Children's Home run by After Care (NW) Limited in Sefton

Inspection report children’s home: SC042652 1 SC042652 Registered provider: After Care NW Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private organisation operates this children’s home. It is registered to care for up to three young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has submitted an application to register with Ofsted.

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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: sustained effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC042652 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/03/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 24/05/2018 Full Good 23/01/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness 09/05/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report children’s home: SC042652 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people have a sense of belonging and permanence. Staff encourage young people to share their wishes and feelings and young people receive a response to their requests. When young people have been unhappy, they have chosen to use the complaints procedure. The manager has responded to each complaint appropriately.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support young people in meeting any health needs. One young person with a complex health condition said that, ‘Staff really help me to understand my condition.’ Sexual health is discussed with young people and, when necessary, staff encourage young people to have sexual health screenings at a clinic.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people have all made progress with their education. One young person has a bespoke education plan. This is made up of two work placements and education time with a tutor. Each of the placements tap into the individual interests of the young person. Consequently, he enjoys education and is engaging with his plan. Another young person’s parent said, ‘[Name] is doing really well. The home are supporting him with plans for his future and education. Two years ago, we could never have predicted he would be in this position.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support young people to spend time with their families. For one young person, this involves staff driving him for three hours to see his mother every three weeks. This effort is appreciated by both the young person and his mother. Young people feel that their relationships with family members have improved since living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are encouraged to engage in a range of activities. One young person is working towards becoming a scuba-diving instructor. Young people go to the cinema and the gym, play instruments, and have spent time on holiday in a caravan. One young person has expressed a wish to go abroad in the future. Managers confirmed that this is a possibility.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people have good relationships with the staff and the manager. They enjoy spending time with both their friends and with staff. However, one young person prefers not to spend time with a particular staff member. The young person has used racist remarks about the staff member. Staff have not challenged this or recorded the support provided to the staff member.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Clear psychological reports are used to inform care plans. Staff follow the care plans and risk assessments on a day-to-day basis. This has helped young people improve in managing their behaviours, emotions and relationships. Young people are treated with dignity and respect. One young person said, ‘I was upset a few weeks ago but they knew why I was upset. There’s support 24/7. They know my triggers. I love it here.’ Inspection report children’s home: SC042652 4

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

When moving into or out of the home, transitions are well planned. Since the last inspection, one young person has been reaccommodated with her family. A clear plan was put in place to support this, including increasing overnight stays over a number of weeks. This gave the young person and her family time to adjust to the changes and helped them learn how to live together again.

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

Young people are rarely reported missing from home. When young people have gone missing, staff have reported and recorded this in a timely manner. Staff have taken steps to help to locate young people. Steps taken include actively looking for them, researching social media content and calling hospitals. Young people who have moved to the home after previously being exploited are no longer at risk.

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

Young people have friendships and have brought friends to the home. Appropriate friendships are promoted. When staff feel there may be a negative relationship, they work with young people to help them understand this. For young people with one- to-one staffing, the expectations of the support being provided in and out of the home is unclear. A recommendation has been made to address this matter.

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

Staff are familiar with safeguarding procedures. Allegations and disclosures have been referred to the relevant agencies. Notifications of serious incidents are sent to Ofsted when required. The written accounts are detailed and evidence the suitable follow-up that the home has taken.

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

Detailed risk assessments are in place that are followed well in practice. The team discusses the risk assessments within team meetings to ensure that all staff are aware of the content.

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

Young people’s positive behaviour is promoted by caring staff. A praise book is used for staff to add positive comments for each young person. This level of positive feedback increases each individual’s self-esteem and self-worth. Each young person is given their book to take with them when they leave. It is clear from speaking to each of the young people that they have their own identities and are confident individuals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is qualified and experienced, but is not yet registered with Ofsted. When members of the team express an interest in progression, the manager provides clear guidance and mentoring. As a result, staff feel supported and can invest in a career in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is suitably staffed. Staff receive a comprehensive induction and detailed, reflective supervision from the manager. Staff are up to date with mandatory training and have completed courses relevant to the needs of the current young people, including child criminal exploitation. Inspection report children’s home: SC042652 5 The manager works proactively to request documentation for young people, including education, health and care plans. One young person has a personal education plan on file which lacks detail. The manager did not challenge the content of this plan. This prevents the home from helping the young person to achieve specific targets, as they have not been set.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Incidents of self-injurious behaviours and disclosures are recorded in the home’s log. Medical advice has been taken and followed and disclosures have been reported to safeguarding partners. On occasions, managers have not completed an overall evaluation of the event and reviewed the steps taken by staff. This oversight in monitoring reduces the opportunities for reflection and learning.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings take place regularly. Current information for each young person is discussed. Staff know young people well. One young person said, ‘It is nice and relaxed here. Staff get along and care about us. It’s not like kids being in care. It’s a nice place to come home to after school. We have a lot of laughter.’ Inspection report children’s home: SC042652 6

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Recommendations

 Expectations of standards of behaviour should be high for all staff and children in the home. These standards should be clear and unambiguous. Children should be supported to develop understanding and empathy towards each other. Positive behaviour and relationships should be reinforced, praised and encouraged; poor behaviour should be challenged and discussed. The development of safe, stable and secure relationships with staff in the home should be central to the ethos of the home and support the development of secure attachments that, where appropriate, persist over time. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.11)

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Recommendations

In particular, ensure that racist comments towards staff members are challenged and that support is provided to all involved.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should actively seek independent scrutiny of the home and make best use of information from independent and internal monitoring (including under regulations 44 and 45) to ensure continuous improvement. They should be skilled in anticipating difficulties and reviewing incidents, such as learning from disruptions and placement breakdowns. They are responsible for proactively implementing lessons learned and sustaining good practice. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they and their staff engage proactively with the placing authority to contribute fully to the relevant plans for the child’s care on an ongoing basis. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.3)

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Recommendations

In particular, managers need to ensure that there are clear agreements with placing authorities about the level of staff support being provided.

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Recommendations

 Staff in children’s homes will play a key role in supporting children in line with their personal education plan or EHC plan and recommendations from education and health professionals. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 26, paragraph 5.3)

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Recommendations

In particular, staff need to ensure that personal education plans are completed fully and used as working documents. Inspection report children’s home: SC042652 7

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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: SC042652 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: After Care NW Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 45 Kensington Road, Southport, Lancashire PR9 0RT

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Timothy Blundell

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Inspectors

Sylvia Eboigbe, Social Care Inspector Kamal Bhamra, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC042652 9 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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