Children's Home run by 2nd Nurture Limited in St Helens

Inspection report children’s home: SC413223 1 SC413223 Registered provider: 2nd Nurture Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a private organisation and offers care and accommodation to one young person who has emotional and/or behavioural difficulties or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 13 to 14 December 2017

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: 21 February 2017

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC413223 2

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Key findings from this inspection

 The young person has made significant progress in all areas of his life since he moved into the home. This includes progress in education, health, family relationships, reduction in anti-social and criminal behaviour and the number of times and length of time he is missing from home.  The young person has made considerable progress in education. His attendance, engagement and achievement have significantly improved.  The young person’s health needs are being met well. He attends all routine health and development appointments and additional health checks as necessary. He is encouraged to receive dental treatment and although some dental treatment is outstanding, he has visited the dentist and taken advice and guidance.  The young person’s involvement in criminal and anti-social behaviour has significantly reduced. He has engaged fully with his youth offending order, which has now been completed.  Safeguarding practice at the home is effective. Consequently, the risks to the

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Key findings from this inspection

young person have reduced and he is safeguarded at the home.  The home fully supports and encourages family relationships and contact. Consequently, the young person’s relationships with his family have significantly improved. He now has overnight stays with his family once a week and this is going exceptionally well.  The young person has very good relationships with the registered manager and staff at the home. He feels able to talk to them and knows that they will listen and take action to support his views, wishes and feelings.  The registered manager and staff are suitably qualified and experienced. They are motivated and committed to ensuring that the young person’s needs are met well.  Staff are fully supported by the registered manager. They receive regular reflective supervision and training and development opportunities. Staff morale is good and they regularly meet as a team to reflect on and share good practice

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Key findings from this inspection

and discuss their learning from training and development opportunities. This ensures that there is a consistent approach to the care provided to the young person living at the home.

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Key findings from this inspection

The children’s home’s areas for development:

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Key findings from this inspection

 The external monitoring at the home needs to be strengthened. Although the independent person completes monthly monitoring visits in line with regulation, the reports from these visits are not routinely sent to Ofsted. Consequently, the Inspection report children’s home: SC413223 3 regulator is not kept abreast of the safeguarding practice and how the home promotes the young person’s well-being.  The home does not have a workforce plan in place that outlines the workforce related requirements for children’s homes in line with regulations for children’s homes.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 26/10/2016 Full Good 31/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 12/01/2016 Full Outstanding Inspection report children’s home: SC413223 4

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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.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month. 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— children are effectively safeguarded; and the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being. Also, the independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to— HMCI; upon request, the local authority for the area in which the home is located; the placing authorities of children; the registered provider and, if applicable, the registered manager; and the responsible individual (if one is nominated). (Regulation 44 (1)(4)(a)(b)(7)) 31/01/2018

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Recommendations

 The registered person should have a workforce plan, which can fulfil the workforce related requirements of regulation 16, schedule 1 (paragraphs 19 and 20). The plan should: detail the processes and agreed timescales for staff to achieve induction, probation and any core training (such as safeguarding, health and safety and mandatory qualifications). The plan should be updated to include any new training and qualifications completed by staff while working at the home, and used to record the ongoing training and continuing professional development needs of staff – including the home’s manager. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8) Inspection report children’s home: SC413223 5

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young person has made significant and sustained progress in all areas of his life, including education, health and development, reducing criminal and anti-social behaviour, as well as building their confidence and independence. Outcomes have improved because of the high level of care, support and intervention he receives from the registered manager and staff in the children’s home. The young person feels safe and happy living at the home. The relationships between the registered manager, staff and the young person are very good. This promotes the overall positive experiences for the young person and underpins the progress he makes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Despite a history of non-engagement in education, the young person is now fully engaged. He is making good progress and is keen to achieve well. This is encouraged and supported by the registered manager and staff. The registered manager and staff liaise with education professionals effectively to ensure that the young person’s education needs are being met. Furthermore, the home ensures that the young person has structured routines to support his regular attendance and engagement in education. Education professionals speak positively about the young person’s engagement and progress. His most recent education report stated, ‘He is currently on target and continues to put a lot of effort in.’ The positive approach of staff to supporting the young person enhances his future life chances.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager and staff have a good understanding of the young person’s health needs and this is supported by a detailed healthcare plan. Staff support and encourage the young person to attend health and development appointments to ensure that his health needs are met. The young person is up to date with all relevant checks but some dental treatment is outstanding. The young person is reluctant to have this dental treatment, but the staff have sensitively managed to encourage him to attend to gain advice on guidance on the treatment he needs and the consequences of not having the treatment. Furthermore, this has been addressed with the young person in a key- work session. Staff acknowledge that the young person has a right to make choices about his health but seek to educate and influence him to address all of his health needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Placement planning is good. The young person’s needs are clearly defined and suitable measures are in place to address them. Staff are proactive in seeking support and intervention from professionals to ensure that the young person receives the most appropriate support to meet his needs. For example, the young person receives specialist support in relation to substance misuse and criminal behaviour. Key-work sessions work hand in hand with the young person’s identified needs and targets. The young person engages well with these sessions, which have supported him to make informed and better choices. Consequently, the young person is more settled, safer and is making good progress. Inspection report children’s home: SC413223 6 Relationships between the young person and staff are good. The young person said, ‘I get on well with all of the staff. They do not mither me! They do all they can to keep me happy, safe and settled.’ Staff spend time with the young person and do all that they

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

can to engage him in various activities. Recently, the staff have supported the young person to undertake activities with his peers, as he prefers this to doing activities with staff. The young person is encouraged to share his views, wishes and feelings through regular discussions with staff, key-work sessions, young people’s meetings, team meetings and looked after children’s review meetings. Staff listen and respond to the young person’s views, wishes and feelings and that makes the young person feel valued and listened to.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Relationships with the young person’s family and staff are firmly established. The home has supported the young person and his family to build relationships and spend more time together. The young person’s parent recorded in his positive praise book at the home, ‘Well done. I am so proud of you. You have come so far.’ Contact for the young person with his family has progressed to unsupervised contact on a daily basis and includes overnight stays. This demonstrates the level of commitment and support that the home provides for the young person and his family as well as the importance placed by the registered manager and staff on ensuring that the young person is able to develop and maintain positive relationships with the people who are important to him.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is maintained to a good standard and provides a safe, nurturing environment. There are personal items of the young person’s around the home and not just in his bedroom. This includes many family photographs. The home provides a welcoming and homely atmosphere, which makes the young person feel settled and safe.

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

Safeguarding practice at the home is robust. The registered manager and staff have a clear understanding of the individual risks to the young person. Effective strategies are in place to reduce the risks and support the young person to keep himself safe. Consequently, the risks to the young person have reduced since he moved into the home.

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

The young person has a history of anti-social behaviour and involvement in criminal activity. These behaviours contributed to the reasons why he became a looked after child and moved into the children’s home. However, due to the support and intervention from the registered manager and staff, and other professionals, these behaviours have significantly reduced. Staff spend time with the young person raising his awareness and understanding of the consequences of his behaviour, which has helped him to change his behaviour to the extent that he is no longer getting into trouble with the police or causing unsettlement in the community. Furthermore, the young person has been encouraged and supported to adhere to his youth offending order, which he has now successfully completed. The young person has changed his lifestyle and now has aspirations for his future.

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

The registered manager and staff have a clear understanding of the risks that the young Inspection report children’s home: SC413223 7 person faces when he is missing from the home. Appropriate action is taken to locate the young person and encourage his quick and safe return. The staff have had many discussions with the young person about the risks of going missing and the need to keep staff informed of his whereabouts. Staff now have contact details for the young person’s friends and family so they can usually locate him quickly when he does not return home on time. When he returns home, he receives a warm welcome home, staff check on his welfare and arrange an independent return interview. This helps to understand why the young person went missing, the risks he faced when missing and how to prevent further episodes.

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

There is a risk assessment in place for the young person that clearly details the risks posed to him and the strategies in place to manage the risks. This is regularly reviewed. The young person’s comments are included in his risk assessment. His involvement in devising the risk assessment means that he has a clearer understanding of the risks that he faces and how to keep himself safe from harm. As a result, the risks to the young person have reduced significantly since he moved into the home.

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

Behaviour management at the home is effective and supports the young person to improve his behaviour. The staff and young person clearly understand what is expected of them to ensure that behaviour is appropriate. The young person receives daily incentives and rewards for positive behaviour and engagement. Any sanctions are usually linked to the incentives in place for positive behaviour and engagement and are fair and proportionate. There have been no incidents requiring the staff to use physical intervention. Consequently, the young person has developed strategies to manage his behaviour. This has resulted in the young person presenting with positive behaviour at both the home and while in the community.

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

There have been no incidents when the young person has returned home under the influence of substances. However, the staff have been alert to this and have measures in place so that they are able to take effective action in the event that this should happen. Furthermore, the young person receives good advice and guidance during key-work sessions and from the substance misuse service to support and safeguard him from the risks associated with substance misuse.

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

The home’s location risk assessment is detailed and evaluative and includes the young person’s views on the home’s location. Information has been obtained from various agencies in the area, which has contributed to the risk assessment being clear and effective in managing all known risks to the young person within the local community.

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

Good health and safety practices at the home ensure that the young person’s safety and well-being are paramount. Staff carry out regular health and safety checks, including fire drills to ensure that the premises are safe and that the young person is able to respond in an emergency.

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

Staff recruitment practice is safe and ensures that only the most appropriate staff work at the home. Recruitment checks demonstrate that all relevant checks, including references, criminal records and work history, have been explored. This ensures that the Inspection report children’s home: SC413223 8 young person is safeguarded from unsuitable staff working in his home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager of the home is suitably experienced and qualified to fulfil her role. She has high aspirations for herself as the manager, her staff team and the young person living at the home. She provides effective leadership and management of the children’s home that prioritises the welfare of the young person and focuses on improving outcomes for him, in line with the aims and objectives of the home’s statement of purpose and the young person’s care plan. She ensures that the young person receives a good standard of care in a positive and nurturing home environment. The stable and experienced staff team helps the young person to enjoy positive experiences and make good progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager and staff have developed good working relationships with the young person’s family, social worker, education and health professionals, youth offending worker, missing from home co-ordinator and others. They work together effectively to ensure that the young person receives the support and services that he requires to promote his welfare. A social worker said, ‘The home is fantastic with a capital F. The young person has made so much progress since he has been there and the home maintains regular lines of communication with the young person’s parent, other professionals and myself.’ Consequently, this positive partnership working results in the young person receiving the most appropriate support and intervention to meet his needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager and staff have high aspirations for the young person and endeavour to provide him with good opportunities and experiences. They ensure that the young person’s voice is heard and that he influences decisions made that affect his life. Furthermore, they ensure that the young person gets the best possible support to improve outcomes for him. Consequently, the young person has made progress in all areas of his life.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team members feel supported and they receive regular supervision that allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the young person. Supervision for new staff is more frequent and they benefit from a supportive induction plan. Records of supervision are detailed and demonstrate that the young person’s progress is discussed in detail. Furthermore, the individual continuous professional development of staff is also routinely discussed. Staff are required to demonstrate their learning from training and development opportunities at supervision sessions. This demonstrates that staff training and development is used well to support staff and develop their knowledge and skills further.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff members are qualified or working towards the national vocational qualification level 3. The home has an ongoing staff development and training programme. Regular training and development opportunities are provided to the registered manager and staff team to ensure that they are equipped to fulfil their roles, provide a good quality of care and to meet the needs of the young people who they are responsible for. Inspection report children’s home: SC413223 9 Monitoring and review systems at the home support the manager to identify the strengths and weaknesses, patterns and trends and the action to be taken to address these. There is evidence of actions being taken following visits from the independent person. However, the monthly reports for the external monitoring by the independent person are not routinely sent to Ofsted in line with regulation. Therefore, the regulatory body is not kept up to date on the home’s arrangements for safeguarding and promoting

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

the welfare of young people in the home’s care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is functioning in line with its statement of purpose. This document clearly sets out the ethos, aims and objectives of the home, which are clearly embedded in practice at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home does not have a workforce development plan in place that outlines the current staff team and their experience, training and development needs, the home’s arrangements for supervision or how poor performance is managed. Consequently, the home does not have a workforce development plan in line with the quality standards for children’s homes. However, the registered manager started work on this during the inspection.

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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.

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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: SC413223 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: 2nd Nurture Limited

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Inspector

Lisa Mulcahy: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC413223 11 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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