Children's home run by Teen-Works Care Limited in Liverpool

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 . Since the last inspection, the registered manager has taken action to effectively address the one recommendation that was made. All young people now have detailed education plans in place. These include what action is to be taken if young people are not in full-time education, or refuse to attend. The plans show that young people are now encouraged to engage in meaningful and structured educational activities throughout their school day. Young people benefit from individualised and exceptionally well-planned care. This is provided by a committed and enthusiastic staff team and knowledgeable manager. The high-quality care provided by staff empowers young people to make and sustain excellent progress in all areas of their lives, including education and health. Carefully planned contact with families is helping young people to sustain

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

important relationships, understand their identity and to improve their self-esteem. One young person said, ‘Staff are sound and my keyworkers are great. They [staff] help you set goals and support you to work towards them. Although I have had blips and bumps along the way, they never give up and keep pushing us in the right direction. I achieved my goal, I was so made up.’ Transition plans for young people moving either into or out of the home are detailed and individualised. Staff actively involve young people in their plans to move on and young people are fully involved and consulted throughout. Young people are provided with opportunities, when appropriate, to visit their new home and meet the staff before they move in. This supports young people in starting to build positive relationships with the adults who are caring for them. Furthermore, this ensures that all young people have positive experiences at times of change

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

and transition because their views are considered throughout. Young people are confident that staff listen to them. They feel able to discuss any complaints and concerns openly with staff should they have any, as well as their future plans. Although young people have not used the formal complaints procedure, they were clear that they would talk to the manager or staff if they ‘were unhappy’ and felt confident that staff would help them. Young people also have access to advocates and social workers, which means that they have adults to turn to if they are worried or concerned. Young people said that they felt safe living at the home and that, if they were in the community and felt unsafe, they would ring the staff directly for support. Staff are clear about their roles and responsibilities in safeguarding young people and receive regular training in various aspects of safeguarding practice, including child

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

sexual exploitation, e-safety and going missing from home. Staff clearly understand what to do and who they need to contact if they are concerned that a young person is at risk or being harmed in any way. This ensures that young people’s safety remains paramount. Since the last inspection, there have been incidents of young people who have been missing from care. The registered manager has appropriately escalated all safeguarding concerns, including child sexual exploitation, to multi-disciplinary strategy meetings. This ensures that all safeguarding professionals are working together to assess and to minimise risk. When incidents of going missing occur, staff and the manager act appropriately and in a timely manner, actively looking for young people, notifying the police and local authorities, so that appropriate action is taken. In addition, staff follow the procedures and process in place, to secure the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

young person’s safe return home. Staff provide an opportunity for the young person to meet with an independent person, through return interviews, to discuss the events and determine the reasons for their absence. Staff support and address young people’s behavioural needs effectively. Established relationships, coupled with good risk and behaviour management plans, are successfully diverting young people from unsafe behaviours and enhancing their safety. Staff constantly praise, reward and celebrate young people’s achievements. This is supporting young people to develop their emotional resilience and to understand the benefits of positive behaviour. Staff work with young people to help them identify ways to express their frustration or distress in a safer way, without resorting to aggression. Consequently, the need for punitive behaviour management strategies, such as withdrawing privileges, is reducing as behaviour is

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

clearly improving. The registered manager and staff team have built up positive working relationships with other professionals, such as social workers, police, child and adolescent mental health Services (CAMHS), and education professionals. As a result, young people are receiving expert support from all relevant services to move forward with their lives. All professionals spoken with were highly complimentary about the managers and staff at the home. One social worker said, ‘The staff team are all fabulous. I can honestly say their commitment to [name of young person] is phenomenal. They never give up and they are clearly committed to all the young people in their care. They are not afraid to challenge me if I have not done something and firmly advocate on young people’s behalf.’ Strong leadership and clear monitoring systems are in place to continually review the quality of care provided and improve outcomes for young people. Staff report

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

that they receive ongoing support in their roles and the managers are ‘extremely helpful’ and ‘always open to new ideas, thoughts and suggestion to improve practices’. However, not all staff have received regular supervision. This does not provide a consistent opportunity for all staff to reflect on their practice and highlight any areas of development. This does not directly impact on the welfare of young people, but it is an area for improvement for all staff.

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to three children 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

16/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

26/02/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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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

 The registered person must have systems in place so that all staff receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards,’ page 61, paragraph 13.2)

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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 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 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

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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