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

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private company owns and manages this children’s home. It provides care and accommodation for one young person who can no longer live at home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since June 2019.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 18 to 19 December 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 judged

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: Three compliance notices were issued on 31 January 2019 under section 22a of the Care Standards Act 2000. Four compliance notices were issued on 22 March 2019. Inspection report children‟s home: SC022442 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/03/2019 Interim Not judged 06/12/2018 Full Inadequate 07/11/2017 Full Good 16/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 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 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)) 31/01/2020

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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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Requirement Due date

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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Requirement Due date

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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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use 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) (vi)(b)(i)(ii)(c)) 31/01/2020

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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. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should have a workforce development plan which can fulfil Inspection report children‟s home: SC022442 4 the workforce related requirements of regulation 16, schedule 1 (paragraphs 19 and 20). (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standard’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)  A record of supervisions should be kept for staff, including the manager. The record should provide evidence that supervision is being delivered in line with the regulation. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.3)  Staff should record information on individual young people in a non-stigmatising

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Recommendations

way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about young people should always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to them now or in the future. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraphs 14.4 and 14.5)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has recently reopened. A new registered manager and staff team are in place and are building a positive relationship with the young person. Professionals are complimentary about the service and the progress that the young person has made since coming to live here. One professional described the young person’s progress as being ‘transformational’, and this was because of the support they are receiving.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager and staff have brought stability into the young person’s life. Consequently, the young person is making progress in their health and emotional well- being, building healthy relationships, confidence, and is taking steps to manage their feelings. The young person enjoys the same opportunities and experiences as their peer group and enjoys spending time with their friends.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The procedures for the administration of medication in the home are sound. However, the procedures for providing medication when the young person is away from home are not secure and may leave the young person at risk of harm. This has been recognised by the registered manager and action is being taken to address this.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have a good understanding of the young person’s needs and interests. The young person is a talented artist and enjoys going with staff to a location they describe as ‘their view’, to sketch the Liverpool skyline. Staff use this opportunity as an effective distraction technique to help the young person to reduce their anxieties when they are dealing with difficult situations.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are supportive of the young person’s education. They ensure that the young person is up on time and work well with the young person’s s school to ensure that they have all that they need to succeed. In addition, staff are working with the virtual head to source an art course for the young person, to further support their career aspirations.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Care planning has much improved and staff have an in-depth knowledge of the young Inspection report children‟s home: SC022442 5 person’s needs and how they are being met on a daily basis. Staff have a genuine affection for the young person and enjoy spending time with them. This is well received by the young person.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young person feels at home because they are treated with warmth and respect. The manager and staff are skilled at engaging naturally with the young person and helping them to feel at ease. Staff listen to the young person and respond appropriately to their wishes and feelings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff make sure that the young person has the skills, opportunities and emotional resilience that they need to become an independent adult. This includes encouraging and supporting them to cook, shop, manage money, make appointments and use public transport independently and safely.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young person enjoys regular opportunities to meet with their family and friends. Staff make sure that it is a safe and positive experience for everyone involved. As a result, the young person has been able to begin the process of rebuilding their relationship with the people who are important to them.

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

The young person said that they feel happy and safe. They know that staff listen to their worries and do everything that they can to help them. The manager and staff’s practice, and the safeguarding arrangements help protect the young person from harm. The young person has become increasingly safer from the risk of self-harm. Professionals acknowledge that this is a massive step forward for the young person.

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

Staff have a good understanding of the young person‟s vulnerabilities and any concerns about their safety. Staff are vigilant and recognise signs that indicate that the young person may be at risk of abuse, neglect or exploitation. Risk assessment processes have improved. Staff continually assess the risks for the young person and take steps to make sure that the young person is protected.

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

The manager and staff take decisive action when they have concerns about the young person‟s welfare, in line with safeguarding guidance. They work effectively with the placing authorities, professionals and the police to manage risks to the young person.

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

Staff understand the context behind the young person‟s behaviour. They know that consistent messages are key to the young person‟s emotional well-being. This understanding helps staff to intervene effectively to get the right support for the young person, including from the child and adolescent mental health services. The young person is now more able to ask staff for support.

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

The young person lives in a nurturing family home. However, the young person‟s bedroom window and the dining room window would benefit from window dressings to enhance the young person‟s privacy. The bathroom tiles also need some attention. The young person has personalised their bedroom to reflect their individual tastes and pieces Inspection report children‟s home: SC022442 6 of their artwork are displayed with pride. This successfully fosters the young person‟s confidence and self-esteem.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by an enthusiastic registered manager, who is in the process of completing her level 5 qualification. The registered manager has reflected on the past inspection judgement and is making positive steps to prevent a reoccurrence of this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff share the manager’s vision and high expectations for the young person. Together, the manager and staff have created a warm and supportive atmosphere. They actively promote tolerance, equality and diversity. As a result, the young person feels accepted, safe, and comfortable to be themselves.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Management oversight of the home has improved. The new manager has initiated monthly monitoring systems that are proving beneficial in identifying any shortfalls or records that require updating due to changes in the young person’s needs. Reports by the independent person are improving and are now sent to Ofsted on a regular basis.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Records are mostly maintained well. However, sanctions records and records pertaining to room searches lack clarity and do not contain all the necessary information. This does not help the young person to understand why their room was searched or why the sanction was imposed. The manager has a good understanding of the progress that the young person is making. She makes sure that they are always cared for in line with their agreed plans.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager provides staff with appropriate guidance and support. Staff have regular opportunities for one-to-one personal supervision. However, the records of these discussions are poor and do not reflect the depth of conversation or actions to be taken as a result.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are knowledgeable, skilled and motivated. They are resilient and do not give up trying to make a positive difference in the young person’s life. The staffing arrangements and levels meet the needs of the young person and provide them with continuity of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is aware of the home’s strengths and areas for development. She has created a development plan, but this would benefit from timescales as to when the actions are to be completed. The home does not have a workforce plan. However, the registered manager and operations manager are aware of this and it is being addressed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager and staff work well within a multi-disciplinary team. Staff work in partnership with a host of professionals to ensure that the young person receives the help and support that they need. Consequently, the young person is making steady progress and is growing in confidence and self-esteem. Inspection report children‟s home: SC022442 7

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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

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: SC022442 8

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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

Chris Scully, social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: SC022442 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 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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