Children's Home run by New Roots Children’s Services Limited in St Helens

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1277656 1

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New Roots Children’s Services

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a small private organisation. It provides care and accommodation for up to three children who have social, emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home currently operates as a solo placement to meet the needs of one child.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered by Ofsted in June 2020.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was carried out in response to concerns about safeguarding practice in the home. Specifically, that Ofsted has not receiving serious incident notifications when the child has made allegations against staff. In addition, there has been an incident of maladministration of medication which has been notified to Ofsted. The visit was conducted using both on- and off-site methodology due to COVID-19 (coronavirus) restrictions. The home was last inspected in March 2020.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit found that there are strong partnership arrangements in place between the home, the child’s social worker and the local authority designated officer. These arrangements work effectively to keep the child and staff safe. Clear written agreements are in place which support good safeguarding practice. Not all allegations made by the child have been notified to Ofsted as the registered manager has not considered them all to be serious incidents. As a result, Ofsted has not always had an opportunity to provide external scrutiny of practice.

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This monitoring visit

Staff are working closely with child and adolescent mental health services to provide the child with support around his emotional well-being and past trauma. Multi- agency meetings are held regularly, and the home actively participates in these. Staff understand their role in supporting the child to have a voice and express his views. The child’s social worker told the inspector, ‘They are great advocates for Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1277656 2 [child’s name] and have shown a real commitment to providing him with the best care they can.’

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This monitoring visit

Policies in relation to the administration of medication are clear and practice is generally good. An incident where an error was made in the administration of medication appears to be an isolated event, rather than indicative of wider failings in practice. The staff were open about their error and there was an appropriate and timely response from the registered manager. The matter was addressed individually with the staff concerned and further training was provided. This learning was disseminated to the wider team in a team meeting and through refresher training . As a result, the likelihood of this incident being repeated has been reduced.

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This monitoring visit

Reports provided by the independent person do not always include consultation with professionals who are external to the home. During the current COVID-19 restrictions, when visits to the home have not been possible, the independent person has not always ensured they have a virtual tour of the home. This means that they are not using all the information available to them to form a view about the quality of care and the safeguarding arrangements within the home. Improvements required to the quality of the oversight of the independent person was a recommendation at the last inspection. This recommendation is not met.

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This monitoring visit

Recommendations made at the last inspection, in relation to the completion of a workforce development plan and improvements to the physical environment of the home, have both been addressed effectively. There is a clear plan of training and support for staff. Staff are suitably skilled and experienced. The home provides a warm, family environment. Staff work creatively to ensure that the home meets the child’s sensory and emotional needs. This helps him to feel secure and supports his emotional health and well-being.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 11/03/2020 Interim Declined in effectiveness 04/06/2019 Full Good 11/02/2019 Full Inadequate 11/03/2020 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1277656 3

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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 registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

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; and

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Requirement Due date

to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home’s records (except for a child’s case records, unless the child and the child’s placing authority consent) as the independent person requires.

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Requirement Due date

A visit by the independent person to the home may be unannounced.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit ("the independent person’s report") which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person’s report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the environment of the home being seen during off-site visits undertaken while COVID-19 restrictions are in place, and regular consultation with external stakeholders. 30 April 2021 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1277656 4 .

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Recommendation

 The registered person must notify Ofsted if there is an incident relating to the protection, safeguarding or welfare of a child living in the home which the registered person considers to be serious. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.10)

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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: New Roots Children’s Services

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 139, Stoney Lane, Merseyside L35 9JY

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Inspector

Dawn Parton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1277656 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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