Children's Home run by PIC Children’s Services 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 sustained effectiveness . The young person living in this home is making good progress in all aspects of her development. The small, consistent staff team continues to support the young person well during significant life events that are physically demanding and emotive. They ensure that she is safe and that all her health and educational needs are met. The young person commented, ‘I’ve engaged with all my appointments and completed my education course. I love it here.’ Staff continue to support the young person’s physical health and well-being. They are aware of the young person’s specific health needs, which are clearly recorded in her care plans. They support and facilitate the young person’s attendance at routine and specialist appointments such as child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS). As such, the young person continues to benefit from sustained

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

physical and emotional health. Staff use positive praise and rewards to help the young person to reach her goals. Staff work closely with education staff to ensure that the young person receives the correct level of education for her needs. This strategy has proved effective in helping the young person to attend and engage in education. This has assisted the young person to aspire to attend college placements and to plan for future jobs. Staff listen to the young person, understand the triggers to behaviour and identify how individual frustrations and anxieties, such as meeting new people and changes to her daily routine, could affect these. Staff have been successful in their efforts to reduce the young person’s high level of risk-taking behaviour such as going missing and self-harmful behaviour. They teach the young person how to keep safe and make positive choices. Staff work collaboratively with placing social workers and

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

other agencies such as therapists. They utilise these links and share good information in relation to the young person’s risks to promote a multi-agency approach in helping her to manage her behaviour and vulnerabilities. There have been no episodes of the young person going missing from the home and physical intervention has not been necessary. Staff promote and facilitate contact between the young person and her family where appropriate. They understand the importance of contact in relation to her culture and identity. Individual contact plans ensure that communication between the young person and her family is safe and a positive experience for all involved. This proactive approach affords the young person consistent care. The majority of requirements made at the last inspection have been suitably met. The home now sources feedback from families, placing social workers and staff. This assists the manager in reviewing and monitoring the quality of care afforded

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

to the young person. The statement of purpose now reflects how the home promotes a positive male member of staff in the home. A requirement made at the last inspection has been addressed but has not yet been fully met. The independent visitor’s report continues to lack clarity on whether the home promotes the young person’s well-being and whether she is suitably safeguarded. In addition, the report lacks detail and does not provide the manager with information to enable her to monitor and review the progress afforded to the young person. The home is keen to improve this and intends to assist the independent visitor in developing a strategy to ensure that the relevant information is provided.

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Information about this children’s home

This service is a privately run children’s home. The home provides care and accommodation for one young person who has behavioural and/or emotional difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

15/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

24/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Statutory requirements

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

44: Independent person: visits and reports 44(4) The independent person must produce a report about a visit (‘the independent person’s report’) which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether – (a) children are effectively safeguarded; (b) the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being. (Regulation 44(4)) 19/05/2017

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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

 The registered person should actively seek independent scrutiny of the home and make best use of information from independent and internal monitoring (including under regulations 44 and 45) to ensure continuous improvement. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24)

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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 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 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. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the

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Information about this inspection

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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