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

Information about this children's home

The children’s home offers care and accommodation for up to three young people who may experience emotional and/or behavioural difficulties or learning disabilities. The children’s home is operated by a private organisation.

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Information about this children's home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since May 2020.

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Information about this children's home

There are currently three young people living in the home.

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Information about this children's home

Previous inspection date: 28 November 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: 1241757 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

Young people living in the home feel safe and settled. They make progress from their starting points and experience safe and effective care. Young people have good relationships with staff and the manager. Staff ensure that there are consistent rules and boundaries in place and encourage young people to make the right choices. This helps young people to feel safe and encourages positive behaviour.

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The care of children

At the time of the visit, the home was undergoing some maintenance work, including a bathroom upgrade and internal repairs. The bathroom was being replaced following damage caused by an ongoing water leak, which had damaged an internal wall, a ceiling and flooring. The home requires further extensive maintenance work to ensure that it is a safe, comfortable home for young people. This work includes internal painting, the hall flooring being replaced, new furniture, and replacement fence panels in the garden. The garage contains gym equipment and a pool table, which is currently used by the young people. However, this area requires further tidying and maintenance to ensure it is a safe space.

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The care of children

Young people move into and out of the home in a planned way. Two young people successfully moved from the home to new placements as part of their care plan. One young person has also kept in touch with the manager and staff team, illustrating the significance of the relationships formed while he was living in the home.

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The care of children

Young people’s health needs are met. Clear procedures are in place for the use of controlled drugs. The recording of medication is to a high standard. This helps to ensure that young people have medication administered in a safe and effective way.

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The care of children

The staff promote the young people’s education. One young person attends college, is studying catering, and has aspirations to make this his future career. Two young people have recently moved into the home and they are both registered with an education provision. The young people’s attendance is being encouraged using appropriate incentives and staff work closely with educational professionals. A social worker said, ‘when he was recently reluctant to attend education, they offered him encouragement and developed strategies to promote his attendance, which was successful’.

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The care of children

Staff support young people to keep in touch with their families when this is appropriate. Family contact has continued in various formats during the COVID-19 lockdown, to ensure that these important relationships are maintained. Assurance visit report: 1241757 3

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The safety of children

Safeguarding practice in the home is good. Young people’s risk assessments alert staff to their high-risk behaviours. However, some of the information contained in the risk assessments is generic and, therefore, fails to provide individual strategies for each young person. This could prevent staff understanding how to manage the young people’s risks effectively. However, this has not had an impact on the young people living in the home as staff members understand their needs and risks.

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The safety of children

Social workers value the care provided to the young people by the staff members. A social worker said, ‘staff are proactive in responding to his needs and identify and respond to any safeguarding promptly, following policies and procedures as expected’.

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The safety of children

There is a clear reduction in young people’s risk-taking behaviours when living in this home. Young people rarely go missing, as they are learning to make better choices and they feel listened to by staff members. The number of physical interventions is low as staff know how to de-escalate the majority of incidents. One young person said, ‘I feel safe here and the staff are great.’

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The safety of children

Young people do spend a large amount of time using technology. There are clear boundaries and routines in place in relation to this. Each young person has their mobile phone checked, as part of their plans to ensure that they remain safe when online. The staff also complete regular internet browser checks. If any concerns are raised following these checks, staff speak to the young people to educate them about online risks and safety.

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Leaders and managers

The registered manager is appropriately qualified and experienced. He also has the support of a deputy manager. Together they demonstrate a commitment to improving outcomes for young people and in developing their staff team. The manager is motivated and demonstrates a very positive attitude towards developing the home.

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Leaders and managers

Staff are positive about working in the home and feel well supported by the managers. They receive regular supervision and report that managers encourage their career progression. Although there is a consistent staff team, there have been several changes following staff members gaining promotions, and moving to work in other homes in the company. These changes have an impact on the young people living in the home as they build close relationships with the staff members. One young person made a complaint about this issue. The manager was sensitive in addressing this and spoke to the young person and provided support.

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Leaders and managers

Independent visits have been completed remotely during the pandemic. These have included discussions with young people and staff, to ensure that the young people receive safe care. The manager welcomes this independent oversight as he is keen to improve. The manager also has internal monitoring and review systems Assurance visit report: 1241757 4 in place. However, some of the systems have failed to identify significant errors in documentation, a lack of staff signatures on documentation and clear evaluation following incidents. This hinders the management scrutiny and learning from these incidents.

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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.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child's relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child; and

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are located so that children are effectively safeguarded. Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(i)(c)) 22 January 2021

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children's home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(h)) 22 January 2021 Assurance visit report: 1241757 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: 1241757 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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