Children's Home run by Quality Protects Children Ltd in Knowsley

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 declined in effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The last registered manager left the home in June 2016. The home appointed an interim manager who applied for registration in October 2016. This application was withdrawn in November 2016. A new manger was appointed in December 2016 and he has begun his application to register with Ofsted. However, Ofsted has not yet received this. Consequently, the home has been without a registered manager for over 26 weeks. This has resulted in a judgement of declined effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been a number of staff vacancies, which were filled by agency and bank staff. This has not provided consistent care and support for the young people. The new manger prioritised the staff vacancies and has recently secured a full and permanent staff team for the home. Existing staff say that this has been a period of uncertainty, but since the new manager has arrived this has improved. One member of staff stated, ‘He (the registered manager) has managed to turn things around.’ Social workers acknowledge that this did have an impact on their young people. However, the young people are feeling happier and more settled which has resulted in improved engagement by the young people with staff and also their education.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A number of incidents have taken place since January 2017. The manager has carefully reviewed these and has identified that the matching process and use of agency or bank staff were significant contributory factors in some of the incidents. As a result, the manager stated that he is prioritising the compatibility assessment of any proposed new placement with the needs of the existing residents to ensure that it is a good match. The manager stated that the home will not be taking any emergency placements, so that both of the current young people living at the home can be informed and prepared for a new young person coming to live with them. Social workers are complimentary about the action the manager has taken in response to the incidents. This is because he works well to ensure that all professionals are notified of concerns. These professionals include the sexual exploitation teams (SHIELD), missing-from-care coordinators, social workers and

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

However, on a recent occasion, a member of staff did not respond adequately when a young person made an historical disclosure during an appointment with the sexual health nurse practitioner. The sexual health nurse practitioner misunderstood the age of the young person, who was subsequently given advice and information that would not normally be shared with a young person of his age. The member of staff had not corrected the misunderstanding about the age of the young person, and delayed informing the manager of the nature of the disclosure. This meant that immediate action could not be taken. The manager did take effective and swift action as soon as he was made aware of the incident. The social worker said that despite the initial delay, it has been, ‘An example of good multi- agency working.’ She is confident that the young person is safe here. Another social worker said that she is pleased with the placement and has ‘fought to keep

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

her young person here’. This is because the social worker feels that this is ‘The most settled (the young person) has been in years.’ She feels that the young person has grown in maturity as a result of the support she has received. The social worker believes that her young person is making better decisions about who she is friends with and is now more able to keep herself safe.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The statement of purpose has improved and now shows the levels of supervision provided for the home’s psychologist. This means that social workers, parents, carers and other professionals have a better insight into the care and support that can be expected to be provided to young people. The recording of physical interventions has also improved because a senior manager or a registered manager from another home reviews any incidents involving the manager. This helps promote transparency in the review of these measures.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is looking tired and worn in a number of areas, notably the flooring in the lounge and activity rooms. The company’s handy person is currently undertaking a planned, full refurbishment of the property. Young people have been fully involved in selecting the colour schemes, wallpaper and soft furnishings for all areas of the home. Young people said they are pleased with the opportunities to redesign their bedrooms and are looking forward to seeing the work finished. Young people successfully negotiated with the manager about the type of furniture they wanted in their rooms, and this provides them with a greater sense of ownership and belonging.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person has expressed a wish to move to a new bedroom. He would like the bedroom at the front of the home, and this has been agreed if he can keep his room tidy. He is being supported well by staff with gentle reminders so that he can achieve his goal. This particular young person is delighted that staff have agreed to ‘top up’ his savings so that he can go on fishing trips. This is an activity he has recently discovered and which he thoroughly enjoys. He excitedly told the staff and visitors about the fish he had caught, what they weighed and how they had to put them back carefully.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s education is being well-supported. Both young people are home schooled with support from tutors at Lawrence House. A tutor said that the turnaround for one young people has been ‘amazing’, thanks to the support of the manager. The young person was disengaging with staff and tutors, so the manager wrote a personal letter to the young person explaining how the young person was missing out on so many things, and setting out the plans he was putting in place for her to be able to achieve her potential. As a result, the young person has re- engaged with the staff and her education. She is happier and more settled. Her social worker commended the manager’s actions and is pleased with the outcome for the young person.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have a good understanding of both young people. However this is not always reflected in the young people’s records. This is because records are not routinely updated following a young person’s review and contain historical information that is not current. Consequently, some young people are deemed to be at high risk of certain behaviours when, in fact, the risk has actually reduced. For one young person, there is conflicting information in the missing-from-care risk assessment and the risk assessment action plan. The missing-from-care risk assessment is not sufficiently detailed or specific, for example, about where the young person may be. This affects staff’s ability to effectively locate the young person. Reports carried out on their return are also basic and do not provide sufficient insight to inform future practice. These issues have not been identified in the monitoring by the manager.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Ofsted received the last monitoring report by the manager in April 2016. The last manager completed a report in October 2016 but this was not sent to Ofsted. The report was on file, and upon review it was found that it lacked effective evaluation, and that it did not identify patterns or trends, or the action taken to address shortfalls in practice or records. The voice of the young people was not evident, and, overall, it failed to provide a robust analysis of the home’s progress or support the future development of the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Overall, the new manager has a good understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for improvement. He is improving the levels of consultation with young people, and this is evident in their contribution to the plans for the refurbishment of the home. He is aware that his application to become the registered manager is a priority and of the implications for him for failing to do so. He is actively chasing his outstanding checks to complete his application.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is one of several owned and managed by a private company. The home provides care and support for up to three young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 22/11/2016 Full Good 25/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 30/07/2015 Full Good 30/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that the registered person maintains 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))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that records show current concerns and the action taken to address these, and that any conflicting information is corrected. Also, ensure that all records are updated following any review of a young person’s care. 28/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that the registered person completes a review of the quality of care provided for children (‘a quality of care review) at least once every six months. The registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating the quality of care provided for children; the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. (Regulation 45 (1) (2) (a) (b) (c)) 28/04/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendations:  Ensure that children and young people live in a nurturing and supportive environment that meets the needs of the children and is a homely, domestic environment. (‘Guide to the children homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) In particular, the flooring in the lounge and activity rooms.

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Recommendations

 Ensure that staff have the knowledge and skills to recognise and be alert for any signs that might indicate a child is in any way at risk of harm. (‘Guide to the children homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.12) In particular, ensure that staff are confident to challenge other professionals and are able to report any safeguarding concerns without delay.

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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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