Children's Home run by Safe Base Care Limited in Wirral

Inspection report children’s home: SC480075 1 SC480075 Registered provider: Safe Base Care Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to three children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

A new manager is undergoing the registration process with Ofsted.

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Inspection date: 6 March 2020

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC480075 2

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved in effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

At this home’s last inspection in July 2019, the inspector raised four requirements. The manager has addressed three of these.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager oversees the completion of accurate records in accordance with the regulations. Staff maintain the young people’s admission register, which details one young person having moved into independent living and two admissions during the period since the last inspection.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager assessed the impact on young people already living in the home when considering the suitability of a young person moving in. The young people expressed their views and staff prepared them well. This enabled smooth transitions for all the young people. While the home has developed a briefing document and risk assessments to ensure that staff have the skills and confidence required to care for the prospective young person, senior staff did not update the risk assessment for one young person to reflect emerging risks.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

When a young person went missing, staff did not have sufficient guidance within the risk assessment to help them manage the incident. Despite this shortcoming, staff acted promptly to coordinate the search for the young person with the police and social worker. Staff demonstrated good partnership working with parents, which helped the young person to return home smoothly and promptly. The inspector observed staff warmly welcoming the young person back and establishing that the young person had kept themselves safe while away from the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

All staff have had appraisals where they reflect on their practice and experiences and have development plans for the coming year. This ensures that staff have the skills required to meet the needs of young people living in the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has also addressed all the recommendations. She has created a workforce development plan that includes the training completed by each staff member. All staff have completed refresher training in a model of low-level physical intervention. The manager commissions staff training to meet the specific needs of young people living in the home. This improves staff’s understanding and ability to keep young people safe.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

All staff receive regular supervision from a suitably qualified supervisor. Staff value the support and encouragement that they receive from the manager. One staff member described the manager to the inspector as follows: ‘She steadies the ship. She is a good mentor and is always there. She puts us on training and my knowledge has improved thanks to [the manager]. I really enjoy my job and working in care.’ Inspection report children’s home: SC480075 3 The manager creates a culture of confidence and positivity for staff. She generates creative ideas, which she cascades to staff to implement. She has high expectations of both young people and staff. When young people have free time, staff keep in regular touch by undertaking welfare calls to which young people always respond. As a result, staff consistently support young people to keep themselves safe.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are instrumental in changing the lives of young people living in this home. Parents and social workers are delighted with the progress that young people make from their starting points. One social worker told the inspector that the young person’s ‘attitude has changed. He gets up in the morning now, whereas before he stayed in bed all day. He does activities, whereas he wouldn’t join in before. He is doing what he should be doing and is learning independence skills.’ The social worker attributes this progress to the relationships that staff have developed with the young person. Parents confirm this. One parent described staff as ‘brilliant’. They are proactive in contacting parents if they notice a behavioural change in young people, and support parents in becoming insightful. This resulted in one young person apologising to his mother, which she described as ‘massive progress’.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager advocates for young people to help them reach their potential. Young people living in the home have education and career ambitions. When young people encounter difficulties that might affect their education or career ambitions, the manager challenges providers and other agencies to help young people overcome those difficulties. . Currently, not all young people living in this home receive full-time education. This hinders the development of their academic and social skills.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager shows good leadership and management skills. She evidences areas of strength and improvement. She identifies areas for development within a detailed quality of care review. The manager responds to recommendations made by the independent visitor. However, visits have not been completed every month and the visitor does not always include feedback from others. This does not help the manager to consider, in a timely way, the service improvements required to ensure that young people receive the best quality of care. Inspection report children’s home: SC480075 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/07/2019 Full Good 20/09/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/08/2017 Full Good 02/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC480075 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 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 that:

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Requirement Due date

staff 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. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)).

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, to ensure that risk management plans clearly identify all emerging risks and how staff should respond to those risks. 17/04/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person:

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents and relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires; and

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Requirement Due date

to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home’s records (except for a child’s case records, unless the child and the child’s placing authority consent) as the independent person requires.

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Requirement Due date

A visit by the independent person to the home may be unannounced.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit (“the independent person’s report”) which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether: 17/04/2020 Inspection report children’s home: SC480075 6 children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being. (Regulation 44 (1)(2)(a)(b)(3)(4)(a)(b))

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Information about this inspection

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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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: SC480075 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Safe Base Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 6 The Pines, Liverpool L12 0QU

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Inspector

Joanna Warburton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC480075 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 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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