Children's home run by Restorative Social Care Services Ltd

Inspection report children’s home: 1263673 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 home provides care and accommodation for up to three children and young people, irrespective of gender, aged between 11 and 17 years. The current admission criteria provides care for children and young people who may display social, emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and who require a medium- to long-term placement. The home also considers placements for children and young people who may have mild learning difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager is suitably qualified and experienced and has been registered since June 2018.

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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: 4 September 2018

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 1263673 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/09/2018 Full Good 09/01/2018 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: 1263673 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young people living at this home receive care that is both supportive and nurturing, giving them a sense of stability and permanence. It provides a firm foundation that enables young people to live out their childhood in a safe and caring environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The quality of relationships between the young people and the staff team are a real strength of this home. During the inspection, the staff were actively engaging with the young people, helping with study, cooking tea and going out and about. The relaxed, supportive and at times light-hearted atmosphere alludes to a family-orientated environment where the young people are flourishing. One young person said: ‘I enjoy living at this home, and the staff are like a family to me. I have a good relationship with the other young people and feel safe.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Positive relationships play an important role in supporting the young people through significant changes and events in their lives. Staff will guide, encourage and at times cajole the young people to understand and manage their emotions, worries and fears. This has enabled the young people to face life’s challenges knowing they have adults who care for them at their side.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Records of young people’s meetings demonstrate that staff act on their views and choices, such as menu planning, activities, and day-to-day matters affecting their experience of living at the home. The young people have personalised their bedrooms to their taste, and their request for more board games has been acted on. In the main, the young people get on well together and sometimes spend evenings playing games and having quiz nights.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Equally, staff find ways to encourage the young people to engage in positive activities outside the home. This has included going to the gym, out for walks in the Yorkshire Dales, attending the Right to Voice Council, going to concerts, the cinema and shopping. This has been particularly effective in helping one young person to open up more and become less socially isolated.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support young people to maintain important relationships. They have a good understanding of the dynamics and histories that has an effect on each young person’s relationship with their families. This has helped to improve the quality of time spent with parents, siblings and other key people in the young people’s lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is very much promoted, and staff work through barriers to learning that have an effect on attendance and attainment. Through consultation with education providers and the virtual school, one young person has reintegrated into education. Another young person is a high achiever, and much support is on hand to help with her GCSE examinations. Inspection report children’s home: 1263673 4

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

The young people’s risk assessments and behaviour management plans clearly outline strategies to ensure that their welfare is promoted and protected. These plans effectively address young people’s needs and are regularly updated to reflect any change in circumstances. This helps staff to be vigilant and responsive in their safeguarding responsibilities.

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

Restraint practice is very rare, as staff have a very clear understanding of each young person’s triggers to negative behaviour. They are skilled in applying de-escalation techniques, such as humour, negotiation and diversion to diffuse challenging behaviour. In addition, all staff have attended and are up to date in behaviour management and physical intervention training.

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

The young people have made progress in identifying and reducing their risk-taking behaviour. Key-work sessions have taken place after the young people have engaged in potentially harmful behaviour, such as excessive alcohol consumption, inappropriate use of social media and being missing from home. This has helped the young people to better understand the consequences of their behaviour and make more positive choices.

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

The home works well with other agencies, such as the police and placing authorities, to keep young people safe. Professionals spoken to and written feedback are both positive and complimentary about the quality of the communication and care provided to the young people. Overall, children are better protected living at this home.

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

Robust health and safety policies and procedures are in place, and this includes regular fire evacuation drills. This ensures that young people are able to leave the home in the event of an emergency. One young person was keen to demonstrate her understanding in health and safety matters.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager runs a well-organised home. She is suitably qualified and holds the level 5 diploma in leadership and management. She leads a dedicated staff team that wants the best for the children in their care. As a result, the young people have positive experiences and better outcomes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. Staff changes have seen improvements in morale, and opportunities for career progression have been welcomed by the staff team. Since the last inspection, a deputy manager and senior staff have been appointed. Staff spoken to said that they feel well supported and valued.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is registered to run two homes in close proximity. She demonstrates absolute confidence in her deputy manager to run the home in her absence. She is very much open to up-skilling her staff with new ideas and training opportunities. Recently, Inspection report children’s home: 1263673 5 staff completed therapeutic parenting and self-harm training. It gives staff a better understanding of each young person’s past experiences and presenting behaviours.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from regular and reflective supervision, annual appraisals and team meetings. This enables the staff to receive the necessary support and guidance both professionally and personally. This ensures a healthy work-life balance and contributes to a well-managed home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Young people experience a well-planned and coordinated transition in and out of the home. Admission processes are robust and child centred. The careful planning makes sure that the young people have a voice, and opportunities to ask questions are very much promoted. This goes some way in reducing anxieties and has helped the young people to settle down quickly.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Monitoring and quality assurance systems are used effectively to ensure that young people make good progress and achieve good outcomes. An independent person visits the home to monitor and report on the quality of care provided. In addition, the manager uses self-evaluation that contributes to the development of the home and the service.

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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: 1263673 6

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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

Cath Sikakana: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1263673 7 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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