Children's home run by Teen-Works Care Limited in Liverpool

Inspection report children’s home: SC472480 1 SC472480 Registered provider: Teen-Works Care Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This privately run children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to four children and young people.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been registered since January 2014.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

p.1

outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

p.1

outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

p.1

outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC472480 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/06/2018 Full Good 02/05/2017 Full Good 27/02/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 28/04/2016 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC472480 3

p.2

Recommendations

 Information about the child must always be up to date and recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child and makes a significant contribution to understanding their history, experiences and progress (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraphs 14.3 to 14.5). In particular, make sure that each child’s health plan clearly sets out the arrangements for meeting all their identified health needs. In addition, make sure that a written record is kept of all direct work with children carried out by staff.  When the placing authority does not provide the input to meet a child’s needs during their time in the home, the home must challenge them to meet the child’s needs (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 12, paragraph 2.8). In particular, ensure that concerns are escalated when the home has not been provided with up-to-date information relating to a child’s

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people are thriving because of the exemplary caring and encouraging support that they receive. Bespoke care packages make sure that the diverse and individual needs of young people are identified and addressed. This means that they receive the right support. Staff are skilled at promoting and celebrating the uniqueness of each young person. A social worker said, ‘I don’t think that I could have found a better placement for her. The staff are so nurturing, and they go above and beyond to support her.’ This is reflected in the comments of young people. One said, ‘It is fantastic here.’ Another young person said, ‘The staff are great. I love it here.’

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Transitions are exceptionally well managed. The registered manager and staff have an excellent understanding of bereavement, loss and attachments and the impact these issues can have on young people. Accordingly, young people are given the time to understand and explore how they feel when there is a change in circumstances, such as when a young person leaves the home. Likewise, they are carefully consulted about who is to move into the home. The registered manager said, ‘It is vital for young people’s confidence and self-esteem that they have a say about who comes to live here.’

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people are reassured that there is ongoing support for them even when they leave the home. The registered manager and staff work tirelessly with young people and foster families to create a smooth transition into the young person’s new home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people are flourishing at school. A head of year said that the staff provide Inspection report children’s home: SC472480 4 excellent support to the young person, and that staff always attend meetings and contribute effectively to the discussions. For example, staff read with a young person each night to improve her reading skills. The young person enjoys selecting books from the library, and her family is also reading with her at home. Because of this support, the young person has improved her reading and mathematical skills and has moved up several grades. Other young people aspire to go on to higher education and university. A head of year commented on the exceptional progress that the young person is making and how the support of the home’s staff is ‘refreshing’ and is ‘inspiring her to do well’.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

A member of staff said that one of their highlights this year was ‘going to [Name of young person]’s parents’ evenings and hearing about the improvements she has made. [Name of young person] was proud for me to hear about what she has achieved and the recognition for the massive improvements she has made.’

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people are at the very heart of this home. They have a strong voice in the home and are consulted on all aspects of their care, activities, choice of holidays and the recruitment of staff. Young people have recently been consulted about the information to include in the children’s guide. They have made several suggestions that have been taken up, one of which was including their comments about the home and staff in the guide. A young person wrote, ‘I like everything about [the home]. The staff are really nice. It could not get any better. I love it. I would give it 1000 stars.’

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people are supported well to gain a variety of skills to help them to overcome past trauma and loss. Young people are now much more able to reflect on the past and to grieve for their losses and to move forward than they were previously. Staff ensure that young people receive the right support from professionals, such as therapists, and that this is tailored to their individual needs. Because of this sensitive support, there has been a significant decrease in self-harmful behaviour from when young people came to live at the home.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people are actively engaged in an extensive range of activities, typical of any teenager. This engagement has meant that they are increasing in confidence and self- esteem. The staff and manager are highly skilled communicators who support and encourage young people to achieve their individual goals. A young person said that the manager encouraged her to go on a parade with the Sea Cadets. The young person explained that she was really worried about this, but that the staff gave her the confidence to do it. She said that she is very proud of herself.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff go beyond what is expected of them to ensure that the young people stay in contact with those people who are important to them. This is especially so when family members live a considerable distance away. The manager makes sure that additional staff are available, that transport is arranged and that young people are prepared emotionally and practically for these important visits. Ultimately, young people enjoy spending time with their family.

p.4

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

Inspection report children’s home: SC472480 5 Staff have an excellent understanding of the home’s child protection and safeguarding procedures. They act quickly and effectively when any concerns emerge. Comprehensive records of all aspects of safety and protection are kept and monitored; these include detailed risk assessments. This attention to detail means that any issues are swiftly identified and rectified, while allowing young people to take safe and appropriate risks, such as having a mobile phone. Young people said that they feel safe and are safe in this home.

p.5

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

Risk reduction is exemplary. For example, episodes of young people being missing from care have significantly declined from when the young people first came into the home, because of the staff’s actions. Staff follow carefully thought-out and highly individualised procedures. Young people recognise the lengths that staff go to in order to keep them safe. A young person recently told several professionals of her wish to remain living at the home. This was because she felt that the staff would keep her safe and provide her with the security she wants and needs. This has subsequently become the plan. Several professionals commented about their respective young people and that they are thriving and making significant progress while living here. Professionals also said that young people now have a strong sense of safety and belonging.

p.5

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

There have been no physical interventions and only three sanctions since the last inspection. This typifies the young people’s ability to manage their anxieties in more positive ways and to self-regulate their emotions. A key strength is the young people’s confidence to talk to the staff about things that are worrying them. Young people said that they know that staff will help them to resolve issues. Staff actively encourage the young people to reflect on incidents and to consider what they can do differently next time.

p.5

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

The home is a warm, family environment. Young people are very proud to live here and to bring their friends over for tea. An independent reviewing officer said, ‘It’s like walking into an ordinary home and feels like a home rather than a residential placement.’ Each young person’s bedroom is designed with them to reflect their individuality and taste. Young people are actively encouraged to take responsibility for keeping their rooms tidy, which for some is a big improvement from when they arrived. Young people very much appreciate the recognition they receive from staff for their efforts.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

An inspirational and committed registered manager leads the home. She holds a level 5 qualification in leadership and management. Staff are very complimentary about the registered manager and about the way that she inspires them each day. One staff member said, ‘It is a pleasure to work here!’ Another said, ‘We [the staff] are proud of what the young people have done. It’s all about their achievements. We just facilitate their efforts.’

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff provide an extremely nurturing environment in which young people can recover Inspection report children’s home: SC472480 6 from previous negative experiences and thrive. Young people are treated with the utmost respect. The staff have a palpable sense of pride in young people’s progress and achievements, and relationships are warm and engaging. It is refreshing to hear the young people being referred to as ‘our girls’. Staff are exceptionally knowledgeable, experienced, highly skilled and motivated. They are tenacious and resilient in advocating for young people’s rights to access the services they need, such as counselling and therapeutic support. The staff do not give up trying to make a positive difference to young people’s lives.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager provides each member of staff with excellent support, guidance and encouragement. Staff have regular opportunities through practice-related supervision and team meetings to reflect on young people’s progress and their own performance, and to share and develop their skills and knowledge.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager supports and encourages staff to develop their expertise through good- quality training relevant to the needs of the young people. Staff make the most of their training opportunities and use their learning to improve the effectiveness of the ways in which they support young people. Staff are empowered to undertake their own research and to present their findings to the staff team. This allows them to maintain an up-to- date knowledge of current research that they can then use to inform their practice, for example using a specific model of therapeutic intervention in their approach to caring.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

It is evident that the monitoring of the home is exceptionally thorough and is used highly effectively to inform practice and the home’s development plans. Development plans are detailed, organic documents that are continually evolving to meet the diverse and complex needs of the young people living in the home.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

External scrutiny by an independent person, together with comprehensive internal reviews of the quality of care, help the manager to continue to make improvements that benefit young people. The independent person said, ‘The success of the service is attributed to the management of the young people and the staff and the care ethos of the service.’

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There are some minor weaknesses, and the manager is very aware of these and is acting to rectify them. For example, some information in one young person’s care plan is in need of updating. Some other records, such as key-worker records, healthcare plans and those about consequences for young people due to their behaviour, are not in every case consistently recorded to the same high standard. These are recording issues and do not detract from the excellent care and support provided or from the significant progress that young people are making. Young people are fully involved in creating and reviewing their plans, which gives them a strong sense of ownership and of inclusion in the important decisions that affect their lives. Inspection report children’s home: SC472480 7

p.6

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.

p.7

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: SC472480 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Teen-Works Care Limited

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Lonsdale and Marsh Ltd, Cotton House, Old Hall Street, Liverpool L3 9TX

p.8

Inspector

Chris Scully, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC472480 9 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.

p.8

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.9

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: http://www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.9