about the home with a view to reducing young people’s anxiety about their move. Staff manage challenging behaviours well, and this helps young people when they struggle to adjust to the routines and boundaries at the home. There have also been a number of staff changes since the last inspection. While this had an impact on the young people who had lived here for a number of years,

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Good

as this instability inevitably resulted in some disruption, it has had little impact on the young person currently residing here. New staff are now working in the home and they are prepared for new challenges. One professional working with the home commented, ‘The staff working with [Name of the young person] are really energetic and creative. This has made a real difference.’ The young person is now beginning to engage constructively with staff and enjoys partaking in a range of activities with them. For example, he went to a Segway course during the inspection. Staff register young people with appropriate healthcare services on their admission to the home. Staff also successfully manage some complex health needs and have received appropriate training. Healthcare plans outline the specifics of young people’s care. However, it is not always clear that staff have followed these accordingly; records do not always demonstrate that they have taken the

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Good

necessary action and made contact with nominated healthcare specialists in an emergency. In addition, the current young person’s healthcare plan does not reflect all of his identified healthcare needs. Nevertheless, key-worker sessions demonstrate that staff work with the young person on his risk-taking behaviours and, as a result, these have reduced. His social worker commented on this significant improvement. While the former residents engaged well with education and learning, this is not the case for the current resident. The young person has not attended full-time education for a number of years. Although he is currently enrolled at the organisation’s school, he is not actually attending. Teaching staff are delivering home tuition and providing the young person with additional work, as he is currently unable to engage in a traditional classroom setting. An alternative provision is being given consideration. The young person enjoys working with

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Good

animals, and the registered manager is keen to promote this interest. He has approached a number of providers and has recently identified a provision for him. In the meantime, staff engage the young person in educational activities to help promote his learning. Good staffing levels allow for staff to spend meaningful time with the young person. They engage him in one-to-one work both formally and informally. They understand him well and are able to identify the best times to raise discussion about pertinent issues. He was able to participate in the inspection in a positive manner and engaged in conversation with the inspector. Positive relationships were also evident between the young person and staff in the home. Young people receive support to keep in contact with their families and friends, and staff appreciate the importance of young people maintaining these relationships. To assist with this, young people have access to social networking sites via the

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Good

home’s computer or via their own mobile telephones.

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Requires improvement

The young person indicated that he feels safe living in the home. The current resident is beginning to establish positive relationships with staff and has started to refer to the establishments as his ‘home’. A reduction in his challenging behaviour also indicates that he is feeling safe and secure here. Staff undertake safeguarding training during their induction to the home and receive regular update training. Staff are aware of the procedures to follow should they have any concerns. In addition, they have received training that enables them to be alert to behaviours which may indicate that young people are involved in child sexual exploitation or radicalisation. Young people do sometimes engage in risk-taking behaviour, such as smoking or using drugs. However, staff provide them with information about the risks that they expose themselves to and engage young people in conversation about keeping themselves safe. Young people rarely go missing from home, and staff are aware

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Requires improvement

of their whereabouts when they are out in the community. Staff take appropriate actions when these incidents occur. Staff recruitment processes are thorough. Pre-employment checks demonstrate that only those who are suitable commence work in the home. Staff request identification from visitors to the home, ensure that they sign in the visitors’ book and make sure that they accompany them while they are inside the home. These measures ensure that young people are protected from those who may wish to cause them harm. Personalised risk assessments help to inform staff about the specific areas of risk for each young person. This enables staff to respond in the most appropriate manner. Although the risk assessments have been updated, following an incident of concern, the risk ratings do not reflect this. In addition, there have been occasions when only one section of the document has been updated, despite the

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Requires improvement

fact that the issue relates to other areas of risk. As a result, it is sometimes difficult for staff to formulate a clear understanding of the current concerns and to base their decision-making on this information. Furthermore, inadequacies in record- keeping mean that it is difficult to make certain that staff have always undertaken the necessary action to ensure everyone’s safety. For example, when a young person was thought to have a weapon, it was unclear what action staff had taken to ensure that this was not in the home. Staff are clear about standards of acceptable behaviour and promote good behaviour by developing relationships with young people and by focusing on their achievements. Staff receive training on behaviour management, including the safe use of restraint. The number of incidents requiring restraint have increased since the last inspection, as the new resident has exhibited behaviours to test and

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Requires improvement

challenge those caring for him. Staff maintain detailed records of incidents that occur. These are subject to review at staff meetings, ensuring that lessons are learned from the incidents and alternatives considered for the future. Consequently, incidents are reducing. Staff largely use positive reinforcement and rewards to promote positive behaviour. However, they also sanction poor behaviour on occasion. These are usually restorative in nature and relate to the incident, for example a time-limited car ban following the young person threatening to light a cigarette in the car. However, not all sanctions have been recorded as such. This makes it difficult to review the effectiveness of the action and leaves the young person unsure about when it will conclude. For example, following inappropriate use of the internet, the young person was denied access to this medium. Despite this being appropriate and

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Requires improvement

effective, no record was evident in the sanction record in the home.

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Requires improvement

There is a suitably experienced registered manager in charge of the home. He has managed the home since November 2015, having been formally registered with Ofsted in February 2016. He also has management responsibility for another home in the organisation. A deputy manager works in this home to support him. She has worked in the home for the last six months. She has an appropriate management qualification. The majority of the staff team members have the necessary minimum level 3 qualification, and the remaining two are currently working towards this. The home’s statement of purpose reflects its aims and objectives. The registered manager has a development plan, which helps to prioritise developments in the home. Refurbishment and improvements have been made to the decor of the home since the last inspection. It is a warm and welcoming environment for young people to live in. Staff receive regular supervision and appraisal, and report that this is beneficial to

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Requires improvement

their practice. The registered manager also uses the induction and probation processes effectively. Staff feel supported by managers and have access to a range of training opportunities. This helps to develop and motivate them. An independent person completes monthly reports on the operation of the home. Following the home’s last interim inspection, consultation now takes place with young people and their families as part of the completion of the report. However, reports do not always contain accurate information. Errors were evident in relation to placement details for young people and in the recording of serious incidents. Furthermore, these errors were not identified when the report was sent to the manager for agreement and comment prior to distribution. Furthermore, these reports are not always sent to HMCI in a timely manner and sometimes take in excess of two months to arrive. The registered manager notifies the appropriate bodies following the occurrence of

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Requires improvement

a serious incident. However, reports sent to HMCI lack sufficient detail to reflect the seriousness of the incident. For example, a notification regarding disruptive behaviours and damage in the home did not indicate that the young person had set a fire in the home. Hence, it is difficult to evaluate the incident and the actions taken as a result. Liaison with other agencies is effective. Positive relationships exist between managers and other professionals. One professional commented, ‘The positive communication between professionals and the young person himself played a huge part in assisting his transition.’ Another professional said, ‘Communication is great. Staff are good advocates for the young person and know him well. They evaluate and learn from every incident.’ Managers know the young people well and are committed to them. They are able to demonstrate the progress that the young people have made since moving into

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Requires improvement

the home. Managers work hard to ensure that they collaborate with other professionals and young people’s families in order to improve the young people’s outcomes.

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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 whom 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

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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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