Children's Home run by PIC Children’s Services in St Helens

Inspection report children’s home: SC022442 1 SC022442 Registered provider: PIC Children’s Services Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is one of several owned by a private company. The home is registered to care for one child who has emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. There is currently no registered manager for this home.

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Judgement at last inspection: inadequate

Date of last inspection: 6 December 2018

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

Compliance notices issued under section 22A of the Care Standards Act 2000. Regulation 12 , the protection of children standard: 12 December 2018, reissued 31 January 2019 Regulation 13, the leadership and management standard: 12 December 2018, reissued 31 January 2019 Regulation 14 , the care planning standard: 12 December 2018, reissued 31 January 2019

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged inadequate at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection the home was ‘not judged’.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 7 December 2018. The inspection found that the arrangements for safeguarding children were inadequate. The registered manager and staff were not fully aware of their roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting young people, and effective action was not always taken when Inspection report children’s home: SC022442 2 there is serious concern about a young person’s welfare. Furthermore, the registered manager had failed to demonstrate that she was leading and managing the home in a manner that is consistent with the aims outlined in the statement of purpose and which ensures that the care being delivered meets the needs and promotes the welfare of those accommodated at the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

On 29 January 2018, a social care regulatory inspector completed an unannounced monitoring visit. The purpose of this monitoring visit was to assess the progress made by the home regarding compliance notices issued under section 22A of the Care Standards Act 2000. This related to Regulation 12, the protection of children standard, Regulation 13, the leadership and management standard and Regulation 14, the care planning standard. At this inspection, it was established that no child had resided at the home since the full inspection on 7 December 2018. It was, therefore, not possible to establish whether the steps set out in the notices had been embedded into practice. A case discussion took place on 31 January 2019, when a decision was made to reissue these notices.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

A further inspection was completed on 19 March 2019, when it was established that it remained the case that no child had resided at the home since the full inspection on 7 December 2018. Subsequently, once more it was not possible to establish whether the steps set out in the notices had been embedded into practice.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

At this inspection, it was established that 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

A case discussion took place on 21 March 2019, when a decision was made to reissue the compliance notices issued under section 22A of the Care Standards Act 2000. This related to Regulation 12, the protection of children standard, Regulation 13, the leadership and management standard and Regulation 14, the care planning standard. A further compliance notice has been issued under Regulation 44, in relation to independent person: visits and reports.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/12/2018 Full Inadequate 07/11/2017 Full Good 16/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 06/12/2016 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC022442 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 health and well-being standard is that the health and well- being needs of children are met; children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff help each child to— achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans; and that each child has access to such dental, medical, nursing, psychiatric and psychological advice, and other services as the child may require. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(i)(c)) 06/05/2019

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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. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff 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; and that staff are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(vi)(b)) * 06/05/2019

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose; ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate; ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; and ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child; understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home; and use monitoring and review systems to make

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Requirement Due date

06/05/2019 Inspection report children’s home: SC022442 4 continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(2)(a)(c)(e)(f)(h)) * The care planning standard is that children— receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— (b) that arrangements are in place to— (ii) manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and (iii) plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority and that each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(2)(b)(ii)(iii)(c)) * 06/05/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (‘the statement of purpose’) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1. The registered person must keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it and notify HMCI of any revision and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. The registered person must ensure that the home is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose. (Regulation 16 (1)(3)(a)(b)(5)) 06/05/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home. (Regulation 23 (1)(2)(c)) 06/05/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)) 06/05/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that, within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes— the name of the child; details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure; the date, time and location of the use of the measure; a description of the measure and its duration; details of any methods used, or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure; 06/05/2019 Inspection report children’s home: SC022442 5 the name of the person who used the measure (‘the user’), and of any other person present when the measure was used; the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and a description of any injury to the child or any other person and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure; within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person

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Requirement Due date

to do so (‘the authorised person’) has spoken to the user about the measure and has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and within 5 days of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)) Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home. The registered person must maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4 and ensure that the records are kept up to date. (Regulation 37 (1)(2)(a)(b)) In particular, ensure that the records include a copy of the staff duty roster of persons working at the home and a record of the actual rotas worked and a record of any persons who work at any time at the home. 06/05/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation; an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious; there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there; a child protection enquiry involving a child is instigated; or concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)) 06/05/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month. The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to HMCI. (Regulation 44 (1)(7)(a)) * 06/05/2019

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Inspection report children’s home: SC022442 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 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: PIC Children’s Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2 North Street, Haydock, St Helens, Merseyside WA11 0TW

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Inspector

Elaine Allison, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC022442 7 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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