Children's Home run by Idem Living Limited in Knowsley

Inspection report children’s home: 1240449 1 Registered provider: Idem Living Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children who may have learning disabilities and/or physical disabilities. It is owned and managed by a limited company.

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: None

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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

A committed and qualified registered manager leads and manages the home. He is supported well by a dedicated team of staff. The manager is building a strong foundation on which the staff team can grow and develop.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home’s statement of purpose is not current. This is because it contains photographs of young people and staff who are no longer at the home. Furthermore, it does not state the actual age range of the young people that the home can care for. This does not provide up-to-date information about the service for placing authorities, parents and carers.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are safer because the home has improved its recruitment practices. In particular, there is a robust process to confirm the validity of any documents supplied by Inspection report children’s home: 1240449 2 the candidate, such as qualification certificates. Staff spoken to said that they now have regular supervision each month. They said that the home is now ‘on the ball’ with this and that supervision provides them with the opportunity to engage in a professional dialogue with the registered manager. This is further enhanced by the opportunities to meet regularly as a team to discuss young people’s progress, the staff’s learning opportunities and the changes in young people’s communication systems.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are in tune with each young person’s individual communication style. They work hard to ensure that each young person has a voice and that their voice is heard. Consequently, young people are making more choices about what they would like to do, the activities that they want to participate in and the food that they want to eat. One young person clearly indicated to the inspector that he is happy here, by using hand gestures and big beaming smiles.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people were consulted about the impending move of a third young person into the home. Staff carefully explained the changes that would be made at the home to each young person and the reason for this. As a result of the detailed, well-planned and carefully executed transition, the new young person settled in quickly to his new home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

A parent was very complimentary about the home and the support provided to her and her son. She said that the staff provide her with consistent reassurances and that the staff spend a lot of time getting to know her son and his needs. Staff adapted the home for him, rather than expecting him to fit into the home. She explained how she had decorated his room with the staff so that he felt at home and safe. She said that her son had ‘exceeded all of our expectations. He loves it here, and he is so settled. It is amazing.’ The young person is happy at the home. In the short time he has been here, he has built up a strong friendship with one of the other young people. Staff said this is wonderful to see, and the young people enjoy going out and spending time together.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people live in a warm and welcoming environment. Staff work hard to make it as homely as possible despite the need for specialist equipment, such as hoists. The gates to the front of the property have been replaced and provide a secure, yet appealing feel to the property. There are some minor potential trip issues, such as the loose-fitting carpet tiles in one bedroom and the sharp wood edging at the top of the stairs.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Record-keeping has improved. The registered manager ensures that all entries in the physical interventions log are evaluated and are used to track any emerging patterns or trends. This information is used as part of his analysis of the use of any physical intervention at the home. There are some shortfalls in the young people’s healthcare plans. Some plans are not sufficiently detailed and do not cross reference to other documents where this information is held. Consequently, it can be difficult to locate all of the current information about young people. Immediate action was taken by the registered manager to begin the process of rectifying this.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Monitoring of the home is improving. A new independent person has been appointed and their reports are more evaluative and provide greater insight for the registered manager to drive forward improvements. The manager’s monitoring reports are detailed and Inspection report children’s home: 1240449 3 provide a clear action plan to address any identified shortfalls, such as the further development of record-keeping and training. As a result, staff have just completed training on the ‘Prevent’ duty. They said that this was informative and helped them to look at the ways that they can keep the young people safe while using the internet.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/06/2017 Full Good 19/10/2016 Full Good

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Statutory requirement

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 keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it and notify HMCI of any revisions. (Regulation 16 (3)(a)) 30/03/2018

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Recommendations

 Ensure that the home meets the young people’s basic day-to-day needs and physical necessities (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.7). In particular, repair the loose-fitting carpet tiles in the bedroom and the sharp edge of wood at the top of the stairs.  Ensure that the staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. Information about the child should 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, paragraph 14.4). In particular, ensure that entries in young people’s healthcare plans and physical interventions book record all of the necessary information. In addition, ensure that staff make better use of cross-referencing between different records.

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Recommendations

Inspection report children’s home: 1240449 4

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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’.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Idem Living Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Newlands, 1a Huyton Hey Road, Liverpool L36 5SE

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Inspector

Chris Scully, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1240449 5 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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