Children's Home run by Barnardo Services Limited in Liverpool

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2541467 1

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Barnardo Services Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

The home is owned and managed by a charity. It provides care for up to four children. The home operates under a block contract arrangement with the local authority in which it is situated.

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Information about this children's home

There is currently no registered manager in post. An interim manager is in place and has applied to Ofsted to be registered.

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This monitoring visit

This unannounced monitoring visit took place on 14 June 2021 to monitor the action taken following the issue of a compliance notice on 11 May 2021. The compliance notice was issued following concerns around poor decisions about children coming to live at the home. The registered person has taken positive steps to address the issues identified in the compliance notice which have now been resolved.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, the manager and staff team have reflected on the shortfalls regarding previous admissions to the home and have improved their admissions procedures. There have not yet been any further admissions to the home. However, the registered provider has now reviewed their admissions policy and procedures regarding admissions to the home. There is now clearly recorded decision-making that reflects the decision-making around the suitability of children coming to live at the home, as well as those already living at the home. This is to ensure that placements are suitable, and that staff can meet the needs of children living at the home.

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This monitoring visit

The admissions policy has also been altered to include the action to be taken when considering placing a child at the home. This includes considering the skills and Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2541467 2 expertise of the staff, the other children living there, and the location of the home. An additional step has been added to the policy to consult with staff about the suitability of potential placements.

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This monitoring visit

Previously, the statement of purpose was altered to facilitate the admission of a child, which did not fit the ethos of the home. The registered person has now revised the statement of purpose for the home, to ensure that it is clear about this ethos.

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This monitoring visit

This visit did not take into consideration the other requirements raised at the previous full inspection and these will be considered at the next inspection. No further requirements or recommendations were raised as a result of this inspection.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 28/04/2021 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2541467 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— that staff—

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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

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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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

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally. (Regulation 8(1)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was issued at the last visit and is reinstated. 13 June 2021

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that— the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles. 13 June 2021 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2541467 4 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff help each child to—

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Requirement Due date

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child's relevant plans. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(i)) 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— that staff—

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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

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child's health. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was issued at the last visit and is reinstated. 13 June 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 promotes their welfare.

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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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home's statement of purpose; 13 June 2021 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2541467 5 ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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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)(a)(b)(f)(h)) After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

ensure, by means of fire drills and practice at suitable intervals, that persons working at the home and, so far as reasonably practicable, children are aware of the procedure to followed in the case of fire. (Regulation 25 (1)(d)) 13 June 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

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. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c)))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was issued at the last visit and is reinstated. 13 June 2021

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must establish a procedure for considering complaints made by or on behalf of children.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. Regulation 39 (1)(3)) 13 June 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that— 13 June 2021 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2541467 6 within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child's behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure ("the user"), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)(iv)) Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2541467 7

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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: Barnardo Services Limited

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Barnardo House, Tanners Lane, Barkingside, Ilford, Essex, IG6 1QG

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Inspector

Chris Scully, social care inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2541467 8 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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