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

Inspection report children’s home: SC411825 1 SC411825 Registered provider: Inspire Children’s Services Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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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 and young people at any given time who may be experiencing emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The one young person currently living at this home remains very happy, settled and safe. He said, ‘I found out lots of useful things about the home and visited it before I chose to move in. It’s excellent here. I love it. It’s cool and I am really happy. I like the food and the staff. We have fun together and they help me with my maths. I do lots of activities and really enjoyed the bonfire and Halloween parties, footy, Scouts and crabbing.’

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

He remains in a solo placement given the complexities of his needs and has made very good progress since moving to this home. This was formally recognised by his placing authority at an awards ceremony in October 2017. Furthermore, he received an annual trophy in December for ‘Outstanding effort throughout 2017’, which is proudly displayed Inspection report children’s home: SC411825 2 in his bedroom. At school he has recently received certificates for ‘Caring for other pupils’ and for being ‘The star baker.’

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

His wishes and feelings are genuinely central to the day-to-day running of the home. Recent examples include: getting a pet goldfish; involvement in a review of the menus; gaining an extended bedtime; and helping with a redesign of the extensive garden. He is delighted with the lights he chose for the new bird tables. He also decided on the location for his summer holiday. He said, ‘I had a fantastic time on my holiday.’

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Good staffing ratios enable the staff to be very attentive to this young person’s unique needs and personal preferences. Consequently, previous significant self-injurious behaviours have ceased and there have been no incidences of him going missing. He said, ‘I feel safe here and since moving here I have never gone missing. The staff look after me really well all the time and spend lots of time with me. I can talk to them about anything and they have helped me to understand why I am in care.’

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

He has clearly benefited from being cared for by a relatively stable, consistent, qualified and experienced staff team since moving to this home. Furthermore, he has been gradually and sensitively prepared for any changes to the staff team. Consequently, there has been limited negative impact on his behaviours.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

To his credit, he has maintained 100% school attendance since moving to this placement. This was recognised at his end of year school awards ceremony. His most recent school report stated, ‘He is now making above expected progress in English and excellent progress in his reading due to the support from the care staff.’ Due to the dark mornings, there was a period of him struggling to get up, but this was effectively overcome by reminding him that Father Christmas was checking that he was being good.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Christmas was a magical time for him. He put out a mince pie for Santa and carrots for the reindeers and he woke up on Christmas morning to find he had got all the presents on his list and more.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This young person continues to enjoy taking part in a wide range of constructive activities. This helps to further strengthen his already strong sense of belonging. Individual interests and talents are actively encouraged and supported, which is continually developing his competencies and confidence. Current examples include: weekly football training; a youth club with its own skate ramp, dance studio, and arts and crafts room; equestrian care; and canine care. He particularly loves dogs and frequently asks for one of his own. As this is against company policy, the staff have created lots of opportunities for him to spend time with his favourite animals in safe and controlled environments. In turn, this has enhanced the significant work on ‘stranger danger’ as he would previously run up to anyone with a dog with no thought for his safety. In this area, he has shown particularly good progress. The four recommendations made at the last inspection have all been satisfactorily

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

addressed. This means that the décor in the bathroom has improved so it is now a more relaxing and welcoming place for the young person to enjoy his much loved bathtimes. Inspection report children’s home: SC411825 3 Stakeholder feedback on the quality of care provided in the home is consistently extremely positive. Without exception, they all confirm excellent partnership working and ongoing communication with the staff team. However, at the last inspection, there was no evidence that any suggestions to improve the service were responded to. This is now clearly evidenced. For example, the young person’s independent reviewing officer stressed the need to increase his opportunities for peer relationships, especially given that this is a solo placement. In response, he joined a local Scout group. This will also meet his interest in Christianity as they are linked closely to the local church and he is

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

supported to get actively involved in religious celebrations.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home has always undertaken frequent and relevant key-worker sessions, but at the last inspection they were not evaluated for their effectiveness. In response, a new system is now in place whereby the manager reviews the work completed after 10 sessions. This clearly demonstrates the young person’s improved progress to date. Examples include: improved table manners; taking less time to tolerate a necessary change in routine; having a better understanding of the distinction between public and private behaviours; and enjoying a half-hour bath every night without supervision.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Because this work is now scrutinised, the quality of the recordings has also improved. Moreover, the recording format for young people’s monthly meetings has recently been developed to be more user-friendly. This means that the voice of the child now shines through.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Healthy lifestyles are actively promoted at this home with nutritious homemade meals and frequent physical activities. Since the last inspection, the home now specifically records his fruit and vegetable intake to improve his natural digestive system. This shows that he enjoys a particularly wide range of varieties. Good systems are in place to ensure that all his health appointments and required treatments are up to date. He has grown five inches in the last 12 months and appropriately gained weight. He has also recently lost some baby teeth and was thrilled that the tooth fairy came with a £2 coin. He was not as impressed on the second occasion when he found change under his pillow.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

A significant development since the last inspection is the commencement of life story work. In preparation, the deputy met the young person’s parents to gain information about his early childhood and to receive some family photographs. The young person is enjoying being actively involved in creating his life story book.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person is engaging extremely well and quickly opened up about his traumatic past. This demonstrates the trusting relationships established by the staff despite his known attachment issues. The team has also been well prepared for the range of intense emotions this has inevitably fuelled and some challenging behaviours. They all received specific training and benefit from ongoing advice from a therapist. His social worker said, ‘This staff team has the skills and experience to manage his challenging behaviours very well. Meeting his needs is clearly paramount and, as a result, he is doing so well.’ The young person said, ‘I have been restrained here but staff always talk to me about it after.’ Inspection report children’s home: SC411825 4 There was a notable increase in physical interventions in October 2017. However, staff have work hard with the young person and interventions have again decreased. This is

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

because the young person has been successfully helped to find coping strategies to manage his feelings. However, on some occasions he has vocalised that he wants to be held and has escalated his negative behaviours until he is. In response, the home has developed a ‘comfort hold’ support plan in discussion with relevant stakeholders. However, there is reluctance to fully enact this plan until a full assessment of his needs has been undertaken. A recommendation has been made to address this. There have been significant delays by the health authority in addressing this matter despite continued pressure from the care staff.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This young person responds particularly well to the home’s emphasis on positive reinforcement of good behaviours and effort. Robust management monitoring of patterns and trends clearly shows that, in the six months since the last inspection, the sanctions imposed are fair, relevant and proportionate to the particular misdemeanour.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff responses to the Ofsted survey confirm that they are all highly satisfied with the support, training and supervision they receive and with their involvement in the continued development of the service. This keeps them motivated. Furthermore, since the last inspection , the quality of staff supervision sessions has been enhanced by enabling individuals to practise keys areas for their own personal development in a safe environment. This team is also now maintaining a research-led folder to aid understanding and reflect on their practice. Comments from staff include, ‘I am enjoying my role and feel well supported’, ‘We are well trained and confident in our roles’, ‘I am well managed here’ and ‘My supervision and appraisals help me to continually improve.’

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This experienced staff team has the confidence and competence to appropriately challenge agencies. Recently, this has directly led to improved supervision at the young person’s school and a new timetable to reduce the number of transitions in a school day. This is aimed at better safeguarding and promoting his welfare. Another recent positive development is the introduction of a handover at the start and end of the school day to further improve communication. The headteacher said, ‘This home has a very nurturing feel and the staff are professional and are always child-centred in their approach.’

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person’s social worker concluded, ‘He is provided with an excellent standard of care. The support this home offers him is invaluable and he now has a positive future ahead of him.’

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/06/2017 Full Good 21/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 17/11/2016 Full Requires improvement 16/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC411825 5

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Recommendations

 The home should continue to take the initiative in engaging with relevant people and advocating for the child to receive a specialist assessment of his holistic needs. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 12, paragraph 2.7)

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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

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

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: SC411825 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Inspire Children’s Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 3, Craig Court, Standish Street, St Helens, Merseyside WA10 1GJ

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Inspector

Lynn O’Driscoll, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC411825 7 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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