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

Assurance visit report: SC411825 1 SC411825

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Information about this children’s home

The children’s home is operated by a private organisation.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to accommodate two young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. There is currently one young person living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered since June 2018.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 23 September 2019

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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. Assurance visit report: SC411825 2

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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.

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The care of children

There is currently one young person living at the home. The young person is cared for by a small, consistent team of staff who know him well. The young person shares strong relationships with the staff team and manager. The young person requires clear routines and boundaries in place to meet his needs. The staff team ensure that these routines are in place and this helps the young person to feel safe. The young person has made significant progress whilst living in the home and benefits from a calm, stable environment. Due to the progress the young person has made, there has been a reduction in behaviours and incidents. The young person is now supported by one member of staff rather than two.

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The care of children

The staff enjoy spending time with the young person and they share trusting, secure relationships. The staff team spend time identifying the young person’s wishes and views and acting on these. For example, the young person asked to go fishing and this activity was arranged. This makes the young person feel listened to. The young person asked for a pet dog. Although this could not be arranged, the staff team were creative in making arrangements for Buddy, a therapy dog, to spend significant time in the home. The young person enjoys spending time with Buddy and was able to demonstrate various tricks and Buddy followed the young person’s commands. An independent reviewing officer said, ‘the staff listen to him, understand his needs and are strong advocates for his voice’ and ‘he has a real sense of belonging’.

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The care of children

The home is warm and comfortable. The home has been personalised for the young person. There are photographs on the wall of various activities which the young person has engaged in and this helps to create a homely feel. The home requires some internal repairs and maintenance to ensure that it provides a safe and comfortable home for the young person. The downstairs bathroom requires tiling and grouting repairs and the upstairs bathroom requires redecoration, as the wallpaper is damaged. The home has a designated games room where the young person likes to play online games and build Lego.

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The care of children

The young person attends school and his attendance is excellent. The manager and staff have strong aspirations for the young person and promote his education. The young person adapted well to changes in the school routine caused by the COVID- 19 pandemic. Staff supported him with educational activities at home. An education professional said, ‘the staff really care for him’, ‘the staff are outstanding’ and ‘the staff work well with the school’.

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The care of children

The young person’s health and well-being needs are met. Staff support the young person to access healthcare and to attend appointments. The staff team recently advocated for the young person following an assessment in relation to his needs. This was effective as it led to the correct diagnosis to ensure that his current and Assurance visit report: SC411825 3 future support needs will be met. The young person’s medication is given to him in a safe way and in accordance with the instructions. This helps to ensure that he remains healthy and well. The staff have supported the young person’s understanding of how to stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The care of children

The young person benefits from regular key-work sessions on a wide variety of topics. The sessions are often planned and personalised to the young person’s individual needs and key risks. This helps the young person to understand how to keep safe and encourages more appropriate, positive behaviours. Key-work sessions have also been used to support the young person’s understanding of developmental changes and independence skills such as cooking.

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The safety of children

The manager and staff members know the young person well and have a clear understanding of the key risk and the strategies in place to keep him safe. Staff understand the young person’s risks and adhere to agreed strategies to reduce the risks. The risk assessments that are in place contain detailed information and strategies for staff to follow.

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The safety of children

There are clear strategies in place to support the young person’s online activity. Where incidents have arisen, the staff have supported the young person to understand the risks. The key-work sessions have been effective in improving the young person’s understanding of online risks and social media. For example, the young person informed staff when he received an inappropriate message on his phone. This helps to ensure that the young person remains safe when using technology.

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The safety of children

The manager and staff team know the young person well and have a good understanding of his needs and behaviours. The staff effectively de-escalate situations when needed, and this prevents further escalation in behaviour. The effectiveness of the behaviour management strategies and progress made with the young person have meant that there have been no serious incidents in the home. Furthermore, physical intervention techniques have not been needed. The staff team manage the young person’s behaviour effectively using explanation, and have consistent, predictable responses. This helps the young person to feel safe and manage his own behaviours.

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The safety of children

Sanctions have been used appropriately to support the young person’s understanding of appropriate behaviours. The staff have supported the young person to understand more about his own emotions and feelings. This has been effective in helping the young person to regulate his own emotions and build resilience. Assurance visit report: SC411825 4

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Leaders and managers

The registered manager is suitably qualified and experienced to undertake his role. The manager demonstrates genuine commitment and high aspirations for the young person in his care. Feedback from external professionals on the leadership of the home is very positive.

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Leaders and managers

Staff are passionate and committed and they enjoy working in the home. One staff member said, ‘I love working here’ and ‘the leadership and management is good’. Staff feel supported by the manager and receive regular, individualised supervision.

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Leaders and managers

Some staff members have supported the young person for a number of years and speak about him with warmth, enthusiasm and pride. They are pleased with the progress he continues to make in their care. The staff team have completed additional training in autism spectrum disorder to ensure that they can fully understand the young person’s behaviours and respond in a child-centred way.

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Leaders and managers

There is management oversight in relation to key incidents to ensure that staff practice can be monitored and evaluated. This helps to ensure that staff practice continually improves. The monitoring and review systems help the manager to have robust oversight and this helps him to identify any areas for development in the home and the care provided.

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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 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—

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 12(1)(2)(d)) 13 January 2021 Assurance visit report: SC411825 5

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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

Suzanne Birchall, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC411825 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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