Children's Home run by Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council in Knowsley

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1242116 1

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Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to four young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The manager has been registered with Ofsted since March 2019. He is the registered manager for another children’s residential service within the same local authority.

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This monitoring visit

During an interim inspection on 3 December 2019, serious shortfalls were found in safeguarding practice and in leadership and management. As a result, Ofsted issued three compliance notices in relation to: regulation 10, the health and well-being standard; regulation 12, the protection of children standard; and regulation 13, the leadership and management standard.

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This monitoring visit

A monitoring visit was undertaken on 23 January 2020, to assess the actions taken by the provider to comply with the three notices. During this visit, the inspector found that the provider had not taken sufficient action to comply with the three notices.

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This monitoring visit

In addition to this, some further serious safeguarding shortfalls were identified which demonstrated that the registered manager and staff were not able to keep the young people safe from harm.

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This monitoring visit

The provider acknowledged the seriousness of the identified shortfalls and made the decision to move the young people to more suitable accommodation and temporarily close the home.

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This monitoring visit

As a result, a condition has been imposed on the home’s registration that requires the provider to inform Ofsted of their intention to accommodate children at the home at least three months before any child is accommodated. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1242116 2

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 03/12/2019 Interim Declined in effectiveness 07/05/2019 Full Good 12/09/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 23/02/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1242116 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 education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8(1)(2)(a)(x)) 20/01/2020

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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. (Regulation 10(1)(2)(a)(b)(c)) 20/01/2020

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on mutual respect and trust; an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and positive responses to other children and adults. (Regulation 11(1)) 20/01/2020

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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.

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Requirement Due date

(2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

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;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe; 20/01/2020 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1242116 4 take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(vi)(b))

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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.

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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

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;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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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. (Regulation 13(1)(2)(a)(b)(c)(f)) 20/01/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40(4)(b)) 20/01/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed. (Regulation 45(4)(a)) 20/01/2020

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1242116 5

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1242116 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Knowsley MBC, Children’s Services, Huyton Municipal Buildings, 6th Floor, Huyton, Knowsley, Merseyside L36 9YU

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Inspector

Marina Tully, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1242116 7 to 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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