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

Inspection report children’s home: SC482410 1 SC482410 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

The home is owned by a private company and is registered to provide care and accommodate up to three young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered since September 2018.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 11 September 2018

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC482410 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/09/2018 Full Good 21/11/2017 Full Good 07/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 23/11/2016 Full Outstanding Inspection report children’s home: SC482410 3

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improvement to be good

There are three young people currently living at the home. Two out of the three young people spoken to during the inspection raised concerns about the approach, behaviour and relationships that they have with some staff members working at the home.

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improvement to be good

Some of the concerns about staff practice raised by young people had been addressed by the registered manager. However, the young people had not shared all their concerns with the registered manager, as they stated that they do not get to speak with him as often as they would like to. The inspector raised the concerns that young people had spoken about directly with the registered manager and responsible individual, who took immediate action to rectify the concerns.

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improvement to be good

The registered manager and staff have a good knowledge and understanding of the progress and plans for each young person. However, the content of one young person’s placement plan does not show this. The placement plan lacks sufficiently detailed and up-to-date information about the progress the young person is making in education and health outcomes.

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improvement to be good

The education needs of young people are met well. Two young people have made significant progress in attendance, engagement and provision of education since they moved into the home. One young person who has recently moved into the home has not engaged in meaningful education for some time. However, the registered manager has engaged with the local authority social worker and education professionals to secure her enrolment with a local education provider.

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improvement to be good

Key-work sessions with young people are well recorded. The sessions are targeted according to the individual needs of the young people and help them to make progress. The registered manager and staff carefully plan sessions using research and learning from specialist training they have attended. Consequently, the young people benefit greatly from the key-work sessions, which is demonstrated in the progress that they make.

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improvement to be good

In the main, the home presents as clean and tidy with a domestic, homely feel. However, one young person does not have enough storage space for all of her clothes and belongings, so her bedroom was cluttered, and clothes were piled high at the bottom of her wardrobe. The registered manager has stated that he will take immediate action to ensure that the young person is provided with sufficient storage space to live comfortably in the home.

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improvement to be good

Despite the shortfalls identified in the inspection, young people have made progress from their starting points. Young people’s health and education needs are met well and relationships with family members have improved, resulting in consistent, good- quality contact regularly taking place. Some young people have successfully Inspection report children’s home: SC482410 4 returned home to live with their families due to the good progress that has been made.

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improvement to be good

Although safeguarding shortfalls are not widespread, safeguarding practice needs to improve. Suitable action is not always taken when safeguarding incidents occur or when there is concern for young people’s welfare, such as threats to self-harm and fire-setting risks.

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improvement to be good

One young person has recently moved into the home and significant deficiencies were identified in risk management and risk assessments for her, placing her and others at risk of harm. Risk assessments did not contain sufficient information about all known risks to the young person or strategies to manage identified risk, such as mobile phone use, fire safety and self-harm. Furthermore, the risk assessments do not include the young person’s views and are not being followed by staff. For example, strategies identified in the risk assessment include the young person’s mobile phone being regularly monitored by staff and the young person not having lighters in the home. However, the young person refuses to hand her mobile phone or lighters to staff.

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improvement to be good

Although there is good evidence of staff managing the risks relating to self-harm for young people, the risk assessment and risk management of the self-harm for one young person does not help to keep her safe. The risk assessment for the young person does not include effective strategies to manage and reduce the risk of self- harm, such as removing items that pose a risk. An incident occurred when the young person threatened to harm herself, and although the staff members undertook 15-minute observations of the young person, they did not remove items that the young person could have used to harm herself.

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improvement to be good

Despite the shortfalls identified in risk assessments and risk management, staff spoken to during the inspection were clear on the individual risks for the young people and the strategies required to keep them safe. Furthermore, young people informed the inspector that they feel safe and staff do all that they can to keep them safe. Additionally, risk assessments were updated during the inspection to include all known risks and effective strategies to manage risks for the young people.

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improvement to be good

Records of restrictive physical intervention for young people include the antecedents and strategies that the staff used to manage the behaviour of the young person, to demonstrate that the use of physical intervention was necessary to keep the young person safe. Furthermore, they provide details of the intervention used and its duration, and most records demonstrate whether any injuries were sustained or whether medical treatment was offered. However, records lack sufficient information about the debriefing with staff members and management oversight and evaluation. As a result, the registered manager is unable to identify effective practice or respond promptly where any issues or trends of concern emerge. Furthermore, the Inspection report children’s home: SC482410 5 registered manager is unable to amend practice to ensure that it meets the needs of young people.

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improvement to be good

Staff undertake room searches when necessary to make sure that young people and others are safe from harm. However, records following these interventions do not always include the reason for the search or the strategies used to avoid the need for the intervention. Furthermore, some records do not include the young person’s views in relation to the search. This oversight is indicative of shortfalls in the home’s records and the monitoring of these..

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good

The registered manager’s monitoring and review systems are not sufficiently robust. Consequently, shortfalls in staff practice, safeguarding and records are not being promptly identified and addressed. The registered manager has missed opportunities to ensure the continuous improvement in the quality of care provided in the home.

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good

Staff reported that they feel well supported. One new staff member spoke positively about her experience of induction. She felt that she received a good level of support and training opportunities to equip her for her role. However, there is currently only one staff member, the deputy manager and the registered manager who are suitably qualified. The remaining staff members are enrolled and working towards achieving their qualification.

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good

Staff receive regular supervision that helps them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the young people. Furthermore, regular team meetings give the manager and staff the opportunity to discuss the needs and progress of the young people, staff practice, and to share information from training and research, which enhances their knowledge and skills.

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good

There is evidence of collaborative working with other professionals and family members who are involved in each young person’s care, to support positive outcomes for them. A social worker said, ‘The manager and staff work well with me and the young person’s parent.’

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good

Significant events involving young people living at the home have not been reported to Ofsted. A failure to share information with all relevant parties compromises the safety and welfare of young people. Furthermore, the regulator is unable to carry out its monitoring function to ensure that appropriate action is taken by the provider to safeguard young people.

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good

The registered manager fully acknowledges all shortfalls raised at this inspection. He recognises that they have an impact on the day-to-day running of the home and the outcomes for young people. He shows capacity and enthusiasm to make all the required improvements, including more robust systems to ensure that young people’s care, safety and well-being are prioritised. Inspection report children’s home: SC482410 6

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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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose; ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose; protect and promote each child’s welfare; provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background. (Regulation 6 (1) and (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iv)(v)(vii)(c)) 08/04/2020

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Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

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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

ascertain and consider each child’s views, wishes and feelings, and balance these against what they judge to be in 08/04/2020 Inspection report children’s home: SC482410 7 the child’s best interests when making decisions about the child’s care and welfare;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to express views, wishes and feelings;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how the child’s views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child; and

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Requirement Due date

regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home’s care;

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Requirement Due date

is enabled to provide feedback to, and raise issues with, a relevant person about the support and services that the child receives;

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Requirement Due date

has access to the home’s children’s guide, and the home’s complaints procedure, when the child’s placement in the home is agreed and throughout the child’s stay in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the views of each relevant person are taken into account, so far as reasonably practicable, before making a decision about the care or welfare of a child. (Regulation 7 (1) and (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(b)(i)(iii)(e)) The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans; 08/04/2020 Inspection report children’s home: SC482410 8 encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child’s respect and trust; understand and communicate to children that bullying is unacceptable; and

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to recognise incidents or indications of bullying and how to deal with them. (Regulation 11 (1) and (2)(i)(iii)(iv)(v)(viii)(xii)(xiii)) 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

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

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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;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and 08/04/2020 Inspection report children’s home: SC482410 9 are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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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) and (2)(a)(b)) The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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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

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to 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;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1) and (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(g)(ii)(h)) 08/04/2020 Inspection report children’s home: SC482410 10 The registered person must ensure that—

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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

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure.

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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 has signed the record to confirm it is accurate. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(viii)(b)) 08/04/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (‘case records’) for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)) 08/04/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation; an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious; there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there; a child protection enquiry involving a child—

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Requirement Due date

is instigated; or concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or there is any other serious incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)) 08/04/2020 Inspection report children’s home: SC482410 11

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Recommendations

 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. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)  As set out in regulations 31-33, the registered person is responsible for maintaining good employment practice. They must ensure that recruitment and performance management of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 60, paragraph 13.1)

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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: SC482410 12

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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

Lisa Mulcahy, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC482410 13 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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