Children's Home run by Building Bridges Care Homes Ltd in St Helens

Information about this children’s home

This home is one of several owned by a private company. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for four children who have emotional and/or behavioural needs. The current manager has submitted an application to Ofsted for registration.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 21 January 2020

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: declined in effectiveness

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Information about this visit

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), Ofsted suspended all routine inspections in March 2020. As part of a phased return to routine inspection, we are undertaking assurance visits to children’s social care services that are inspected under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF).

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Information about this visit

At these visits, inspectors evaluate the extent to which:

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Information about this visit

 children are well cared for  children are safe  leaders and managers are exercising strong leadership.

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Information about this visit

This visit was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000, following the published guidance for assurance visits.

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Information about this visit

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills is leading Ofsted’s work into how England’s social care system has delivered child-centred practice and care within the context of the restrictions placed on society during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Findings from the visit

We identified no serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit. Assurance visit report: 1250035 2

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The care of children

There have been many changes in this home since it was last visited by Ofsted. This includes children who live there, with only one child remaining who lived in the home at the time of the last inspection. Children told the inspector that they were well supported in moving into the home and were given the information that they need to help them understand their entitlements, the boundaries and all expectations. This was confirmed by children’s social workers.

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The care of children

However, despite this, the process currently in place for matching children who are referred to the home is not robust. Impact risk assessments do not adequately refer to the needs and behaviours of children currently living in the home and any impact children being considered for placement may have on them. Since the last inspection, the home has admitted children whose needs could not be met and as a result some children’s placements ended following serious incidents.

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The care of children

Children have been given opportunities to enjoy themselves and have fun, with activities ranging from local walks and games in the garden to days out, to theme parks and camping trips. This has helped develop relationships within the home for children.

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The care of children

Education has been a strength of this home during the period of COVID-19 restrictions. Children have benefited from an ‘education hub’, separate to the home, to undertake both formal and informal learning opportunities. Staff, supported by an education professional employed by the company, have supported children to complete school work set for children and ASDAN awards in independence skills. Children have also been able to access the staff ‘training hub’ and been supported to complete training in areas such as drug and alcohol misuse, aggression and exploitation. Furthermore, staff have engaged children individually and in groups to complete quizzes and direct work on areas related to COVID-19, to ensure that they have the knowledge and skills to keep themselves safe and healthy.

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The care of children

The current manager has improved the environment for children. Repairs have been made, and children have been involved in picking and buying new things for the home to give them a sense of ownership and pride in the home. One child told the inspector, ‘this is our home’. A schedule of works is ongoing to continue with the progress and prioritise areas for improvement.

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The safety of children

Incidents of challenging behaviour and children going missing have reduced. When incidents do occur, staff have been quick to respond and address concerns. This is confirmed by children. However, some serious incidents, including where a child has been missing several times in a short period, have not been notified to Ofsted. This prevents the regulator from having oversight of the actions taken to keep children safe and identify any patterns or escalating concerns in the home. The manager’s threshold for ‘seriousness’ needs to be considered in line with current guidance. Assurance visit report: 1250035 3 There have been changes in the staff team, with some new unqualified staff having little or no experience working with children. Inexperienced staff are supported on shift by an experienced mentor. However, not all new staff have an awareness of risk factors for children, nor the control measures to reduce or manage risk. In addition,

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The safety of children

risk assessments do not have enough information to provide clear guidance and advice for staff to follow and ensure that consistent responses are given to managing risk.

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The safety of children

Staff continue to access training in a variety of formats. Staff have used online training and also sourced workbooks and resources from other agencies to further their knowledge. Managers have also facilitated workshops for staff, on areas such as recording and behaviour management, to improve the knowledge and skills of staff.

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Leaders and managers

The current manager has submitted an application to be registered with Ofsted and is experienced in residential childcare. She has been proactive in addressing concerns from the last inspection and addressing the identified shortfalls.

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Leaders and managers

The manager has undertaken a detailed self-assessment of the home. She has developed a clear action plan to address and prioritise areas in the home that require improvement. She has also recognised the areas of good practice.

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Leaders and managers

The manager has been proactive in recruiting new staff. New members of the team are clear about the ethos and expectations of the manager and have regular supervision.

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Leaders and managers

Staff at the home feel supported and look forward to coming to work. Staff recognise the positive effect the new manager has had on the home and on outcomes for children and as a result are enthusiastic and motivated in their work.

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Leaders and managers

Team meetings have continued during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the manager meeting with small groups of staff and sharing the minutes with all staff and discussing the same topics with everyone. Assurance visit report: 1250035 4

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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

14: The care planning standard The care planning standard is that children— receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)) 08/10/2020

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Requirement Due date

12: The protection of children standard The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that 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; have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(iii)(iv)) 08/10/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— 08/10/2020 Assurance visit report: 1250035 5 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 is instigated; or concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)) Assurance visit report: 1250035 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Building Bridges Care Homes Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Mill Farm, Bull Bridge Lane, Liverpool L10 6LZ

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Inspector

Jessica Forshaw, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: 1250035 7 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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