Children's home run by Restorative Social Care Services Ltd

Inspection report children’s home: 2528634 1 Registered provider: Inspire Social Care Services 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

This children’s home is operated by a private company. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children or young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

This is the home’s first inspection since registration in May 2019.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 20 and 26 November 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

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report children’s home: 2528634 2

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered persons must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards.’ The registered persons must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

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—

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details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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a description of the measure and its duration;

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details of any methods used, or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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the name of the person who used the measure (‘the user’), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (‘the authorised person’)—

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has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within five days of the use of the measure, the registered 28/01/2019 Inspection report children’s home: 2528634 3 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)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the sanctions records include all the required information, specifically the details of the child’s behaviour leading up to the use of the measure, the time of the sanction, the manager’s review, any changes to the sanctions given and the child’s views on the sanction given.

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Recommendations

 For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. Children’s homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislations. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards,’ page 15, paragraph 3.9) In particular, ensure that the lane to the premises and the parking area are in good repair to allow safe access in and out of the home.  Children’s homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislations. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards,’ page 15, paragraph 3.9) In particular, ensure that the children and staff can exit the home immediately in the event of a fire, using all external doors from the premises, taking into account the risks of use of deadlocks fixed to external doors. Ensure that the home complies with The Regulatory Reform (fire safety) Order 2005.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs, and should understand the key role they play in the training and development of staff in the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards,’ page 53, paragraph 10.11) In particular, the staff must receive training in self-harm and the use of ligature cutters, to ensure that they can meet all the identified needs of the children in their care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children have benefited from a planned move into the home. They have been involved in getting the home ready, meeting staff and visiting their new home prior to it opening. This has had a positive effect, with both children settling well. The children have been appropriately matched, due to the attention given in ensuring that the needs of each child can be met. Inspection report children’s home: 2528634 4 The staff understand each child’s care needs and vulnerabilities, and their care plans are designed to reflect the children’s individual needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children have established positive relationships with the staff, in response to the nurturing approach and importance given to positive attachments. The children are treated with dignity and consulted about their care and the plans for their future. A child said: ‘I like everything about being here. The best thing is the garden.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff actively promote education and develop bespoke education packages. Attendance in education varies. When children are struggling emotionally, the staff work with other professionals to improve their attendance. Good routines and the positive promotion of school has resulted in good attendance for some children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children are in good health. They have receive support to attend all health appointments. Health concerns are monitored and acted on. The staff are proactive in liaising with healthcare professionals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Positive relationships and regular communication with professionals and partner agencies ensure that the well-being of the children is at the centre of their practice. Care plans are reviewed and updated regularly and are used to inform current and future practice. The children’s achievements are celebrated and rewarded. The children have made progress and now manage their daily routines, display positive behaviour, have good sleep patterns, form positive relationships with staff members, and maintain or are building relationships with their families.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children benefit greatly from taking part in an array of activities, playing together and following their hobbies and interests. These include going to the local park, going to play gyms, visiting the cinema, playing football together, caring for pets, using arts and crafts, baking and going go-carting. The children have had the great experience of going on a summer holiday, which they thoroughly enjoyed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is well decorated and furnished, and the children have personalised their bedrooms. Personalisation of the home is continuing. However, the lane access to the property has a very uneven soil surface and the car park area is muddy in places. This may present problems in accessing and leaving the property, particularly in bad weather.

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

The staff understand the vulnerabilities and risks specific to each child. Training in child protection, first aid and behaviour management ensures that staff respond appropriately to incidents and keep children safe. Clear routines and boundaries help children to feel more secure, resulting in a continued reduction in risk-taking behaviour. The staff undertake work with children about the dangers and consequences of risk-taking behaviour.

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

The children respond well to the fair and balanced approach that the staff routinely use to help them manage their behaviour effectively. Physical restraint and sanctions are Inspection report children’s home: 2528634 5 rarely used, and when used, have been appropriate. The children respond well to praise and incentives that support positive behaviour. This is reinforced by the constructive relationships that they have with the staff. However, in some instances, the sanctions records do not record all the information required by the regulations. This relates to the time and the lead-up to the sanction. In addition, when changes have been made to a sanction, the changes have not been recorded consistently. The children’s views are not always recorded following the event, to assist in evaluating and reviewing the sanction.

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

The manager undertakes health and safety checks routinely to ensure everyone’s safety. In recent months, and since the home’s registration, the external door locks have been changed to deadlocks. This may present a risk in exiting the home in an emergency.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager was registered in May 2019. She is working towards the necessary leadership and management qualification to build and consolidate her learning, skills and experience.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Good recruitment practice ensures that thorough checks are carried out on new staff members. The staff benefit from an induction and training programme in preparation for working at the home. The staff strongly express feeling part of a team and of being supported by the manager, senior team and their colleagues. The staff can access a number of specialised training courses, including child criminal exploitation, drugs and alcohol misuse and therapeutic parenting. However, staff have not undertaken self-harm prevention training.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A diverse staff team provides the children with good role models. The home has achieved a consistent care approach in the six months since opening. This has been achieved through regular team meetings, supervision and daily shift handovers. These forums provide staff with an arena to discuss the care of the children, staff practice, and to address any shortfalls quickly.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is proactive at working with other professionals. Professionals consistently said that the home communicates with them well and works in line with the children’s plans. The police have been called to the home due to vandalism of staff cars over a period of time. These matters have been dealt with appropriately and professionally.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The management audits, along with the supporting monthly visits from an independent person, deliver good levels of scrutiny and provide a solid system to monitor the quality of care. These measures ensure that good-quality care continues to be delivered to children.

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Information about this inspection

Inspection report children’s home: 2528634 6 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: 2528634 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Inspire Social Care Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 3, Craig Court, Standish Street, St Helens, Lancashire WA10 1GJ

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Inspector

Debbie Foster: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2528634 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 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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