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

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home can accommodate two young people who are unable to live in their own family setting. The manager has been registered since June 2018.

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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: 11 January 2018

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: improved effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC411825 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/01/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness 06/06/2017 Full Good 21/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 17/11/2016 Full Requires improvement Inspection report children’s home: SC411825 3

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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 care planning standard is that children receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home. (Regulation 14(1)(a)) This specifically relates to the need for the child’s placement review minutes to be in place. 16/11/2018 Inspection report children’s home: SC411825 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The one current child lives in a warm family-likehome where he is supported by his staff to achieve positive outcomes. Staff provide good-quality care that is making a difference to his life. Staff provide clear, consistent boundaries, which support him to develop positive relationships. This has resulted in a decrease in the use of physical intervention. An independent advocate said, ‘Children receive individualised care. Staff are committed to children and provide a homely, nurturing environment.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide consistency, security and stability. Incentives and rewards are tailored to the child’s individual likes and interests. Staff ensure that the child is safe and understands how to keep himself safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are no plans to admit another child into the home. The manager will continue to review this plan, and if another child is admitted this will be a gradual introduction. Staff are supporting and encouraging the child to develop positive relationships with his peers. He attends a local friends group that is helping him to widen his friendship group outside of the home. Staff ensure that these friendships are positive and safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s school attendance is 99%. Staff assist and encourage him to engage in education. They keep in regular contact with the education staff. This means that both disciplines provide the child with consistent boundaries and guidance.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff care about the child. They create a calm, nurturing, homely atmosphere where he feels comfortable and safe. The child is happy and contented living in his home. He said about his home and the staff, ‘It’s a dream come true.’ Staff and the child enjoy meals together. They talk about the events of the day and share stories. The staff provide appropriate praise and reassurance to the child for his positive behaviour and his achievements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff offer a wide range of activities. The child has attended Scouts, had fun at Alton Towers and is preparing to go on holiday with staff. Staff encourage him to take part in the running of the home. He has recently helped staff to choose the wallpaper and paint for the living room. This gives him a sense of belonging and increases his self-worth and self-confidence.

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

Staff give the child’s safety and well-being high priority. The child is well protected because of the high level of staff supervision. The child does not go missing from the home because staff keep him busy and active. Staff have completed safeguarding and missing-from-home training. The home has procedures in place that tell them what to do and whom to contact if the child goes missing from the home. Staff understand their roles and responsibilities in keeping the child safe. Inspection report children’s home: SC411825 5 Staff show a strong commitment to overcoming difficult and challenging behaviour. They have good insight into the child’s emotional needs. Behaviour management plans include the use of humour and distraction. These strategies are proving successful in helping the child to manage his anger in a more positive way.

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

Risk assessments and behaviour management plans are well considered. Staff have sourced a weighted comfort blanket for the child to provide security when he feels anxious or distressed. This has contributed to the reduction in physical intervention.

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

The manager owns a therapy dog, which he brings to the home. There is evidence that the manager researched this thoroughly. A strong risk assessment is in place and the manager and staff have additional support from Therapy Dogs Nationwide. This will assist in ensuring that this is safe practice and is well managed and supported by the right professionals. The child and dog have developed a bond. The dog supports the child to remain calm and manage his anger in a calmer way. The child said of the dog, ‘I love (B) so much. I can do tricks with him. He likes his treats and he’s so good.’

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

The manager reviews the home’s area risk assessment on a regular basis. He has ensured that appropriate strategies for managing identified risks are effective. The manager has considered the risks to the child of sexual exploitation and radicalisation. He ensures that staff complete the relevant training. This provides staff with the knowledge and understanding of the risks and the strategies needed to manage them.

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

Staff employed at the home are subject to organisational vetting procedures. They do not start work in the home until all the appropriate checks are complete. This ensures that children are protected from persons who may present a risk to them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home’s manager is child-focused and prioritises the child’s needs. He keeps up to date with the child’s day-to-day care by spending time with him. He has a positive relationship with the child. He is dedicated to the child’s individual development, safety and care. He intends to enrol on the level 5 diploma in leadership and management.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a good understanding of how the child’s history can cause his behaviour to escalate. He is proactive in ensuring that the staff are well equipped to deliver the right level of care for the child. The manager has sourced training, which will enable the staff to engage the child in life-story work. This skill has given staff the knowledge to support and assist the child to learn about his past. This is helping the child to gain a sense of identity and an understanding of the reasons why he is unable to live with his family. A member of staff said, ‘I used a story from the bible that helped him to understand his previous placement. We watched a video of it together. It was simple and effective.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has ensured that the child has contact with people who are important to him, in line with his care plan. Staff ensure that contact is safe and of benefit to the Inspection report children’s home: SC411825 6 child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a good understanding of the progress that the child has made in respect of his plans. He develops detailed care plans. He ensures that the child’s views on his care are considered and implemented wherever appropriate. The manager monitors the progress that the child makes. This method helps him to identify any developing patterns and trends. This means that he can act to address any areas of concern that are identified.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

All significant events about the welfare of the child are reported to the appropriate authorities to ensure that appropriate action is taken to protect him.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

All staff receive regular supervision, which focuses on the progress of children. Staff say that this is helpful to help them develop their knowledge, skills and practice. A staff member said, ‘The manager is very supportive. I have regular supervision. He gives praise about my practice and we discuss issues that I need to improve.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager monitors and reviews the child’s plans and ensures that staff follow them. The minutes of the child’s review meeting have not been sent to the home by the placing authority. The manager has repeatedly requested these from the placing social worker. The organisation plans to escalate this issue to a higher level.

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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: SC411825 7

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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

Jo Hornby, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC411825 8 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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Inspector

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