Children's Home run by Apex Children‟s Services Limited in Wigan

Inspection report children’s home: 1280412 1 Registered provider: Apex Children’s Services Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private company. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four young people, irrespective of gender. The home specialises in caring for young people who have been or who are experiencing emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and learning disabilities. This home is managed by an experienced and qualified registered manager.

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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: this is the first inspection

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

not applicable Inspection report children’s home: 1280412 2

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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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child.

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, risk management must consider all factors relating to risk and put in detailed measures to mitigate these risks. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)) 08/02/2019

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Recommendations

 Ensure that children can see the results of their views being listened to and acted upon during consultation. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.11)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are settled and very happy living in the home. A young person commented, ‘It is like a family. People are interested in me again.’ Young people receive nurturing and supportive care from a committed and stable staff team. Staff invest time in each young person individually and strive to give them the best opportunities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people’s attendance and achievement at school and alternative educational provision are much improved due to the determination and encouragement of staff. Young people now value their education and are making plans to study in the future. These are huge steps forward for young people, especially young people who have been out of education for long periods. Inspection report children’s home: 1280412 3 Young people enjoy spending time with their friends and participate in recreational activities, such as day trips to the zoo, theme parks and the cinema. One young person has enrolled on a performing arts course to pursue his talents. Photographs show staff and young people enjoying Christmas time together and having fun.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have a good understanding of young people’s backgrounds and histories. Memory boxes are being collated with young people to give them an understanding of their life journey.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Care planning is generally good and young people’s day-to-day needs, such as routine, privacy and fun, are met. Moreover, staff make sure that young people see their family regularly to maintain these relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are in good health. They are registered with appropriate healthcare services and attend all necessary appointments. Young people are encouraged to eat healthily and to exercise. They receive regular therapeutic input and support in relation to all aspects of their health and well-being from trained professionals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A warm welcome is part of the introduction to the home, alongside a children’s guide explaining how the home runs. A young person’s placement has ended due to the placing authority not sharing all the necessary information from the onset. The management team has learned from this and has put in measures to improve its systems.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Consultation is regularly undertaken with young people to ensure that they can voice their views and opinions. However, the results of their views being acted upon by staff are not always fed back to young people to show them that their views count.

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

Young people say that they ‘feel safe’ and ‘comfortable’. Staff help young people to understand risk and how to stay safe through direct work sessions. Young people are encouraged to live like their peers and to enjoy freedom and time with their friends. This is appropriately managed by the staff.

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

Risk management plans are in place. However, these lack sufficient detail in identifying and mitigating risks. For example, although a nut allergy is identified, other diagnosed food allergens are not identified. This does not ensure that risks to the young person are managed.

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

Young people’s behaviour has improved significantly since coming to live in the home. There are no physical restraints, which demonstrates the respectful and trusting relationships that are developing between staff and young people.

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

There have been no incidents of young people going missing from care since the home opened. Procedures are in place should this occur. Inspection report children’s home: 1280412 4 Safer recruitment practice helps to safeguard against unsafe adults working in the home. Checks with the Disclosure and Barring Service and obtaining references from previous employers are part of this process.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

This home is managed by an experienced and qualified registered manager. He is supported by two deputy managers. Together they set the high standards of care. A nurturing and family environment is prevalent within the fabric of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff spoken to during the inspection said that they enjoy their work. They feel supported by the manager and their team members. The staff are suitably qualified or working towards a recognised qualification. They also have regular training, supervisions and team meetings to keep them up to date on emerging information.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are sufficient numbers of staff members working at the home. They are energetic and passionate about the work that they do with young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

External monitoring is good. The independent visitor attends monthly and raises actions for improvement. A development plan is in place to improve further the standard of care provided.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Liaison with partner agencies is effective. All professionals contacted spoke very positively about the staff, the communication with them and the progress that young people make. A professional commented, ‘It feels like a family home. This is one of the best homes. Communication is excellent.’

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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: 1280412 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Apex Children’s Services

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 6 Tower Quays, Tower Road, Birkenhead, Cheshire CH41 1BP

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Inspector

Caroline Jones: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1280412 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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