Children's home run by Restorative Social Care Services Ltd

Inspection report children’s home: 1263673 1 Registered provider: Inspire Social Care Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and operated by a private company. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for three children or young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. 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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 1263673 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/01/2018 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: 1263673 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people living at this home feel an immediate sense of belonging. The atmosphere is warm, relaxed and welcoming. This has helped the young people to settle down quickly and experience consistent and highly individualised care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people have established trusting relationships with staff, enabling them to share their worries and anxieties. This is having a positive influence on their progress relative to their time in placement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Barriers to education are overcome by the proactive and close working relationships with education providers and the virtual school service. This ensures that the young people are more likely to engage in education and learning that are tailored to their needs and interests. One young person has re-engaged in post-16 education and is pursuing her interest in hair and beauty.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are mindful of the importance of nurturing and rekindling family relationships. Contact is promoted and supported by staff, both practically and emotionally. Staff have been proactive in re-establishing contact with a parent of one young person following a seven-year gap. Another young person has successfully moved to live with his brother or sister.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people have a wealth of opportunities to engage in activities of their choosing. A young person said: ‘I really enjoy my life at (name of home) and particularly enjoy trying new activities like bowling, playing snooker and going to the gym. I like spending time with staff and chilling with them, watching a film and eating popcorn.’ Two young people experienced a life-time opportunity and went on holiday abroad.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Recording activity reflects the everyday lives of the young people. Their views, wishes and feelings are given credence, and staff are good advocates. Staff support the young people to attend their reviews and have a voice in the care planning process. One young person has been supported to vocalise her thoughts and feelings about moving onto semi-independence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Direct work is undertaken with the young people to help them to understand and reflect on their actions. Specialist advice and support are sought and referrals are made, for example to mental health services and the youth offending team, that have seen an overall reduction in the incidence of self-harm and anti-social behaviours.

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

Young people’s risks are managed through close working relationships with partner agencies. Regular communication with the police and regular visits to the home help to protect the young people. Staff follow protocol when young people go missing. This includes going out looking for them and contacting family and friends. A police officer Inspection report children’s home: 1263673 4 commented: ‘The staff and manager communicate frequently; there is good partnership working.’

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

Safeguarding practice is underpinned by the quality of the well-documented risk assessments that clearly identify known risks and vulnerabilities. Early intervention strategies and multi-agency planning effectively diverted one young person from being sexually exploited. The manager commented: ‘I can’t pinpoint one particular amazing piece of work. It was staff vigilance and (Name’s) engagement with her social worker.’

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

Staff clearly know the young people well, and the individual work undertaken helps them to consider different ways of managing their emotions, anger and frustrations. As a result, for one young person physical interventions have been significantly reduced. A recommendation made at the last inspection in relation to recording physical interventions is met.

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

The staff implement a good balance between the use of positive incentives and sanctions, and this has been particularly effective in areas such as internet safety and the appropriate use of social media. Appropriate action is taken that has seen a reduction in harm to self and others.

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

Safe recruitment practice and the matching of staff skills and experience have ensured that the young people receive safe care, balancing appropriate supervision and independent/free time. The young people increasingly know how to keep themselves safe, and staff equip them to take managed risks. This trust in the young person has seen real improvements in communication and cooperation when they are on free time.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is suitably qualified and brings with her several years’ experience of managing children’s homes. She became the registered manager in June 2018 and received a supportive transition from the previous manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has quickly developed a positive rapport with the young people, their families and her staff team. She has established purposeful relationships with other agencies, which contributes to ensuring the safety and well-being of the young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Young people have a voice in all aspects of their care and the day-to-day running of their home. Children and young people feel involved in decisions made about them from the point of admission. One young person said: ‘I was asked how I wanted my bedroom decorated, and got to choose my wallpaper and bedding before I arrived. I really appreciated that.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision, and professional development is promoted and encouraged, with opportunities to progress within the company. The manager ensures that any discord or grumbles between the staff are addressed immediately and do not impact on the quality of care. Staff describe the manager and deputy manager as ‘supportive’ and ‘enabling’, which contributes to a cohesive and solid staff team. Inspection report children’s home: 1263673 5 The manager utilises internal and external monitoring procedures, including the six- monthly review of care and reports from the independent visitor, to evaluate practice and service delivery. She has high ambitions and is on a continuous journey of improvement, and is currently revising recording processes in relation to care planning. Inspection report children’s home: 1263673 6

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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 difference 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: 1263673 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Inspire Social Care Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Ground floor, 121 Church Street, St Helens, Merseyside WA10 1AJ

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Inspector

Cath Sikakana: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1263673 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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