Children's Home run by Quality Protects Children Ltd in Liverpool

Inspection report for children's home: SC025420 1 SC025420 Registered provider: Quality Protects Children Ltd Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run home is registered for up to six children who may experience social or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a registered manager in post. She registered with Ofsted in June 2019.

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Inspection date: 16 December 2021

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 16 December 2021

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC025420 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 sustained effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager and staff make sure that children are fully supported when they move out of the home. Since the last inspection, a child has successfully moved to a semi- independent home, close to his family. The child keeps in touch with the manager and staff, which demonstrates their ability to nurture warm, long-lasting relationships with children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Similarly, children moving to the home benefit from well-planned introductions. The manager undertakes a thorough impact assessment to ensure that the staff can meet the child’s needs and keep all the children safe. This helps children to settle into their new home quickly and be cared for safely.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff know the children well and they give them the help, support and guidance that they need. Warm interactions between the manager, staff and children were observed during the inspection. However, at times, the records do not reflect the staff’s nurturing approach. Some staff continue to use institutionalised language when they record information about the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager knows the local area extremely well and has developed strong links with local services that support children, for example, local sports clubs, substance misuse services and specialist projects that work with children at risk of criminal exploitation. As a result, the children receive expert support and advice from a range of relevant professionals.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children make progress from their starting points. Children who have been out of education for a long time have started to attend school. Education plans and timetables are tailored around the children’s individual needs, which helps them to re-engage with their learning.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff manage some serious risks well, such as children going missing from home, substance misuse and smoking. As a result, children become safer and healthier when they move to this home. However, not all safeguarding concerns are adequately assessed or managed effectively, for example, children’s internet use. Furthermore, the staff have not consistently helped children to understand the dangers of the internet when serious concerns arise.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some staff do not take effective action when children are at risk of harm. For example, they have not always ensured that there is an adequate level of staff supervision and support, as outlined in the children’s plans, during times of crisis. This has compromised the children’s and staff’s safety. Inspection report for children's home: SC025420 3 Furthermore, the manager has not consistently challenged other professionals to ensure that serious risks to children are jointly assessed. Although there is evidence of the manager advocating for children, challenging professionals to enhance children’s welfare and safety is an area for development.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home continues to be led by an experienced and suitably qualified manager. She is child-centred and has high aspirations for the children, staff team and home. However, not all staff have had regular practice-related supervision, in line with the company’s policy.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Most of the requirements and recommendations raised at the last inspection have been satisfactorily addressed. Two requirements, in relation to safeguarding practice and staff supervision, have been repeated. Inspection report for children's home: SC025420 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/07/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 27/01/2020 Full Requires improvement to be good 02/12/2019 Full Inadequate 26/02/2019 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children's home: SC025420 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 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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to ensuring that children’s use of the internet is robustly assessed and safe. When the staff identify that a child has been at risk on the internet, they should support the child to understand the risk and their vulnerabilities. 25 February 2022

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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

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 25 February 2022 Inspection report for children's home: SC025420 6 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)(v)(vi)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to ensuring that children’s risk assessments are consistently followed. Additionally, staffing arrangements must ensure that children are always provided with an appropriate level of support and supervision.

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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)) 25 February 2022

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they evidence that they advocate for children and challenge and escalate concerns when professionals in the wider system are not providing the support that children need. (‘Guide to the children ’ s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 11, paragraph 2.4)  The registered person should ensure that the staff understand the importance of recording in a non-stigmatising way. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: SC025420 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Quality Protects Children Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Hill House, Archway Road, Huyton, Liverpool L36 9XB

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Inspector

Marina Tully, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC025420 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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