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

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 improved effectiveness . Following the last inspection, the requirements that were set have been successfully met. The registered manager has ensured that photographic identification is securely attached to each member of staff’s recruitment file, with a copy maintained in the home and at the company’s head office. The registered manager and staff also now ensure that all records in the home are signed and dated by the author. One young person has moved into the home since the last inspection. This transition into the home was managed sensitively, with planned visits to the young person and the young person visiting the home to meet with staff and other young people. A detailed impact risk assessment was completed prior to a decision being made for the young person to move into the home. This assessment identified all

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

the known risks and clearly demonstrated how these would be managed. Furthermore, the registered manager liaised with relevant professionals to secure a suitable education provision in the area for the young person. A clear care plan was in place for the young person on her arrival at the home, which ensured that her needs were being fully met from the start of her placement. Education for young people living in the home is a high priority. The feedback from the new school about how well the staff are supporting the young person who has recently moved into the home is very positive. Since starting at the school, she is making more progress academically than in her previous school, and her behaviour is much improved. A consultation form from the school states, ‘There is good communication from the home. Homework is always completed, and staff are reading with the young person at home. She is always dressed in clean uniform

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

with suitable shoes and has spare clothing in her bag.’ One young person had been out of education for several months, and the home has worked collaboratively with the placing and host authority to secure suitable education provision for the young person. Prior to this, a clear education plan was in place for the young person to participate in education at the home. Another young person is making good progress in his education provision in relation to his achievement and improved behaviour. The home and school have good levels of communication to ensure a consistent approach to managing his behaviour and supporting him to complete his work. Thus, young people are engaging with and making good progress in their education. Safeguarding practice in the home continues to be robust. One young person has been missing from the home three times since the last inspection. The home took appropriate action to locate the young person and to support her safe return home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person was welcomed home and sensitively spoken to by staff in order to identify where she had been, whom she had been with and what risks she may have faced while being missing. In addition, the home arranged for independent return interviews to take place with her in line with the statutory guidance on children who run away or go missing from home or care. These discussions identified a safeguarding issue relating to possible child sexual exploitation due to the young person being in a relationship with an older person. Therefore, the home took appropriate action by making a referral to the multi-agency child sexual exploitation team. This ensured a multi-agency approach to safeguard the young person. Furthermore, direct work has been completed with the young person to raise her awareness and understanding of the risks posed to her from going missing from home and of child sexual exploitation. The young person’s risk

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

assessment was also updated. This robust safeguarding practice demonstrates that the registered manager and staff clearly understand the risks to young people and that they take the necessary measures to ensure that young people are safeguarded. The behaviour of young people in the home is generally very good. The staff and young people are clear about the expectations in the home. When any low-level incidents do occur, they are dealt with in a restorative way in order to support the young person to manage their behaviour and frustration more constructively. The staff help young people to develop strategies to enable them to do this. Direct work sessions take place following any incidents to enable staff and young people to reflect on these. This practice means that incidents in the home are rare. There have been no incidents of physical intervention in the home since the last inspection. Furthermore, there have been no complaints made in the home

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

because the staff encourage young people to discuss any grumbles that they may have so that these can be dealt with before they escalate. The positive approach to behaviour management means that the home is a safe and settled environment where young people are happy. The registered manager and staff work effectively with other professionals, such as social workers, independent reviewing officers, child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS), the local authority designated officer (LADO), the police and health and education professionals. In this way, young people are receiving the appropriate support to meet their individual needs, which results in improved outcomes for them. For example, one young person who has lived in the home for a number of years is described as being ‘a different young person’. His behaviour has significantly improved in the home and at school. He is a much more settled

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

and happy young man. He said, ‘I am completely different now. When I first came to live here, I was kicking off all the time. Imagine if I was still doing that now!’ An independent reviewing officer for another young person said, ‘The home is the best placement the young person has had, and they are doing a fantastic job with her. They are supporting her to establish good routines and boundaries to support her transition from the home at an appropriate time in the future. The level of communication from the home is fantastic.’ This demonstrates that the effective partnership working in the home is having a positive impact on the lives of young people. The home is led by a supportive, committed and motivated registered manager. There is a stable staff team in place, the members of which work well together and have the best interests of the young people at the heart of their practice. One member of staff has left the home since the last inspection. He completed an exit

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

interview form, which was extremely positive and confirmed that the registered manager and staff are very supportive and committed to their work. He said, ‘I have always been supported working at the home by the managers and staff and treated fairly and respectfully. It is good to see all the work we do for the young people is having a positive effect on them.’ Observations during the inspection demonstrated that the staff and young people have positive relationships with each other. They were all sitting together discussing their plans for an upcoming day trip. The staff and young people spend a considerable amount of time together, which has contributed to the positive relationships that they have. The young people are encouraged and supported to partake in various social and recreational activities together and independently. This includes going to the cinema, laser quest, visiting the neighbour’s cats, dance and gymnastic lessons and shopping. As

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

a result, young people have a variety of positive experiences, which build their overall confidence and social interaction with peers and others. The home has effective monitoring and review systems in place that enable the registered manager to identify the strengths and weaknesses in the home and any themes and trends. In turn, she is able to address any shortfalls or issues without delay. In addition to the internal monitoring and review systems, the home has external monitoring from an independent visitor and compliance visits from local authorities that place young people at the home. The registered manager has received verbal feedback from a recent compliance visit that was extremely positive. The effective monitoring and review systems help to ensure that young people continually receive a good quality of care. No requirements or recommendations have been made as a result of this inspection.

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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 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

29/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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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 whom 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

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

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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