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

Assurance visit report: SC063673 1 SC063673

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run home provides care and accommodation for up to four young people with complex needs and behaviours.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Requires improvement to be good

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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. 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 did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit. Assurance visit report: SC063673 2

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The care of children

Young people enjoy trusting and secure relationships with staff. As a result, they are making progress and their emotional well-being has improved. This is because they are more able to talk to staff about how they are feeling. Staff take the time to get to know young people who are new to the home.

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The care of children

One young person wrote, ‘I feel safe here, the staff are supportive and are always inspiring me to do more and teaching me how to improve myself, the food’s nice and no matter what the staff are here to support me whenever I need it, and although I have some problems with my peers they are always there to make me laugh when I need it, also my bedroom is nice.’

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The care of children

Staff understand the young people’s needs and the things that are important to them. They work effectively with a range of external professionals to ensure that young people receive effective care and support.

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The care of children

Two young people have left the home in recent months. They have successfully moved back home to family and into semi-independent living accommodation. Both young people are doing well because of the support that they received from staff.

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The care of children

Education has been problematic for some young people who have struggled during the lockdown period. Staff are working with the young people to ensure that they can access the right education, employment or apprenticeships to help them to move on with their learning.

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The care of children

Young people have kept in regular contact with their family and friends throughout the lockdown period. They say that this has been different but necessary to keep everyone safe.

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The safety of children

Safeguarding practice is secure. Staff know and understand the diverse needs of the young people and the associated risks for them. Staff are able to speak confidently about the measures in place to keep them safe.

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The safety of children

Most young people feel safe and have a sense of belonging. They know that they can talk to the staff about their worries and that the staff will help them to be safe. The incidents of young people being missing from home have significantly decreased.

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The safety of children

Young people are increasingly aware of their own safety. They understand the risks around the use of illicit substances and alcohol misuse, which has resulted in a decrease in this risk-taking behaviour.

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The safety of children

Staff are aware of the impact that COVID-19 has had on some young people’s emotions, anxieties and behaviours. Reward schemes have proven invaluable in Assurance visit report: SC063673 3 encouraging young people to be mindful of their behaviour and to encourage them to think about the impact on themselves and others.

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The safety of children

The home is well maintained and has recently been repainted. Young people’s bedrooms are bright and reflect their individual interests.

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Leaders and managers

The home is led by a confident, enthusiastic manager. She is committed to improving outcomes for young people and developing the staff team.

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Leaders and managers

Staff say that the manager has been supportive of them during the pandemic. They have been able to access online training. However, this is not evidenced in the workforce development plan, as it does relate to the current staff team.

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Leaders and managers

The home is in the process of moving to a new electronic recording system. This means that some information is recorded in the paper records and some on the electronic system. As a result, young people’s comments in relation to sanctions and other documentation are not recorded. This does not enable young people to have their voices heard or promote transparency.

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Leaders and managers

The manger and staff work well with other professionals to improve outcomes for young people. One professional wrote about the positive impact staff have on young people. This included improving young people’s life experiences, their confidence and self-esteem. This support enables the young people to move forward in their lives and achieve their personal goals.

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Leaders and managers

Monitoring of the home is secure and reflects young people’s progress and the initiatives undertaken by the home to improve young people’s outcomes. The registered manager’s monitoring of the home provides a critical analysis of what the home does well and the areas for development.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should have a workforce plan which can fulfil the workforce related requirements of regulation 16, schedule 1 (paragraphs 19 and 20). The plan should be updated to include any new training or qualifications completed by staff while working at the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8). In particular, the plan should reflect the current staff team.  Children should be actively encouraged to read their records and to add further information to them. They should be regularly reminded of their rights to see the information kept about them and be given information about how they might be Assurance visit report: SC063673 4 supported to access their records in later life. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.6)

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: After Care North West 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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Inspector

Chris Scully, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC063673 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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