Children's Home run by Apex Children’s Services Ltd in Wirral

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2592035 1

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Apex Children’s Services Ltd

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned children’s home. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since June 2020, when the home was first registered.

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This monitoring visit

An assurance visit took place on 3 December 2020 and significant shortfalls were identified in safeguarding practice and the leadership and management of the home. Inspectors identified poor practice relating to safeguarding, care planning and risk management. This poor practice had a significant and negative effect on children’s safety and welfare. In addition, the leadership and management of the home was found to be ineffective. As a result of the visit, two compliance notices were issued under regulation 12, the protection of children, and regulation 13, leadership and management.

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This monitoring visit

During this visit, the inspector considered the action taken by the provider to meet the steps under each compliance notice. The inspector found that the provider has taken sufficient action and made progress to meet the steps under the compliance notices for regulations 12 and 13.

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This monitoring visit

Risk assessments and risk management are improved. The risk assessments now contain relevant specific information and strategies for staff to safely support children. Action plans set out clear guidance for staff to help them safeguard children and take appropriate action when children are at risk.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager now has regular oversight of the plans for children. She has held discussions with all the staff when changes have been made to plans, so that Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2592035 2 they are kept up to date. Furthermore, staff confirmed that risk assessments have been discussed in team meetings and supervision sessions to support improvements in their practice.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has taken a number of steps to address the shortfalls in safeguarding practice. Individual and group sessions have been held with the staff to ensure that they understand their role and responsibilities in protecting children. Workshops have taken place for staff to help improve their knowledge and understanding. Staff have had additional safeguarding training in relation to managing allegations. Staff spoken to were able to clearly demonstrate their understanding of their roles and responsibilities in safeguarding children.

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This monitoring visit

Managers and staff have undertaken direct work with children to identify their views and wishes. Staff have developed new plans with children. As a result of the improvements made, education for one child has improved and incentive charts to help promote positive behaviour are in place. Missing-from-home incidents have also reduced. When the manager has identified that they cannot safely meet children’s needs, they have supported the child with a positive transition to a new home.

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This monitoring visit

Discussions have been held with a range of professionals involved in the safeguarding of children to ensure that the safeguarding process is consistent.

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This monitoring visit

Children spoke positively about living at the home. They said they feel safe and can talk to staff. Children are positive about the care that they receive and their relationships with staff.

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Recent inspection history

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2592035 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 education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iv)(x))

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Requirement Due date

This is particularly in relation to ensuring that children engage in structured education, either informally or formally. 5 March 2021

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— 5 March 2021 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2592035 4 that staff—

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Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand, in a way that is appropriate according to the child’s age and understanding, personal, sexual and social relationships, and how those relationships can be supportive or harmful; (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(v)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

This is particularly in relation to helping children use appropriate language with each other and staff.

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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: Apex Children’s Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Apex Children’s Services, 6 Tower Quays, Tower Road, Birkenhead, Cheshire CH41 1BP

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Inspector

Jessica Forshaw, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2592035 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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