Children's Home run by PIC Children’s Services in St Helens

Inspection report children’s home: SC022442 1 SC022442 Registered provider: PIC Children’s Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private company. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for one child who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left the home in March 2021. There is a new manager in post who is not yet registered with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers on 17 March 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

We last visited this setting on 24 February 2021 to carry out a monitoring visit. The report is published on the Ofsted website.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC022442 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/03/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness 18/12/2019 Full Good 19/03/2019 Interim Not judged 06/12/2018 Full Inadequate Inspection report children’s home: SC022442 3

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improvement to be good

One child lives at this home. Their overall experiences and the quality of care that they receive are not yet good. This is because of weaknesses in the help and protection they receive and the leadership and management of the home.

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improvement to be good

The home does not provide the child with a warm and clean environment that meets their needs, especially the bathroom and the child’s bedroom. The manager is aware of these shortfalls and further maintenance is being planned.

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improvement to be good

The child has built positive relationships with the new staff team. A social worker reported that the child is starting to build some good relationships with the team. There is a good rapport between the child and the staff. On the day of the inspection, the child had their friend visiting and there was lots of laughter heard in the home between the children and staff. This helps to create a relaxed atmosphere.

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improvement to be good

Staff spend time talking to the child about their health needs during key-work sessions. For example, discussions take place about the importance of personal hygiene and healthy relationships. The staff are currently working closely with the looked after children’s nurse. As a result, the child’s health needs are improving, and any health concerns are followed up. Recently, the child completed an online training course on healthy relationships and cyber bullying, in response to some recent incidents. This is helping the child to explore and understand positive relationships.

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improvement to be good

The child is well supported by staff to spend quality time with their family and friends. The social worker and the child’s parent both say that communication between the staff and the child’s family is positive. The child has completed a national citizenship programme, where they engaged well and made some new friends. This is helping with their sense of belonging and self-esteem.

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improvement to be good

The child is encouraged to discuss their wishes and feelings and takes part in regular discussions and direct work sessions. The child understands how to complain and says that staff will listen to them and provide support.

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improvement to be good

Education is seen as important. There is effective liaison with education providers and virtual schools. When required, the manager challenges school in its decision- making to advocate and support the child with their education and enhance their life chances. The child is currently looking at various colleges to enrol on an art and design course.

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improvement to be good

Work is ongoing to prepare the child for independence. They now have skills in preparing their own food, travelling independently on public transport, meal planning and food shopping. Inspection report children’s home: SC022442 4

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improvement to be good

Help and protection are not yet good because there are occasions when staff have failed to follow the child’s risk assessment and carry out room searches following incidents. This means that the child’s safety is compromised.

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improvement to be good

A staff member has recently tested positive for COVID-19. This has required another member of staff and the child to self-isolate together for 10 days. The manager did not complete an assessment of risk that demonstrates the safeguards in place and how the manager will support the child and staff during the isolation period.

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improvement to be good

The measures for managing a serious incident, practical arrangements and communication are not contained in the home’s COVID-19 risk assessment. Despite risk management being raised at the last inspection, this has not been actioned and further work is required.

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improvement to be good

The manager has not carefully considered the restrictions that have been imposed on the child when staff lock the two lounge areas at night. This means that the child cannot access all parts of their home, in particular the kitchen to make themself a drink. Although the manager said that this is to reduce risks, there are no risk management strategies in place.

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improvement to be good

Behaviour management is focused on de-escalation, and incidents are managed well. The child is learning how to manage their emotions. They receive encouragement to express their feelings through music, art, and writing on specialist wallpaper and chalkboards.

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improvement to be good

There are clear and appropriate arrangements for the management of medication. Staff receive training and are knowledgeable about medication processes. This means that the child receives their medication safely by skilled staff who understand and meet the child’s health needs.

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good

The registered manager resigned from their position in March 2021. There is a new manager in post who is in the process of submitting her application to become registered. There is also support from a deputy manager. Both managers are suitably experienced and are currently completing their level 5 qualification.

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good

Staff demonstrate an insight into the child’s needs. However, the manager does not have robust monitoring and reviewing systems in place to alert her when staff are not consistently following the child’s risk assessments. This does not ensure that the child’s safety and welfare are prioritised. Furthermore, the review of the quality of care report does not include feedback from the child, any evaluation on the care provided and the impact the care has on the child. There is no action plan in place to show where improvements are to be made. Inspection report children’s home: SC022442 5 The independent visitor’s report does not routinely include consultation with parents and professionals. The report does not always clearly contain the visitor’s opinions about whether children are effectively safeguarded and that their well-being is promoted. This is required by regulation.

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good

Managers and staff are receiving regular practice-related supervision by a suitably experienced person. Regular team meetings take place where there is effective sharing of information about the child’s care and the support they receive. Staff say that the manager is supportive and always available.

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good

There is a small but adequate staff team in place. There has been a period of instability at the home in relation to staffing, and the current team is new. The team is providing the child with consistency and continuity of care. Staff say that they are working well together.

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good

Staff have access to training that is relevant to their role, which gives them the skills to meet the child’s needs. They demonstrate an understanding of their learning. Recently, staff have completed training in positive identity and self-esteem. A staff member said that this has helped them to have more awareness and provides them with knowledge. As a result, the child feels supported and accepted. Staff make sure that the child is provided with advice and guidance to understand their identity. Inspection report children’s home: SC022442 6

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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

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1) (2)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that: the home is clean; kitchen flooring is replaced; the child’s bedroom is decorated appropriately; and the door replaced in the hallway. 10 September

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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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)) 10 September

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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— helps children aspire to fulfil their potential, and; 10 September Inspection report children’s home: SC022442 7 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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises. (Regulation 21 (b)) 10 September

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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.

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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. (Regulation 44 (2)(a) (4)(a)(b)) 10 September

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. (Regulation 45 (2)(a)(b)(c)) 10 September

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Information about this inspection

Inspection report children’s home: SC022442 8 Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. Inspection report children’s home: SC022442 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: PIC Children’s Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2 North Street, Haydock, St Helens, Merseyside WA11 0TW

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Inspectors

Judith Birchall, Social Care Inspector Nick Veysey, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC022442 10 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

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