Children's home run by Omega Care Group Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2567272 1 Registered provider: Omega Care Group Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private provider and is registered to provide care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The interim manager has been in post since June 2021. He has applied to register with Ofsted.

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Inspection date: 24 November 2021

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 24 November 2021

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2567272 2

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judged that it has declined in effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Poor practice relating to care planning, safeguarding and risk management and the leadership and management of the home are having a significant and detrimental impact on the children’s safety, welfare and progress.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Risk management is poor and ineffective and puts children’s safety at risk. Records do not reflect the levels of risk for children when they are increasing, particularly in relation to substance misuse and exploitation. Risk assessments and management plans, stored in various locations, are contradictory, making it difficult for the staff to understand children’s current risks and respond to them appropriately. Records do not indicate how the staff work with children to help them understand their risks and how to become safer.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children’s care plans are not reviewed and updated regularly to reflect children’s current needs or to track their progress. The staff lack guidance on specific strategies to support children to make progress. Children’s views about how the staff can help them are not included in their plans. They are not always consulted at the appropriate time. As a result, incidents occur when children become anxious and frustrated because the staff do not respond in ways that recognise their individual needs. This increases children’s risk of criminalisation.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One child is accessing education and making progress. Other children are not being helped to understand the importance of education, training or employment to their future opportunities or to overcome barriers to learning.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children are still smoking and using illegal substances. They are not engaging in specialist services and records do not show whether the staff are providing advice and support. This means that children’s health outcomes are not improving.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some medication is not administered according to prescribing guidance. A lack of management monitoring means that errors in medication administration are not identified or addressed.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Management oversight fails to identify shortfalls. Records of physical interventions contain conflicting information and still do not show if debriefs were undertaken with the staff and children involved. Furthermore, there is no management evaluation of the effectiveness of measures used. Inspection report for children’s home: 2567272 3 The interim manager has not notified Ofsted about significant safeguarding concerns. This limits the regulator’s understanding of safeguarding issues in the home and how they are being managed.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been significant turnover in staff and over-reliance on bank and agency staff to provide care for children. This lack of stability in the core staff team does not provide consistency for children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have not been trained to meet the individual needs of children. Supervision is not taking place for all staff at the frequency stated in the provider’s policy. Some supervision is being conducted by an individual who does not have management oversight of the home or the practice of team members. Records do not indicate that team meetings are taking place regularly. Therefore, there are insufficient opportunities for the staff to reflect on practice and identify strategies to support children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The interim manager has not yet reviewed pre-admission planning processes to ensure that the home is appropriate for future children being considered. The home environment is not maintained to a high standard.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered provider and interim manager have failed to meet any of the requirements and recommendations made at the full inspection. The interim manager does not have his own monitoring and review systems in place to review practice and children’s outcomes. This indicates poor leadership and a lack of a proactive response to ensure improvements are made for children’s safety and quality of care.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Independent external monitoring remains poor and lacks sufficient analysis of practice in the home, despite a new independent person being commissioned. The manager’s report on the review of the quality of care does not include any input from stakeholders about the care that children receive. This hinders understanding of how practice can be improved to benefit children’s experiences of living in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

As a result of the significant shortfalls identified, three compliance notices were served, under regulation 12, the protection of children standard, regulation 13, the leadership and management standard, and regulation 35, in relation to behaviour management policies and records. A notice to restrict accommodation at the home was also served to enable the registered provider to rectify the shortfalls. Inspection report for children’s home: 2567272 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/06/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2567272 5

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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 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

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;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

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

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to 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

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and 9 January 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2567272 6 feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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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)(c)(d)(e)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that the staff team understands the model of care set out in the home’s statement of purpose, and that they have a clear understanding of processes and recording systems for how they support children’s outcomes. Robust monitoring and review systems, that include children’s views, should be used to identify and improve practice to support children’s progress. Children should receive consistent care from a stable, skilled staff team.

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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

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

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(b)) 9 January 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2567272 7 Specifically, individual risk assessments should be bespoke to each child’s needs and risks. Plans should demonstrate how the staff help children become safer. They should be accessible to guide practice in the home. Staff should be skilled in responding to risks to children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

*The registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

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;

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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)(b)(i)(ii)(c)) 9 January 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2567272 8 This particularly refers to records containing accurate information about methods and duration of measures used. Record of debriefs should be completed with the staff involved and with the child.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is any incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, all incidents that present a clear risk to children’s safety should be notified promptly.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is repeated. 9 January 2022

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home’s records (except for a child’s case records, unless the child and the child’s placing authority consent) 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.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person’s report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions. (Regulation 44 (2)(a)(b) (4)(a)(b) (5))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the report should clearly analyse and evaluate the care provided so that the regulator has a clear overview of care provided in the home. Children’s bedrooms should be 9 January 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2567272 9 seen as part of the visit. The independent person should recommend actions to improve the quality of care and escalate any concerns where the manager does not respond to recommended actions.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months.

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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.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review ("the quality of care review report").

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that monitoring systems are in place and that the quality of care 9 January 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2567272 10 is reviewed and reported upon within required timescales. The report should include input from stakeholders.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, that staff receive reflective supervision in line with the provider’s policy, to support their practice. Staff should receive supervision from an individual who has oversight of practice in the home.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is repeated. 9 January 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed and to no other child; and

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Requirement Due date

a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, records of administration should be clear and follow dispensing advice. Any recording should clearly identify the individual completing the record and the reason for any error. 9 January 2022

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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; 9 January 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2567272 11 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

help each child who is above compulsory school age to participate in further education, training or employment and to prepare for future care, education or employment. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(iv)(ix))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, that the staff take appropriate action to support children to engage in education, training or employment to maximise their future opportunities and to help them to overcome barriers to do so.

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Requirement Due date

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; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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

manage and review the placement of each child in the home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, children’s plans should be kept up to date and reflect how the staff are to support their individual needs effectively. 9 January 2022

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Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives. 9 January 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2567272 12 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

ascertain and consider each child’s views, wishes and feelings, and balance these against what they judge to be in the child’s best interests when making decisions about the child’s care and welfare;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how the child’s views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child;

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Requirement Due date

regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home’s care. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, that children’s views on how the staff can help them should be incorporated into their plans.

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that systems are in place so that pre- admission planning fully considers a child’s assessed needs and the impact on children already living in the home, prior to offering a placement. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4)  The registered person should ensure that staff maintain clear, detailed records of work undertaken with children to support their progress. Records should be easily accessible so that children and other stakeholders understand children’s journeys while living in the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)  The registered person should ensure that the maintenance in the home should be completed promptly to ensure that the children live in a home that is kept to a high standard of decoration, and that children’s views are taken into account.

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Recommendations

(‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) Inspection report for children’s home: 2567272 13

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Information about this inspection

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

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 for children’s home: 2567272 14

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Omega Care Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Castle Chambers, 43 Castle Street, Liverpool L2 9TL

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Inspectors

Karen Willson, Social Care Inspector Mark Woodbridge, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2567272 15 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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