Children's Home run by Essandore 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 .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Leaders and managers make continuous steps to improve the care and experiences of children living in the home. The three requirements made at the previous inspection have been implemented effectively. Care planning documentation is now robustly audited by the manager and deputy manager to ensure that accurate information is contained on all children’s files. Recruitment of staff is now robust with all gaps in employment clearly established, including months and year of previous employment documented within recruitment files. This ensures that children are protected, and that all staff at the home are suitable and safe to work with children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children, including those who do not communicate verbally, are listened to and given choices. Visual prompts around communal areas of the home and in bedrooms provide reminders that the children are central to this home. Tailored support plans, created in consultation with school and parents and carers, mean that children are in a routine both at home and in the school environment.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

As part of the care planning, all of the children have a sensory assessment, which involves observation of their behaviours and movements to enable staff to address their individual needs and behaviours. Alongside this, children also receive weekly sensory sessions from a visiting aromatherapist. A staff member commented, ‘These sessions are invaluable. After the sessions, the therapist gives a full report on what aromas were used and how helpful or unhelpful these were.’ Children have benefited from these sessions, for example a young person was observed as being more relaxed by the smell of lavender. Staff then ensured that lavender was used when the young person was accessing the home’s sensory room to help him relax.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff and managers strive to find new ideas that will help in their day-to-day care of the children. A staff member commented, ‘I work with staff [to help them] to look at their own creativity. if they can do that they can identify the creativity in the kids.’ A social worker commented, ‘The difference is incredible, they just get to know the children very quickly and this results in a very settled home.’ The staff team is consistent and promotes positive and nurturing relationships. Staff provide care with warmth and compassion, they enjoy being with the children in their care and have the understanding and skills to meet their individual needs. Commenting on a pantomime put on by the staff and children at Christmas, a staff member said, ‘I have never seen the children smile so much. It was an injection of creative happiness.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff team understands how to safeguard young people, including those who are additionally vulnerable because of their disabilities. They receive regular training in this area. Safeguarding young people is a key component of care planning and delivery. Young people do not go missing. This is due to the high staffing ratios which mean that young people are supervised effectively at all times. Comprehensive risk assessments are in place to help keep them safe. Behaviour is managed well, using praise and distraction. Sanctions are not used, as most children would not understand or benefit from this concept. There has not been any use of restraint since the last inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Transitions have been managed remarkably well by staff, and this is clearly a strength of the home. One young person has moved out of the home since the last inspection and into the provider’s support living service. This was an exceptionally well-planned and facilitated move for the young person. For example, staff from the home worked for the first two weeks at the young person’s new home to help him settle. This alleviated any anxiety the young person may have been experiencing and helped towards a smooth transition.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staffing arrangements in the home meet the needs of the children. The clear strength of the cohesive and long-term staff team is that it is effective in maintaining stability for children. Staff are qualified to work with children in a residential setting. They also receive specific training according to the needs of the children, such as training on autism spectrum disorder, communicating with children and safeguarding. Regular staff meetings and handover discussions embed consistent practice across the staff team.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

An area for improvement resulting from this inspection includes ensuring that all documents are duly signed and dated by the authors.

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Information about this children's home

The home offers accommodation for up to five young people who have learning disabilities and who may also have physical disabilities. The home is owned by a private company.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 12/12/2016 Full Good 24/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 22/09/2015 Full Good 03/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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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 staff are familiar with the home's policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording, particularly with reference to recording the dates and designation of the recorder. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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 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

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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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