Children's Home run by New Foundations Care Homes Limited in St Helens

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC406636 1 SC406636

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Building Bridges Care Homes Ltd

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is one of several operated by a private company. It is registered to accommodate up to five children who may have emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has a registered manager who has been registered with Ofsted since August 2018.

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This monitoring visit

An assurance visit took place at this children’s home on 8 and 9 September 2020. At this visit, inspectors identified serious and widespread concerns in relation to the care and protection of children at this home. As a result, compliance notices were issued under regulation 12, the protection of children standards, regulation 13, the leadership and management standard and regulation 40, notifications.

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This monitoring visit

An unannounced monitoring visit took place on 21 October 2020. The purpose of this monitoring visit was to assess the progress made by the provider to address the steps within the compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

Risk assessments have been updated to reflect the current needs of the children. The assessments now include detailed strategies for staff to follow to reduce all known risks. Staff who were spoken to have a greater understanding of the specific risks for each child and the strategies in place to keep them safe.

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This monitoring visit

Despite the changes and updates made to children’s plans, not all staff have signed them to evidence that they have read and understood them. Furthermore, not all records show the author of the document and when it was produced. This means that it can be confusing to establish the most recent version. A requirement has been made to address this shortfall. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC406636 2 Staff have attended training in topics that include bullying, self-harm and ligature use. Staff told the inspector that they have found the training sessions to be useful and informative.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have provided coaching and mentoring sessions for staff to develop their knowledge of residential care. Team meetings have provided a further opportunity for staff to discuss practice issues and the managers have reinforced the roles and responsibilities of care staff.

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This monitoring visit

Records from incidents show that not all staff have followed the plans in place to keep a child safe. However, the manager had undertaken an investigation after both incidents and took appropriate action against the staff member involved. The designated officer told the inspector that the registered manager had taken appropriate and swift action to address concerns around staff practice, in line with policies and procedures.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has implemented several new recording and reporting systems, including new staff handover processes and management audits. This will improve the manager’s oversight of care practices in the home.

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This monitoring visit

Children reported feeling happier and understanding actions taken by staff to keep them safe. Regular key-work sessions are taking place with children to help them understand the dangers and risks they may face.

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This monitoring visit

It is Ofsted’s view that the provider has taken sufficient action to meet the compliance notices issued.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/03/2020 Full Requires improvement to be good 11/04/2018 Full Good 25/07/2017 Full Good 27/02/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC406636 3

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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 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—

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Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person’s report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 44 (1) (2) (4)(a)(b) (5)) 30/11/2020

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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.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC406636 4

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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 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC406636 5 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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