Children's home run by Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council in Sefton

Inspection report children’s home: SC476220 1 SC476220 Registered provider: Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This local authority children’s home provides short breaks for up to four children who have emotional and behavioural difficulties, including children in need and children with a child protection plan. Its main function is to work with children and families to enable them to continue to live together.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

Good

How well children and young people are helped and protected Good

p.1

Good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers Requires improvement to be good

p.1

Good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

Good

Date of last inspection: 11 January 2017

p.1

Good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

Good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

Key findings from this inspection

 The service is enabling young people to remain in the care of their families. Staff are skilled at supporting parents, grandparents and other relatives to care for and protect young people in their own family homes. Inspection report children’s home: SC476220 2  Young people benefit from developing warm, trusting relationships with the team. These positive relationships are helping young people to develop their self-esteem and gain a better understanding of their family situation.  Staff support young people to participate in activities that they enjoy. Not only does this improve young people’s social development and skills, it supports them to develop interests in activities that are safe.  Staff demonstrate a sound working knowledge of young people’s needs, strengths and vulnerabilities. Staff are alert to potential dangers and have strategies in place to manage and reduce risk.  Staff’s nurturing approach ensures that young people feel comfortable, valued

p.1

Key findings from this inspection

and safe during their short breaks.  Partnership working with young people, parents, social workers and other professionals makes sure that young people are swiftly linked in with the support services that they need.  The newly recruited manager demonstrates competent leadership. Staff feel supported, which is reflected in the high standard of support that they provide to young people and their families.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

The children’s home’s areas for development:

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 Monitoring systems can be strengthened to ensure that the service continues to develop and improve.  Records do not always provide sufficient details, in particular risk assessments and medication records. Additionally, children’s case records do not sufficiently reflect their progress and experiences.

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/01/2017 Full Good 02/08/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 11/02/2016 Full Good 28/10/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC476220 3

p.2

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet 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(s) must comply within the given timescales.

p.3

Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that helps children aspire to fulfil their potential and promotes their welfare.

p.3

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.3

Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (2)(h))

p.3

Requirement Due date

In particular, improve the auditing of the home’s records. 22/01/2018

p.3

Requirement Due date

The registered person must help the independent person, if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires. (Regulation 44(2)(a)) In particular, ensure that stakeholder views about the quality of care that the home is providing are sought from parents and relatives. 22/01/2018

p.3

Recommendations

 Medicines must be administered in line with a medically approved protocol. Records must be kept of the administration of all medication, which includes occasions when prescribed medication is refused. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.15) In particular, records must include the details of when a child has refused medication.  Staff should continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraphs 9.5) In particular, ensure that risk assessments are updated and sufficiently detailed. Inspection report children’s home: SC476220 4  Records must be kept detailing all individual incidents when children go missing from home (regulation 36 (schedule 3(14)). Evaluation of the missing incidents should be undertaken to identify any gaps in training, skills or knowledge for staff

p.3

Recommendations

or to record and retain evidence of what worked well. This evaluation should inform the review of the quality of care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraphs 9.31) In particular, missing from home records should include the action taken by staff and detail the circumstances of the young person’s return.  Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraphs 14.4) In particular, children’s case records should provide a detailed account and evaluation of their experiences, progress and the support and guidance that they receive during their visits to the home.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The service provides weekend short breaks to young people who are experiencing difficulties within their families. The service is part of the Community Adolescent Service (CAS), a team that provides intensive support to families in need of social care intervention.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Short-break planning is effective. The team works collaboratively with young people, parents/carers and social workers to tailor individualised short-break plans. In addition to providing short-break care, the service provides outreach support to young people and their families in their homes. As a result, young people and their families benefit from continuity in care and support provided by a consistent team. The service is highly valued by all stakeholders. A grandparent said, ‘This is a vital service. I don’t think there is another like it. Without them I would have struggled to keep my granddaughter with me.’

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people benefit from having planned introductions to the home before their first overnight stay. Additionally, young people are actively involved in decision-making during their stay. For example, they can choose their bedroom and they help staff to plan their meals and activities. Staff’s proactive approach to care planning helps young people to feel comfortable and secure during their short-break visits. This is reflected in a young person’s thank you card that was sent to the team that said, ‘I love staying at [home’s name]. Thank you for the help and support you have given me. The first time I came I was a bit shy but now I am sad to leave this children’s hotel.’

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The responsibility for young people’s health and education remains solely with their parents/carers. However, suitable arrangements are in place should a young person become unwell during their visit. This includes safe medication procedures where all medication is safely stored and administered. However, medication records can improve. Staff do not always record when a young person refuses to take their prescribed Inspection report children’s home: SC476220 5 medication. Consequently, on occasion, it is unclear why some medication had not been taken. This potentially hinders the monitoring of medication administration and staff’s practice in this area.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are nurturing, knowledgeable and committed to improving young people’s lives and experiences. They provide young people with a safe space to reflect on their life experiences and develop a greater understanding of their family situation. As a result, young people and their families develop improved coping strategies to tackle life’s daily challenges.

p.5

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people become more confident, resilient and self-assured because staff give them space, time and support to develop their self-esteem. Additionally, staff empower parents to understand their children’s emotions and behaviour, which in turn, enables them to manage their child’s behaviour more successfully.

p.5

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Without a doubt, the service is making a positive difference to young people’s lives and is enabling many young people to remain living safely at home with their families. However, improvements can be made in how the team evaluates and records young people’s progress and experiences. Although the team can provide verbal accounts of the successful work that they have undertaken with young people and their families, case records do not consistently reflect staff’s good work or the positive progress achieved.

p.5

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Young people’s welfare and safety are the team’s priorities. Staff know the young people extremely well and they work closely with parents/carers and social workers to assess risk and potential harm. This close partnership working promotes consistent safeguarding practice between the family home and short-break service. However, improvements can be made in staff’s written risk assessments, in particular ensuring that young people’s risk assessments are updated and providing greater clarity on the strategies identified to manage risk. So far, this recording shortfall has not had a detrimental effect on young people’s safety; however, it has the potential to do so.

p.5

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff receive training on a range of safeguarding matters, including child sexual exploitation. This provides staff with an in-depth understanding of all potential risks and makes them aware of their safeguarding duties and responsibilities.

p.5

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff manage young people’s behaviour well. With staff support and guidance, young people are learning how to make safer choices and keep themselves safe. Staff are skilled at de-escalating challenging situations when they arise and, as a result, the use of physical restraint has not been necessary. Staff are skilled at developing trusting relationships with young people. These trusting relationships are key to enabling young people to confide in staff and accept their guidance and support.

p.5

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Young people rarely go missing during their short-break visits. On the occasion that they do, staff follow clear missing from home procedures. This includes actively looking for Inspection report children’s home: SC476220 6 the young person and swiftly reporting the incident to the police, parents and social worker. Staff work closely with specialist missing from home services who provide young people with independent help and support. With staff and specialist intervention, young people, and their parents, gain insight into the reasons why they go missing. This enables parents to put preventative measures in place, which increases young people’s safety. The good work undertaken by staff is not reflected in the missing from home records. For example, records do not detail the action taken by staff or the circumstances of the young person’s return. Poor recording potentially undermines the manager’s monitoring of staff’s safeguarding practice.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

There have been changes in the leadership of the service since the last inspection. The registered manager resigned and a new manager has recently been appointed. The new manager is suitably qualified and experienced. Although she has only been in post for a short period, she demonstrates an in-depth understanding of the service’s strengths and areas for improvement. Furthermore, she has clear plans in place to develop the service. A member of staff described the new manager as, ‘A cracking boss! She is fully supportive on every aspect and has always got time. She is a great boss.’

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The service employs a sufficient number of experienced staff. The stable and diverse team is a key strength of the service. Team members come from a range of professional backgrounds, including social work, children’s residential services, substance misuse, mental health and paediatric nursing. This skilled and knowledgeable team is providing young people with access to a host of specialist information and support. Furthermore, partnership working with other services, such as social work teams and the specialist child sexual exploitation services, is enhancing young people’s safety and life chances.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The service provides its staff with a wide range of training opportunities. Staff receive regular professional supervision that provides them with opportunities to discuss their work, reflect on their practice and continue to learn and develop. As a result, the team is wholly equipped with the knowledge, skills and expertise to carry out their roles effectively.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff are enthusiastic about their work and proud of their success, particularly young people’s improved outcomes and the positive feedback that they receive from young people, parents and other professionals.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Independent monitoring was identified as a shortfall at the last inspection. These monitoring reports continue to omit the views of parents and other stakeholders, which undermines service users’ participation in service development. This requirement has been repeated.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Similarly, improvements can be made in the manager’s monitoring of the service, in particular the auditing of staff’s records, including risk assessments, missing from home, medication, and staff’s evaluation and recording of young people’s progress. Inspection report children’s home: SC476220 7 The home is maintained to a high standard. Young people are encouraged to personalise their own space and this helps them to feel comfortable, relaxed and secure during their visits.

p.6

Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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 whom it is trying to help, protect and look after.

p.7

Information about this inspection

Using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’, this inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, 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’. Inspection report children’s home: SC476220 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: People Directorate, 9th Floor, Merton House, Stanley, Bootle, Merseyside L20 3JA

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered manager: Judith Healey Karen Bryan

p.8

Inspector

Marina Tully, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC476220 9 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, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

p.8

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, 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 http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.9

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: http://www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.9