Children's Home run by Inspire Children’s Services Limited in St Helens

Inspection report children’s home: 1213828 1 Registered provider: Inspire Children’s Services Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned children’s home. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a registered manager in post. He registered with Ofsted in 2018.

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Information about this children’s home

Children were spoken to as part of this inspection.

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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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 1213828 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/01/2019 Full Good 01/11/2017 Full Good 13/01/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 05/05/2016 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: 1213828 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child lives at this children’s home. The staff provide child-focused individualised care for this child. This care is having a positive impact on the child’s overall experiences. The staff are committed to the child and together they provide a nurturing environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff are ambitious for the child and support her to attend education. The staff also helped the child to get a part-time job at a local beauty salon. This means that the child can develop her independence skills and pursue her interest in hair and beauty. This helps the child to feel valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff have good relationships with all professionals involved in the child’s life, for example the child’s social worker and independent reviewing officer. This means that the child receives focused all-round care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Although the staff have a good knowledge of the child’s health needs, they need to ensure that all her emotional and psychological needs are consistently met. The staff need to be proactive in challenging and escalating concerns to the child’s placing authority. A requirement has been made to reflect this shortfall.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child was seen during the inspection. She was comfortable and happy to talk to the inspector. The inspector observed positive relationships between the child and staff. The child was very positive about the staff team.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff encourage the child to do various activities. However, the child does not get involved in activities on a regular basis and does not attend any clubs. This limits her opportunities to meet other children. A recommendation has been made to reflect this.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child to have contact with her family in line with her care plan. Staff ensure that this contact is safe. This means that the child maintains safe relationships with her family.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff listen to the child and help her talk about her feelings. A variety of work is undertaken with her, for example work on positive relationships and the benefits of education. The child told the inspector that she can talk to any of the staff and that they listen to what she has to say.

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

The staff identify the risks in respect of the child. There are clear and thorough risk assessments and risk management plans in place. These plans include strategies to help staff manage risk. Therefore, staff have a good understanding of risk and how to manage situations. Inspection report children’s home: 1213828 4 Some risks remain in respect of the child. However, staff are working with the child’s social worker and other professionals to try to reduce these risks. The staff involve other professionals to work with the child, for example the looked after children’s nurse has visited the home to do some work with the child on sexual health and positive relationships.

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

There have been incidents of going missing since the last inspection. Staff manage these incidents well and follow the child’s risk management plan. Although staff talk to the child when she returns home, she does not always have an independent return home interview. This is a missed opportunity. A recommendation has been made to reflect this.

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

Staff provide the child with a calm environment. Staff manage the child’s behaviour consistently. Consistent approaches mean that the child feels increasingly safe. There have been some incidents of physical restraint. These methods are used to keep the child and staff safe. These incidents are evaluated by the manager and include the child’s views.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is an experienced and suitably qualified manager in post. The registered manager is child-centred in his approach and he has a good understanding of the progress that the child has made. The registered manager is approachable, and the inspector observed a warm relationship between him and the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager provides a supportive environment for staff. The staff receive regular supervision that is focused on the needs of the child and any issues that the staff may have. Staff meetings are regular and well attended by the staff team. The staff discuss the child and potential triggers to help them understand her behaviour. Furthermore, training and development activities are focused on ensuring that the staff can meet the specific needs of the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager knows the home’s strengths and weaknesses. He knows that the child is benefiting from living alone. He plans to maintain the home as a solo placement for the child. This means that the registered manager and staff are committed to the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have good relationships with other professionals involved in the child’s life. The inspector spoke to the child’s social worker and independent reviewing officer. They were positive about the care that the staff provide for the child. The independent reviewing officer said that staff ‘go the extra mile for her’. Inspection report children’s home: 1213828 5

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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 health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs; and

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Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well- being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) and (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)) 14/05/2020

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children are offered a wide range of activities both inside and outside of the home (where appropriate) and are encouraged to participate in those activities. Staff should support children to take part in school trips, out of school and other clubs, volunteering and leisure Inspection report children’s home: 1213828 6 activities. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 31, paragraph 6.5)  When a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority must provide an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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: 1213828 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Inspire Children’s Services

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Catherine Fargin, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1213828 8 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 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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