Children's home run by Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC037670 1 SC037670

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Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority home provides short-break care for children between the ages of 11 to 17 years. It is registered to provide short breaks for up to two children at a time. Additionally, the staff provide community-based outreach support to children and their families.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since October 2020.

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This monitoring visit

Routine inspection activity is currently suspended because of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. This visit was carried out in line with Ofsted’s procedures for monitoring services during such periods of suspended routine inspection activity.

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This monitoring visit

The home has not been visited since February 2020. The provider has continually adapted the service that they provide throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. This is to ensure that they can safely meet the needs of all children accessing the service.

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This monitoring visit

The provider made the decision to stop providing short breaks for periods since March 2020. Although there were no overnight stays during these times, the staff team thought of new and exciting opportunities to continue to support children and their families at home.

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This monitoring visit

Activity packs and Christmas boxes were delivered to all of the families who use to the service. These included baking kits with all utensils and ingredients, and a range of activities for all family members. Feedback from all family members is positive about the ongoing support provided.

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This monitoring visit

The service has gone through a period of uncertainty as the local authority has reviewed the residential sector. There has been a new manager since October 2020 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC037670 2 and the staff team has experienced changes. However, this has been managed well and staff were positive about the support and guidance that they have received throughout every change.

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This monitoring visit

Since December 2021, short breaks have been reinstated. Children now attend the service on their own for one night. This has ensured that the environment can be safely maintained with structured cleaning schedules in place before another child comes to stay. Staff understand the importance of this regime and families have been receptive to the changes.

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This monitoring visit

Children have continued to have opportunities to try new activities. These activities are helping the children to develop new skills, increasing their self-esteem and confidence. One child had photographs taken of him cooking a meal for the first time. He was proud about what he had achieved and could share the photographs of his journey with his family.

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This monitoring visit

Paperwork in the home still requires improvement. Risk management needs to be strengthened to include strategies for staff to follow to minimise all potential risk factors. In addition, impact assessments need to be completed using the referral information and will need to be revised to consider how short-break stays will be safely matched as the service resumes to full operation.

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This monitoring visit

The home’s statement of purpose needs to be updated to reflect all the changes within the home, such as new staff. In addition, the children’s guide includes the name of the previous manager and uses adult terminology that children may not understand. This will need to be updated to include all relevant information.

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This monitoring visit

The home environment is furnished to a good standard, but internal locks on doors restrict children from accessing all parts of the setting. The registered manager is aware of the actions required to improve the environmental factors.

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This monitoring visit

The staff team is committed to its role and has received supervision and training. The staff are passionate about the support that they provide to children and they work collaboratively with parents, carers, social workers and education providers to improve children’s life experiences.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 06/02/2020 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/11/2018 Full Good 17/11/2017 Full Good 27/01/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC037670 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 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.

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Requirement Due date

This is specifically in relation to ensuring that all potential risks are rigorously assessed, and protective strategies are clearly identified. 11/04/2021

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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.

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Requirement Due date

This is specifically in relation to improving the registered manager’s oversight of the service. 11/04/2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC037670 4 The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

This is specifically in relation to improving the short-break care plans and the impact risk assessments. 11/04/2021

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision.

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care is completed.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 45 (4)(a)) 11/04/2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC037670 5

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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: Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Knowsley MBC, Children’s Services, Huyton Municipal Buildings, 6th Floor, Huyton, Knowsley, Merseyside L36 9YU

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Inspectors

Michelle Edge, Regulatory Inspection Manager Elaine Allison, Regulatory Inspection Manager Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC037670 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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