Children's Home run by Family Care Associates Limited in Sefton

Inspection report children’s home: 2496251 1 Registered provider: Family Care Associates Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private company. The home provides care and support for up to four young people who have a learning disability, and/or a physical disability.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since November 2018. The home has been re- registered followings its move to new premises.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 26 to 27 September 2019

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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 home’s first inspection following re-registration

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report children’s home: 2496251 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 leadership and management standard are that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

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;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(2)(c)(f)(h)) 22/11/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must— keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (3)(a)(b)) 22/11/2019

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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)) 22/11/2019 Inspection report children’s home: 2496251 3

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Recommendations

 Ensure that staff have the knowledge and skills to understand each child’s education and training targets and their next steps for learning. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.11) In particular, this refers to the development of young people’s speech and communication style.  As set out in the regulations 31-33, the registered person is responsible for maintaining good employment practice. They must ensure that the recruitment of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are enjoying living in their new home. The move went very well for the young people. This was because the staff carefully and sensitively informed them of what was happening when introducing them to their new home. Staff said that there have been massive improvements in young people’s mental health and well-being as a direct result of the move. Some young people are more able to spend time with other young people in the home, rather than spending time alone in their bedroom.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people enjoy very positive relationships with staff. They thoroughly enjoy spending time with staff, both in the home and on activities in the community, such as going to Girl Guides. Young people enjoy an extensive range of self-chosen activities which are helping to boost their confidence, self-esteem and social interactions with other young people.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are regularly consulted about what they would like to do and the activities that they take part in. During a recent holiday, some young people tried abseiling. Photographs seen by the inspector showed the sheer delight on their faces as they achieved this.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Independence is key to enhancing the life opportunities of the young people. Young people are supported effectively in gaining new skills, such as showering independently. Parents recognise their children’s achievements and progress that they have made since coming to live here.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people’s health and well-being are very well supported. Significantly, this has seen a reduction in self-harmful behaviour and hospital admissions. Staff have an innate understanding of each young people’s healthcare needs. Staff are watchful for any Inspection report children’s home: 2496251 4 changes in a young person’s behaviour which could indicate that they are becoming unwell.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Personalised care planning means that each young person receives care which is tailored to their specific needs. There are some minor issues in records which have not been picked up by the monitoring processes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff want the best for the young people. They work in partnership with schools to ensure that the young people’s education is supported at home. Young people enjoy reading their favourite books with staff. This enhances their listening and reading skills Most staff are skilled communicators and understand the subtle nuances in a movement or gesture that young people use to communicate.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are inconsistencies in how staff talk to young people. On occasion staff revert to ‘baby talk’, using words such as ‘din-dins’ to encourage a young person to come to the table for dinner. It is imperative that young people receive consistent language so that they understand what is being asked of them and to support their development of speech and communication.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Working together with the young people’s families is a key strength of the setting. Staff work tirelessly to ensure that parents are included in all aspects of their child’s care and support. For example, staff make sure that young people attend family celebrations. Young people enjoy spending time with their families and look forward to their visits. Parents said that they cannot thank the staff enough for all that they do for their children and for them.

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

Safeguarding practice at the home is good and promotes the welfare and safety of the young people. Staff are trained in safeguarding and understanding child sexual exploitation, county lines, and e-safety. This means that they have the skills and knowledge to observe and identify any potential concerns.

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

Behaviour management strategies and support are effective. Staff understand the subtle changes in young people’s behaviour and body language and respond accordingly, to prevent an escalation in the young person’s anxieties. Some young people are becoming more aware of when they find things difficult and are beginning to use strategies to help themselves, such as going to their room.

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

Young people live in a warm, welcoming and homely environment. Young people’s bedrooms reflect their diverse personalities, needs and interests. Staff, at the young people’s requests, ensured that their new bedrooms mirrored what they had in their previous home. This has helped the young people to settle in quickly and to feel at home here.

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

Staff said that the young people are thriving because of the extra space that they have in this home. They are now choosing to spend time with their friends or to do an activity Inspection report children’s home: 2496251 5 with staff in another part of the home. This has increased young people’s confidence and independence.

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

Recruitment and vetting procedures are sound. However, the recruitment process would benefit from a more consistent and detailed approach to recording any conversation pertaining to issues raised as part of the vetting process and the outcome.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by a qualified and experienced registered manager. He has been the manager for this service for many years and was instrumental in organising the smooth move into the new premises.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are well trained and have a deep affection for, and understanding of, the young people. They recognise each other’s strengths and use these well to support the young people. Young people are at the heart of everything that the staff do. Staff said that they want each young person to reach their full potential and make best use of their abilities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are provided with good support and encouragement. They have regular opportunities through practice-related supervision and team meetings to reflect on their work and to develop their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Monitoring of the home is not yet secure. Several areas highlighted in this report, such as recording issues, have not been identified by the registered manager or independent person. The independent person has completed monthly reports for the service, however they have been sent into Ofsted under the incorrect registration number. This had not been identified by the organisation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The statement of purpose is not current, as it does not reflect the care and support provided to young people with a physical disability. Action was taken during the inspection to address this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Partnership working is a key strength of the service. The registered manager and staff are not afraid to challenge professionals or escalate their concerns if they feel a young person is not getting the right support. This has resulted in very positive outcomes for individual young people.

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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: 2496251 6 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

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Information about this inspection

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: 2496251 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Family Care Associates Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 60 School Lane, Bamber Bridge, Preston, Lancashire PR5 6QE

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Inspector

Chris Scully, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2496251 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 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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