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

Assurance visit report: SC480075 1 SC480075

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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

The manager was registered on 11 March 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Improved 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. 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: SC480075 2

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The care of children

Young people are happy and settled living at this home. They enjoy positive and trusting relationships with staff. Young people benefit from individualised care, routines and structure that meet their assessed needs.

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The care of children

Staff help young people to understand COVID-19 and the latest guidance, and how to keep safe and healthy. Young people talk freely to staff about their feelings and frustrations about the restrictions the pandemic is having on their lives.

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The care of children

Young people have continued to keep in touch with their families and friends during the COVID-19 lockdown. With the easing of these restrictions, staff have supported young people to see their families, including staying with them overnight, where this has been possible. Staff help children to rebuild their relationships with important people in their lives.

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The care of children

Young people are in full-time education. They are doing well at college and getting the qualifications that they need for their chosen careers. Staff work effectively with the colleges to make sure that young people have the opportunities and support to achieve their potential.

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The care of children

Staff monitor young people’s health and emotional well-being carefully. They make sure that young people always receive suitable advice and support from specialist services to meet their specific health needs.

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The care of children

Young people live in a warm and comfortable home environment. However, the flooring in one of the bedrooms is damaged and needs replacing.

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The care of children

Young people’s move in to the home is well planned. The manager makes sure that staff have the expertise to be able to respond to each young person’s needs. However, the planning does not always consider the young person’s compatibility with the other young people already living at the home.

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The safety of children

Young people feel safe and have a sense of belonging. The manager and staff monitor young people’s welfare closely and protect them from harm. They identify and manage risks to young people’s safety effectively. They take appropriate action when they have concerns about young people.

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The safety of children

Staff support young people to manage their own safety both inside and outside the home. Young people stay in touch with staff when they go out and they come home on time. Staff support children to follow the COVID-19 guidance about social distancing, washing hands and wearing protective equipment.

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The safety of children

Staff have the competence to build warm and constructive relationships with young people. They provide young people with clear and consistent expectations for Assurance visit report: SC480075 3 behaviour. Positive behaviour and self-esteem are reinforced through praise and rewards. Any unacceptable behaviour is challenged appropriately.

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The safety of children

Staff help young people to learn how to manage their feelings safely. Staff are confident in discussing sensitive issues with young people. They understand that young people may communicate adverse experiences and their current feelings through their behaviour.

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The safety of children

Staff’s calm approach helps young people to talk about what is upsetting them. Young people said that staff do the right things to help them when they are unhappy or feel frustrated. A young person said that staff had listened to him and helped him to see his parents and younger brother.

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The safety of children

The manager takes suitable action to protect young people when there are concerns about members of staff. She reports the concerns to the designated officer promptly. However, the manager did not notify Ofsted when a young person made an allegation about a member of staff. The failure to share this significant information meant that Ofsted was unable to carry out its monitoring function to ensure that appropriate action is taken by the manager and the local authority to safeguard young people.

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Leaders and managers

The manager is very experienced and suitably qualified. The manager always places the well-being of young people at the centre of the home’s practice and decision- making.

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Leaders and managers

The manager and staff have worked together effectively to find ways to support young people to make progress during the COVID-19 pandemic. The manager has dealt with the restrictions safely and appropriately. She has made sure that young people and staff understand and follow the latest guidance. Any disruptions to young people’s lives have been minimised.

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Leaders and managers

Young people’s plans have continued to be followed and reviewed regularly. The manager and staff work together with partner agencies effectively to identify and continue to meet young people’s needs. For example, they are working closely with a placing authority to make sure that a young person’s move in to his own accommodation is thoroughly planned and that he gets the right support as an adult. Staff help young people to prepare for leaving both practically and emotionally.

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Leaders and managers

Young people are looked after by skilled and experienced staff. The staffing arrangements provide young people with continuity of care. This has helped young people to build long-lasting and secure relationships with staff. The manager and staff work together well and provide young people with consistent care and support.

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Leaders and managers

Staff are well supported by the manager and receive relevant training. However, staff supervision meetings do not evaluate the training completed by staff and consider how well they use their learning to support young people. Furthermore, Assurance visit report: SC480075 4 staff are not getting opportunities to reflect on their work and relationships with young people to assist them to develop their practice.

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Leaders and managers

The manager uses the findings from complaints effectively. For example, the manager has made sure that staff know how to report concerns about young people’s welfare and keep accurate and detailed records of what had happened.

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Leaders and managers

The manager’s internal monitoring report does not evaluate the impact that the quality of care provided by staff is having on young people’s experiences and outcomes. The report does not identify areas for improvement or show how these will be achieved.

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Leaders and managers

The independent person carrying out the external monitoring of the home does not consult regularly with young people, their families, staff and other professionals about the quality of care provided. Consequently, the independent person is not getting a full picture of how well staff are protecting children from harm, following their plans and meeting their needs.

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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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who— understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to— meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b)(2)(c)(i)) This refers to replacing the damaged flooring in one of the children’s bedrooms. 31 January 2021 Assurance visit report: SC480075 5 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. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

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)) This refers to the registered person only agreeing to care for a child when they have considered the impact of the move on the child and the children already living at the home and kept a record of this assessment. 31 January 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees— receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)) This refers to supervision including an evaluation of training completed by staff and how they are putting their learning into practice; and in-depth reflection of staff’s relationships and work with children. 31 January 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)) 31 January 2021

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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. When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person— if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires. (Regulation 44 (1)(2)(a)) 31 January 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months. In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating— the quality of care provided for children; 31 January 2021 Assurance visit report: SC480075 6 the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review ("the quality of care review report").

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1)(2)(a)(b)(c)(3)(5)

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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: 11 Tapton Way, Whitfield Accounting & Integrated Services Ltd, Liverpool L13 1DA

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Inspector

Nick Veysey, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC480075 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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