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

Inspection report children‟s home: SC022444 1 SC022444 Registered provider: PIC Children‟s Services Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private company. The home is able to provide care and support for one child or young person who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

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 sustained effectiveness.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, a new manager has been appointed. He has prior managerial experience as a deputy manager within the company and is familiar with the organisation‟s policies and procedures. He has recently submitted his application to Ofsted to become the registered manager. The manager is well aware of the issues from the previous inspection concerning record-keeping. He has begun to take action to address these issues and some improvement in the quality of record-keeping is evident. However, the manager acknowledges that he still has „some way to go‟.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

This is because not all records are routinely updated, and some do not contain all of the necessary information. For example, the young person‟s placement plan has gaps regarding the recording of the wishes, feelings and views of the young person. In addition, the young person does not have a complete behaviour management plan. This Inspection report children‟s home: SC022444 2 leaves the behaviour management strategies open to interpretation by staff members, which does not promote consistency for the young person.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

A new staff team was established in November 2017. It was thought that the new staff team had the skills and expertise to respond to and meet the needs of the most recently placed young person. However, not all staff have undertaken relevant training, specifically in relation to autistic spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The manager also acknowledged that he requires training on undertaking staff supervision. Senior managers are currently sourcing this training for the staff and manager.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The former young person moved out in a positive way. He had been waiting to hear the outcome of a court hearing, which had placed immense pressure on him. However, the staff team worked sensitively with the young person, alongside his social worker, to plan and prepare him for the move. As a result, he successfully moved into semi-independent accommodation of his own choice and has now secured employment. He has remained in touch with staff at the home, keeping them updated on what is happening in his life.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff worked hard to help the former young person to keep himself safe. This was in partnership with other professionals to ensure that he kept within the agreed boundaries. The current young person is new to the area. Staff are helping him to develop an awareness of his surroundings, and they use daily activities such as shopping to help him become familiar with the area. As a result, the young person is increasing his confidence, and he is now beginning to take the initiative and tell staff the way to go. This means that, should he wander off, he can find his way home.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The new young person enjoyed a smooth transition into the home. He excitedly told the inspector that his foster carer had visited the home first, and then he came to see the staff. He said, „The staff are the best.‟ The young person spoke enthusiastically about what he likes to do and about the films he had been to see at the cinema with staff. He eagerly showed the inspector his bedroom and all of his school awards, of which he is extremely proud. The young person has developed a positive relationship with the staff in the short time he has been here. He was keen to show off things that he has learned. For example, he proudly demonstrated how he can now tie his shoelaces because the staff have shown him how. He said, „It took a long time, but I did it.‟

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person‟s education is a priority for staff and they use everyday activities to support his learning. For example, a simple game of basketball not only increases his confidence and skills to play, but it is useful in developing the hand-eye coordination that he needs in order to develop his writing skills. Staff encourage him to find things out, such as what is for tea by looking at the menu. This simple game again helps to promote his literacy and reading skills.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Internal monitoring of the home is improving, and this provides some information regarding identified shortfalls that need to be addressed. However, the new independent person still has a backlog of reports. This means that the new manager is not getting the most up-to-date information to help him to drive forward improvements. In addition, the Inspection report children‟s home: SC022444 3 manager has yet to undertake a full review of the service. This means that he is unable to use this information to update and inform the home‟s development plan. The current plan refers to the previous young person and staff team. This is no longer relevant to the development of this home.

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/06/2017 Full Good 14/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 03/11/2016 Full Requires improvement 31/03/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness

p.3

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 to aspire to fulfil their full 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

ensure that the staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13(1)(a)(b)(2)(c))

p.3

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all staff complete the necessary training to meet the needs of young people. 28/02/2018

p.3

Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child, which include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child; are kept up-to-date; and are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1) (a)(b)(c)) 28/02/2018 Inspection report children‟s home: SC022444 4 In particular, ensure that records and documentation, such as the young person‟s care plan and behaviour management plans, reflect the current care and support provided.

p.3

Recommendations

 Ensure that the registered person actively seeks independent scrutiny of the home and makes best use of information from independent and internal monitoring (including under regulations 44 and 45) to ensure continuous improvement. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 55, paragraph 10.24) In particular, ensure that the reports by the independent person are up to date.  For children‟s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of the children, they will be in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 15, paragraph, 3.9) In particular, ensure that the young person‟s bedroom is redecorated.  Ensure that the registered person is responsible for deciding on what the manager‟s review should focus on. They will consider what information or data recorded at the home will form part of the evidence base for their analysis and

p.4

Recommendations

conclusions. The review should enable the registered person to identify areas of strength and possible weakness in the home‟s care, which will be captured in the written report. The report should clearly identify any action required in the next 6 months of delivery within the home and how these actions will be addressed. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 65 paragraph 15.4) In particular, ensure that this information is used to update the home‟s development plan.

p.4

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.4

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. Inspection report children‟s home: SC022444 5 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‟.

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider: PIC Children‟s Services Limited

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2 North Street, Haydock, St Helens, Merseyside WA11 0TW

p.5

Inspector

Chris Scully, social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: SC022444 6 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.

p.5

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.6

Inspector

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

p.6

Inspector

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

p.6