Children's home run by Good Foundations Limited in Wirral

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection the provider made the decision to make changes to staffing within the company, and in particular this home. A new deputy manager has been transferred from another home within the company to provide support to the registered manager. Additionally, a number of residential care workers have also changed. Despite the changes, staff and young people confirmed that this has had a positive impact on the home. One young person said to the inspector, ‘It’s the best thing that could have happened. I like the new staff and things are now better here.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The managers have started to take action to meet the previous requirements and recommendations. Risk assessments and placement plans have been reviewed and are in the process of being updated. Plans now identify areas of risk to young people and set out the strategies to be used to reduce these risks, such as the preventative strategies and support available to young people who may be at risk of inflicting self-injury. However, on occasions staff have still failed to sign and date these documents. This does not sufficiently evidence that all staff are fully aware of any changes to plans, and neither does this approach identify the author of a change to the plan. Managers recognised that this was a further area of improvement.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Medication systems have been reviewed to ensure that there is now a clear record and audit trail of all medication. This ensures that all young people receive the correct medication within the required timescales. Rotas now include all relevant details and provide an accurate account of the actual rotas worked. This ensures that there is a clear audit trail of all staff working within the home. Furthermore, the statement of purpose has been updated and all staff are fully aware of the ethos and vision for the service.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the same group of young people have remained in the home and have all continued to make progress in their health, education and emotional well-being. They all reported that they have adults they can talk to if they are worried or upset, and they are fully aware of the complaints procedure. Young people stated that they felt ‘safe’ and ‘happy’ living in the home. Behaviour of young people is managed well. Staff members use consequences in response to poor behaviour from young people, but equally, staff offer rewards and encouragement for positive behaviour. However, on occasion the consequences used are not always clear. Records do not always provide an adequate description of the behaviour that led to the issuing of the consequence, nor what the actual sanction was. For example, the records showed that within the section ‘behaviour leading to consequence’ staff had recorded ‘compulsive no issues’. There was no

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

further evidence provided. This was in regard to a further incident of a young person smoking in the home. This lack of detail does not always demonstrate that young people are learning from their behaviours, or clearly understand the consequences of their actions.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff demonstrate a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities in protecting young people. They are experienced in managing high-risk behaviours, such as young people going missing from home. When young people go missing from home staff do try to maintain contact with them, as well as actively looking for them. When there have been concerns about an increase in these episodes, managers and staff discuss this with the safeguarding professionals and identify further safeguarding strategies, such as meeting the friends of the young person or visiting the homes they may be staying in when they go missing. Staff also work directly with young people to increase their level of understanding of the risks they may place themselves at while they are in the community. This shows young people that staff genuinely care about their welfare and safety. One young person said, ‘I don’t get off as much as I used to, but I know the staff will ring and text

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

me to make sure I am safe. I know I could call them if I was in trouble and they would help.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Internal monitoring has improved since the last inspection. New systems have been introduced to ensure that the care and progress of young people living at the home is sufficiently reviewed and any issues identified are addressed. For example, care plans are now monitored and updated and demonstrate the progress young people are making. In addition, an independent person continues to perform external monitoring on a monthly basis. Reports are evaluative, and include evidence from consultations with young people and social workers. The visitor identifies strengths, and outlines areas of development. This approach, together with a more robust oversight by the registered manager including the prompt action taken to address any identified shortfalls, has helped drive improvements at the home.

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Information about this children's home

This private children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to four young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 11/10/2016 Full Requires improvement 11/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 15/12/2015 Full Good 02/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Statutory requirement

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 persons must comply within the given timescales.

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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)) 10/03/2017

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Recommendation

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

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Recommendation

 Ensure that all incidents of control, discipline and restraint are subject to systems of regular scrutiny to ensure that their use is fair and the principles as set out in 9.35 are respected. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 46 , paragraph 9.36)

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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 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 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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