Children's home run by Carehome Limited in Liverpool

Inspection report children’s home: SC044276 1 SC044276 Registered provider: Carehome Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home is registered to care for up to four children in the main house. Additionally, a satellite house provides accommodation for up to two children.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in April 2013.

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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: 14 November 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: SC044276 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/11/2018 Full Good 22/11/2017 Full Outstanding 14/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 01/11/2016 Full Outstanding Inspection report children’s home: SC044276 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff know the children extremely well. As a result, the children benefit from a high standard of personalised care that reflects their individual needs and interests.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All the children are making exceptional progress from their starting points. This is reflected in a social worker’s comments: ‘The home is making a significant difference to [child’s name] life. He has good routines and he has settled massively. I can really see the difference in him; he is happy.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Consistent routines and the staff’s unwavering encouragement and support are helping the children to attend school, to progress and to enjoy their education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children’s physical and emotional health is improving because of the staff’s devoted support and strong partnership working with a range of health professionals, such as therapists and psychologists.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Although the children’s medical needs are competently met, the storage and labelling of medication need to be strengthened to minimise any potential risk of error.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff are skilled at nurturing positive relationships with the children. The staff’s warm, nurturing and child-centred approach was clearly evident at the inspection. These positive relationships are helping the children to trust and respect the staff and accept their consistent guidance and support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff make sure that the children are fully prepared for when they move out of the home. The staff are teaching the children some basic skills, for example personal care, helping with the laundry and cleaning their bedrooms. This is an important part of preparing the children for a successful independent life in the future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children enjoy a wide range of fun activities that reflect their interests and keep them entertained, for example making dens, swimming and attending local clubs. These valuable opportunities are increasing the children’s confidence, self-worth and friendships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff appreciate how important the children’s family and friends are to them, so they make sure that they can meet up with them in a safe and enjoyable way. With the staff’s support, some children have got back in touch with their parents and are enjoy spending time with them in a safe environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is well maintained. However, the metal bars that are fitted on the outside of the children’s bedroom are undermining the homely, welcoming feeling. Although these have been fitted as a safety measure, the manager has not kept this measure under review to assess if they are currently needed. Inspection report children’s home: SC044276 4

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

The children receive a high level of support that ensures their overall welfare and safety. Safeguarding incidents are extremely rare at this home. The children feel safe, secure and valued.

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

The staff are vigilant and demonstrate a good understanding of the children’s vulnerabilities, emotional development and risk management. However, the quality of the children’s written risk assessments is variable. Although some had been kept updated and provided clear risk management strategies, others had not. The manager has already identified this as an area for development and is in the process of revising these documents.

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

A positive approach to behaviour management, such as constant praise and reward, is teaching the children to manage difficult emotions in a safer way. As a result, the children’s behaviour and safety are continuously improving.

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

The home is well maintained. Additionally, the regular health and safety checks are ensuring that it continues to be a safe and secure environment.

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

The staff are suitably trained in de-escalation and physical intervention, including restraint techniques. However, the records of restraints and debriefings with a child remain an area for improvement. The records do not consistently document any injuries or demonstrate that the child has been spoken to by the manager or an independent member of staff after the incident.

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

Some minor shortfalls in staff employment procedures are undermining safe recruitment practice. In particular, the manager has not obtained a full employment history so that she can thoroughly explore any gaps in an applicant’s employment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is suitably qualified and experienced. She is supported by an experienced deputy manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The managers makes sure that there are always enough staff at the home to provide the children with individualised care, support and supervision. As a result, the staff are able to spend good-quality time with each child and successfully nurture warm positive relationships.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The managers and staff have high aspirations for the children. They know each child particularly well and advocate for their views and wishes when necessary. An example of this is the manager and staff helping children to be involved in care plan decisions, such as arrangements for when they move on from the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff speak positively about the support that they receive. Regular supervision, team meetings and annual performance appraisals are providing the staff with plenty of opportunities to reflect, discuss and continually improve their practice. Inspection report children’s home: SC044276 5 Additionally, strong team working is ensuring that the children receive consistent care, support and guidance.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Although the statement of purpose has been updated so that it more accurately reflects the home’s therapeutic practice, the manager could not evidence that she had sent a copy to Ofsted. A revised statement of purpose was provided during the inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Partnership working with social workers, teachers and health professionals is ensuring that the children’s needs are being properly assessed and met. All the professionals consulted during the inspection were extremely complimentary about the manager and the staff team. A teacher described the staff as ‘fantastic’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff are provided with regular training, which includes safeguarding. Some additional training for all staff would further enhance their knowledge, skills and expertise in other relevant areas, for example child sexual and criminal exploitation, autism and caring for children of Muslim faith.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager’s oversight of the staff’s training could be improved. The workforce development plan has not been kept up to date to reflect any new training that the staff have attended. Weaknesses in the monitoring of staff’s training were identified at the last inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has not taken sufficient action to adequately address all the shortfalls raised at the last inspection, which highlights the weaknesses in her monitoring systems. Consequently, continuous improvements have not been achieved in all areas, for example recruitment practice, restraints and staff training.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The independent monitoring of the home continues to lack rigour. In particular, there is a lack of regular consultation with the children, external professionals, parents and carers. Inspection report children’s home: SC044276 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 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 use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13(1)(a)(b), (2)(h)) 27/03/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

The requirements are that full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32(1), (3)(d)) 27/03/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that: 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 a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure; and within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35(3)(a)(c)) 27/03/2020

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Recommendations

 Keep the home’s statement of purpose under review and send a copy of the revised statement to Ofsted within 28 days of the revision. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.5)  Make suitable arrangements to manage, administer and dispose of any medication. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.15) Inspection report children’s home: SC044276 7 In particular, ensure that all medication is clearly labelled and states the date that it was opened, when necessary.  Ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11) In particular, develop all of the staff’s knowledge and understanding of child criminal exploitation (CCE); child sexual exploitation (CSE); Muslim faith; attention

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Recommendations

deficit disorder (ADHD); autistic spectrum condition (ASC); and radicalisation.  Ensure that the home’s workforce plan is updated to include any new training and qualifications completed by staff while working at the home and used to record the ongoing and continuing professional development needs of staff – including the home’s manager. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)  Ensure that any person appointed to carry out visits to the home as an independent person makes a rigorous assessment of the home’s arrangements for safeguarding and promoting children’s welfare and includes the views of parents and other stakeholders. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.5) Inspection report children’s home: SC044276 8

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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: SC044276 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Hanover Buildings, 11–13 Hanover Street, Liverpool, Merseyside L1 3DN

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Christopher Minogue

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Inspector

Marina Tully, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC044276 10 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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