Children's home run by Inspire Children’s Services Limited in St. Helens

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC482410 1 SC482410

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Inspire Childrens Services

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The children’s home is owned by a private company. It is registered to provide care and accommodation up to three young people who may have emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered since September 2018 and will leave this position on 4 December 2020. The organisation has appointed a new manager who has started work at the home but is not yet registered.

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This monitoring visit

The home was judged as requires improvement to be good at the full inspection on 25 February 2020. This monitoring visit took place to evaluate the extent to which young people are safe and well cared for, and that managers are exercising strong leadership.

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This monitoring visit

No serious or widespread concerns about the care and protection of young people were found during the visit. Since the last inspection, managers have taken appropriate action to meet the shortfalls in the quality and purpose of care, listening to young people’s views, wishes and feelings, building positive relationships, the protection of young people, and leadership and management.

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This monitoring visit

Young people live in a warm and child-centred environment. They are happy and settled living at the home. It is a comfortable place to live. The house is clean, tidy and decorated to a high standard.

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This monitoring visit

Young people enjoy trusting and secure relationships with staff. They feel supported and accepted as individuals. They have a strong sense of safety and are growing in confidence. Managers and staff have the personal qualities and skills to build honest and constructive relationships with young people. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC482410 2 Managers and staff listen to the young people’s views and respond to them appropriately. Young people are consulted regularly on their views about the quality of support they receive and take part in the decisions affecting their lives.

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This monitoring visit

Young people feel safe enough to talk to managers and the staff freely about any worries. They know that the manager and staff will listen, take their concerns seriously and deal with them sensitively.

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This monitoring visit

Young people say that staff have helped them to understand the COVID-19 pandemic and cope with the restrictions on their lives. Staff continue to provide reassurance and help young people to keep safe and healthy.

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This monitoring visit

During the pandemic, young people have continued to keep in touch with their families. This has included staying overnight with them when it is possible.

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This monitoring visit

Managers and staff clearly know young people very well and provide them with the support that meets their assessed needs. They monitor young people’s emotional health carefully and have sought professional advice when necessary. Managers and staff make sure that young people receive the advice, guidance and treatment they need to be healthy.

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This monitoring visit

Young people are safe and protected from harm. Managers and staff know how to identify and manage risks to young people. They take effective action when they have concerns about young people’s safety.

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This monitoring visit

Staff support children to manage their own safety inside and outside the home. They help young people to understand what makes a healthy relationship and about personal space and boundaries. Staff monitor young people’s use of technology and social media carefully. They help young people to understand the risks and how to protect themselves.

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This monitoring visit

Managers and staff handle difficult situations well. They help young people to understand the expectations for behaviour, taking into account each young person’s level of understanding and how they process information. Staff use incentives, praise and rewards to promote positive behaviour successfully. They help young people to develop empathy towards each other and to learn skills to sort out problems.

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This monitoring visit

The manager and deputy manager are a strong and effective leadership team. They have made the necessary improvements to the quality of care and strengthened the management oversight of practice, records and young people’s experiences. They use monitoring systems effectively to continue to make improvements.

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This monitoring visit

The manager and deputy manager place the well-being of young people at the centre of their practice, regardless of the challenges that they may present. They have dealt with the restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic appropriately. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC482410 3 Young people’s plans have continued to be followed and reviewed regularly. The manager and staff have strong relationships with partner agencies. They work together effectively to identify and meet young people’s needs consistently.

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This monitoring visit

Staff understand the ethos of the home. They provide young people with nurturing and child-centred care, which recognises that young people are unique individuals with specific needs of their own.

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This monitoring visit

Changes to the staff team have been managed well. The manager and deputy manager are building the competence, skills and confidence of the team. Staff work together to provide young people with a consistent standard of care that meets their needs. Staff are well supported by the manager and deputy manager and have opportunities for developing their skills and knowledge through relevant training.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit did not consider the requirements and recommendations made at the last full inspection in relation to behaviour management records, children’s case records or employment practices. These requirements and recommendations will be reviewed at the next inspection visit.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 25/02/2020 Full Requires improvement to be good 11/09/2018 Full Good 21/11/2017 Full Good 07/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC482410 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

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (‘the authorised person’)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)) 08/04/2020

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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. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c)) 08/04/2020

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Recommendations

 As set out in regulations 31 to 33, the registered person is responsible for maintaining good employment practice. They must ensure that recruitment and performance management of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 60, paragraph 13.1) Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC482410 5

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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.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Inspire Children’s Services

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 3 Craig Court, Standish Street, St Helens, Merseyside WA10 1GJ

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Inspector

Nick Veysey, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC482410 6 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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