Children's Home run by Inspire Children’s Services Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report children’s home: SC485318 1 SC485318 Registered provider: Inspire Children’s Services

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The children’s home offers care and accommodation for up to two young people who may experience emotional and/or behavioural difficulties or learning disabilities. The children’s home is operated by a private organisation.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The registered manager resigned from his position in October 2019. A new manager has been appointed and has submitted an application to register with Ofsted.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

A variation to the home’s current registration has been received by Ofsted. A proposal to increase the occupancy to three young people is currently under review.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 11 to 12 February 2020

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 28 November 2018

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: None Inspection report children’s home: SC485318 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/11/2018 Full Good 07/12/2017 Full Good 03/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 06/12/2016 Full Outstanding Inspection report children’s home: SC485318 3

p.2

Recommendations

 Where the placing authority or another relevant person does not provide the input and services needed to meet a child’s needs during their time in the home or in preparation for leaving the home, the home must challenge them to meet the child’s needs (see regulation 5(C)). Staff should act as champions for their children, expecting nothing less than a good parent would. The registered person should consider the use of an independent advocate if a child’s needs are not being met. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards,’ page 12, paragraph 2.8)  Where children placed in a home are not participating in education because they have been excluded or are not on a school roll for some other reason, the registered person and staff must work closely with the placing authority so that the child is supported and enabled to resume full-time education as soon as possible. In the interim, the

p.3

Recommendations

child should be supported to sustain or regain their confidence in education and be engaged in suitable structured activities. If no education place is identified by the placing authority, the registered person must challenge them to meet the child’s needs under regulation 5. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards,’ page 28, paragraph 5.15)  Children should be actively encouraged to read their records and to add further information to them. They should be regularly reminded of their rights to see information kept about them and be given information about how they might be supported to access their records in later life. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards,’ page 62, paragraph 14.6)

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are happy and settled and make good progress in this home. They form trusting relationships with staff. One young person said, ‘The staff are great. They have really helped me. If ever I have a problem, they will always spend time with me and help me sort it out.’

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Placement planning is good. Plans clearly set out the individual placement targets for young people and the strategies in place to meet them. Clear evidence of consistently planned key-work sessions highlight the progress young people make from their initial starting points. Young people engage very well in these sessions and say: ‘I know what my targets are and how the staff are helping me,’ and ‘I have done well, and I always meet my targets.’

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work extremely hard to form trusting relationships with family members. This positive approach means that contact difficulties are addressed, and current contact Inspection report children’s home: SC485318 4 arrangements are developed in partnership with parents and the placing authority. As a result, young people have regular, positive contact with family members. Likewise, staff have successfully supported young people to develop positive friendships in the community. Consequently, young people enjoy a positive social life and feel part of their community.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people benefit from a structured daily routine, where education is promoted and prioritised. As a result, previous issues with non-attendance are diminished. On the whole, young people attend education regularly and make good progress towards the completion of final exams. Staff work hard to assist young people in their continued learning by helping with homework, school projects and, where necessary, offering additional learning support. However, there has been a delay in one local authority identifying a suitable school placement for a young person. This delay serves to impact negatively on the young person’s daily structure and routine. The manager must ensure that swift action is taken to escalate concerns in order to minimise any further delay in the young person accessing education. A recommendation is made to address this matter.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people with a plan to transition on to independent living are provided with a high level of independence training and support. Detailed independence programmes enable the young people to develop essential skills in preparation for their independent lives. Young people consistently engage in this work, which has helped them develop in confidence, self-esteem and personal resilience. However, delays in one local authority providing suitable transition planning and securing suitable accommodation they result in transition plans being postponed. The manager must champion the needs and aspirations of the young person and ensure that effective action is taken to address such delays. A recommendation is made to address this matter.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are consistently consulted about the care they receive in the home. They regularly complete the children’s home surveys, attend young people’s meetings and have regular one-to-one discussions with their key workers. Likewise, young people are supported to address any concerns about their care, for example where there are delays in education and/or transition planning. A young person said, ‘I can talk to staff about anything. They always help and support me. I trust them.’

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Individual children’s records are regularly reviewed by key workers and kept up to date. However, there is little evidence that young people are provided with an opportunity to review their records or include comments on the progress they make. This information will be extremely valuable should a young person wish to review their files now or in the future. A recommendation is made to address this matter.

p.4

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

Comprehensive safeguarding arrangements are in place. Young people’s risks are routinely assessed, and effective measures are in place should a concern arise. Inspection report children’s home: SC485318 5 Although young people have a history of displaying significant risk-taking behaviours, this has significantly diminished since they have been living in this home. There are no current behaviours being exhibited that would adversely impact on their well-being. Young people are happy, settled and looking forward to a positive future.

p.4

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

Behaviour management is both supportive and effective. This is because staff have built strong and compassionate relationships with young people. Staff understand how particular life experiences impact on young people’s emotions and how, in turn, this can be displayed through young people’s behaviour. Clear and consistent guidance enables staff to help young people express their emotions in a positive and safe environment.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager left the service in October 2019. A new manager has been appointed and has made an application to Ofsted for registration. She has over 16 years’ experience working with children and young people in a residential setting. The manager is supported by an experienced staff team.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Good internal monitoring systems provide the home with a clear approach to the overall monitoring of care. Records highlight areas for development and reflect some of the matters identified within this inspection.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home employs a committed and enthusiastic staff team, with the majority of staff suitably qualified at diploma level. Staff receive ongoing training, including mandatory training and relevant online focused training. A staff member said, ‘Training is great. We are really well supported in the work we do with young people. If we need anything more specific, it is always sorted out. It’s relevant to the work we do, and it makes for a better and stronger team.’

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive good support from the manager. Formal supervisions take place regularly and informal support is available on a daily basis. A staff member said, ‘The manager is always available should we need advice or support. She has great relationships with both the young people and staff.’

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection in November 2018, there have been no young people discharged. Two young people remain in placement.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff demonstrate that they are committed to developing and improving practice. The effectiveness of this approach is measurable in the progress young people make from their initial starting point.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is aware of the procedure for notifying Ofsted of incidents under Regulation 40 and submits notifications. Inspection report children’s home: SC485318 6

p.5

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.6

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: SC485318 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Inspire Children’s Services

p.7

Children’s home details

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

p.7

Inspector

Maria McGranaghan, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC485318 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.

p.7

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 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.8

Inspector

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

p.8

Inspector

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

p.8