Children's Home run by After Care (NW) Limited in Sefton

Inspection report children’s home: SC042652 1 SC042652 Registered provider: After Care (NW) Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private organisation operates this children’s home. It is registered to care for up to three young people. The home cares for young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 13 November 2018.

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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 sustained effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people feel safe and protected in the home and staff demonstrate a good understanding of young people’s needs and vulnerabilities. Allegations are managed appropriately, and the manager seeks advice from the designated officer when needed. This ensures that young people are safeguarded. A young person commented, ‘I am listened to, they take what we say seriously.’ The designated officer said, ‘The manager’s paperwork was of a high standard.’

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s risk-taking behaviour reduces from the point of them moving into the home. For example, incidents of missing from care and the risks associated with Child Inspection report children’s home: SC042652 2 Sexual Exploitation have reduced significantly.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some young people living at the home have made good progress in their education, with one young person achieving 100% school attendance. However, for other young people, who are not in full-time education, there are no arrangements in place to ensure that they are provided with structured education activities. Furthermore, there are no education plans in place that support and encourage young people’s learning and education progress. Consequently, their education needs are not always met.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff communicate with young people openly and effectively. They have aspirations for the young people; they want them to learn and to participate in new experiences. The staff work with the young people to help them achieve this. For example, a young person is undertaking scuba diving lessons and enjoys attending these sessions with his key worker.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people have access to the internet within the home. However, the provider should consider how it can support the young people to access the internet safely. The responsible individual recognised this shortfall and has made a commitment to urgently remedy this to ensure that young people are safe.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager and deputy manager closely monitor practice within the home to ensure that young people receive appropriate responses from staff and benefit from high-quality care. However, external monitoring of the home is insufficient. Quality of care reports have not been sent to Ofsted or undertaken within legislative timescales. This shortfall compromises Ofsted’s ability to gain regular oversight of the service.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home presents as a lived-in family home. It is warm, welcoming and comfortable. The quality of furniture and decoration is very good. However, the dining room is furnished with filing cabinets, which are used by staff to store records. This detracts from the homely environment which is evident in the remainder of the house.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/05/2018 Full Good 23/01/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness 09/05/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 18/01/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness

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What does the children’s home need to do to improve?

Inspection report children’s home: SC042652 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 education standard is that young people make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. (Regulation 8(1)) 29/04/2019

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to HMCI. (Regulation 44 (7)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This is specifically in relation to sending the reports in a timely way and ensuring that the information provided is evaluated. 29/04/2019

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Recommendations

 Children should have access to a computer and the internet to support their education and learning, unless there are specific safeguarding reasons why this would be inappropriate. In such cases, the home should consider whether and how it can support the child to access a computer and the internet safely. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards’, page 29, paragraph 5.19). Ensure that appropriate firewalls are set up on the home’s internet provision.  Ensure that the home is a homely, domestic environment. This is specifically in relation to ensuring that the dining room is free from office furnishings. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15 paragraph 3.9)

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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. Inspection report children’s home: SC042652 4 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: After Care (NW) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 45 Kensington Road, Southport, Merseyside PR9 0RT

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Timothy Blundell

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Inspector

Elaine Allison, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC042652 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 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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