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

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1240801 1

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Inspire Childrens Services

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is owned by a private company. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children. The home specialises in caring for children who may have been, or who are, experiencing emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager is no longer in post.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted completed a monitoring visit on 3 February 2021. Inspectors identified shortfalls in safeguarding practices and procedures in the home. The registered manager and staff have failed to safely respond to incidents that have occurred and have not implemented effective strategies to safeguard and protect the children living in the home. In addition, Ofsted has not been notified in a timely way about all serious events. As a result, compliance notices under regulation 12, the protection of children and regulation 13, the leadership and management standard, were issued.

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This monitoring visit

During this visit, inspectors considered the action taken by the provider to meet the steps in the compliance notices. The inspectors found that the provider had taken action to address the shortfalls identified in the compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

At the time of this monitoring visit, two children were being cared for at the home. Children were offered an opportunity to speak with inspector’s face to face or via video or telephone calls. The children spoke to the inspectors face to face.

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This monitoring visit

The provider completed an internal review of the home. The registered manager no longer works at the home and there have been changes to the staff team. An Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1240801 2 interim manager has supported the improvements in the home and has established routines and boundaries for the staff team to follow to safely support children.

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This monitoring visit

Recent safeguarding incidents have been managed appropriately and children, in times of crisis, have received safe levels of care and guidance. Furthermore, staff communicate with the relevant professionals to share information about the children and identify any further actions that may be required.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last visit, one child has moved to another of the provider’s homes. The transition was managed well with a gradual introduction to the new home.

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This monitoring visit

Children reported to inspectors that there have been lots of improvements in the home. Staff were reported to be ‘happier’ and ‘fair’ in their approach. Children said that staff listen to them, help them more and said that their home is a ‘better place to be’. Children said that staff had talked to them about how to keep themselves safe, and they understood their risk assessments and what strategies were in place to keep them safe. Positive relationships were observed between children and staff throughout the visit.

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This monitoring visit

The interim manager has reviewed and updated placement plans, risk management plans and care plans for each child. Staff talked to children about the contents of the assessments and support them to understand the risks that they may face. Furthermore, all documentation is now updated as and when changes and any new risks occur.

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This monitoring visit

Staff spoken to during the visit said that they were happy and supported. All staff have had supervision and attended training sessions to improve their knowledge and skills. Team meetings have been held to keep staff up to date on emerging information. However, further work is required to improve the recording of all meetings and documents held in the home.

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This monitoring visit

Some areas of the home have been improved. However, this has not yet been finished. A programme of improvements is planned to ensure that children live in a safe and clean environment.

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This monitoring visit

Not all requirements were considered as part of this visit. These will be fully considered at the next inspection. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1240801 3

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 12/11/2019 Full Good 19/06/2018 Full Good 04/10/2017 Full Good 01/12/2016 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1240801 4

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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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)) 22 March 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

(Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h)) 22 March 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which— 22 March 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1240801 5 include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry.

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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: Inspire Childrens 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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Inspectors

Michelle Edge, Social Care Regulatory Inspection Manager Genevieve O’Reilly, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1240801 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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