Children's home run by Inspire Children’s Services Limited in St. Helens

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home required 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

The six requirements raised at the last inspection have been fully addressed. Consequently, more robust monitoring of records has ensured that all required documentation is now maintained to a good standard. This includes restraint and accident records. The home has also developed a risk assessment specifically to show that due consideration is always given to suspending a member of staff as a neutral act during an investigation, before moving them to another of the company’s homes. This is then shared and agreed with the local safeguarding officer and the placing authority. There have been no allegations made at this home since the last inspection, but the agreed procedure has been effectively used in another of the company’s homes.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is a permanent and qualified staff team, which has an improved gender balance. Staff team members are specifically employed to work at this home and are regularly supervised. These features are fundamental to the provision of good- quality and safe childcare.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection, there was one young person in a solo placement at this home; she had only recently been admitted. Her social worker had specifically requested to use this company because the young person’s brother had made excellent progress here. However, from the outset she exhibited extremely aggressive behaviours, which resulted in a placement disruption. When the frequency of restraints noticeably increased, notice was served in recognition of the fact that the home was not meeting her emotional and behavioural needs. This was discussed sensitively with the young person, who said, ‘I am looking forward to moving. I am happy about it because I will be with other young people who I can hang out with.’ The manager took her to her new placement and settled her in. Her social worker said, ‘They worked in partnership with me and provided regular updates, but she was increasingly violent in the home and at school. They tried

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

their best to manage her behaviours and I would not hesitate to place another child here.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

In sharp contrast, the child currently living on his own at this home is really happy. He said, ‘I love it here and I really like all the staff.’ He is particularly benefiting from a quieter environment and the full attention of the staff, having previously lived in a 10-bed home. He would frequently feel anxious and put his hands over his ears, and he pulled out some teeth in his last placement due to being overstimulated. He has not displayed such behaviours in this home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The consistent and highly motivated staff team has established sound, trusting relationships with this child. His social worker said she was ‘very impressed’ with the admission process, which was conducted sensitively and gradually at the child’s pace. She said, ‘Both placements have worked together over a transition period to ensure that all the information has been shared and ensuring he continues with his very structured routines. This meant that the young person was very much looking forward to moving and has settled quickly. This company have been really good in providing him with a bespoke package which the staff team have fully embraced.’ Therapy sessions for the child were in place prior to placement, so these commenced immediately and he is positively engaging with them. He also genuinely enjoys and fully engages in frequent key-work sessions where highly relevant and sensitive issues are fully explored. In particular, he now feels safe

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

enough to start to open up about his traumatic past and the intense feelings this evokes.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been no missing-from-home incidents, self-injurious behaviours or risk- taking behaviour since the new placement began. Consequently, the young person has had no sanctions or cause to be restrained. Rather, he has had lots of rewards for good behaviour and effort. This is all outstanding progress from his starting points. When he moved to this home he also started a new specialist school that can meet his specific behavioural and learning needs. To his credit, he managed both of these major transitions extremely well, has settled quickly in the home and the school, and has maintained excellent school attendance from day one. With support, he also had the confidence to participate in his most recent personal educational planning meeting. He insightfully said, ‘I am a nice person and I am very good at physical activities. I love school and I am very well behaved there, but I don’t like homework. I am good at learning and I am smart. I have some good

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

friends and I am good at being a friend.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

His teachers are very pleased with his academic progress; they described him as, ‘A very caring young boy who is able to empathise with others. He is always cheerful and helpful, especially when others are in need. He is an active reader with an active imagination. He is a very active boy and enjoys all the PE activities offered in school. He likes recognition and is often voted star of the week.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

His independent advocate said, ‘This home provides him with the safety and stability he needs and a variety of activities. The staff are enthusiastic and cooperative. They are quick to respond to his individual needs and keep me informed of his progress.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This child is extremely happy and settled at this home and embraces every opportunity afforded him. A key strength of this company is the frequency and range of constructive activities offered to children and young people, and this child is trying them all. He said, ‘I loved building dens in the forest and going into the caverns.’ Individual interests and talents are actively encouraged and supported, which has boosted his self-esteem and increased his competencies. Examples include drama, horse riding and animal care. He also loves reading, so he has joined the local library, and he goes to a local youth club, which strengthens his sense of belonging. He is very excited about the camping trip that he was involved in planning for, which will take place during the imminent Easter holidays; the trip will include lots of new and challenging activities. He said, ‘We are going to the beach and boat fishing, go-karting and horse riding, and to a farm and an aviation

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

He says he loves the decor in the home and the big garden, where he has already hung bird feeders that he made. He now intends to grow fruit and vegetables. He was particularly thrilled that his bedroom was painted in his favourite colour before he arrived. He also chose all his furnishings prior to admission, so his room is highly personalised. He is now actively involved in developing a new sensory room.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The clear and structured nightly routines in place at this home mean that the young person is now able to settle quickly and sleeps well without medication. This is significant progress. He loves playing in the bath with his toys before supper and then enjoys staff reading to him once he is settled in bed. He said, ‘I’ve got a night lamp which helps me to settle and I feel safe knowing that staff stay by my side until I fall asleep. I give this home the thumbs up. I think it’s awesome here.’

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Information about this children’s home

This is a private children’s home registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 17/11/2016 Full Requires improvement 16/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 12/08/2015 Full Good 24/03/2015 Interim Sustained 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 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 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

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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