Children's home run by Idem Living Limited

Inspection report children's home: 2500668 1 Registered provider: Idem Living Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private company owns this home. The home provides care and accommodation for three children who may have learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

There is no registered manager at this home. The interim manager has submitted his application to Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19, at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers carried out under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) on 17 March 2020. We returned to routine SCCIF inspections on 12 April 2021.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: 2500668 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/03/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness 11/12/2019 Full Good 13/03/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report children's home: 2500668 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children are living in this home, and they are happy and settled in the home. They have both lived there for over 18 months. Staff know the children well, and positive relationships between the children and staff are evident. There were lots of smiles, laughter and affection observed between the staff and the children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children have made good progress since living at the home, including developing their communication skills. One child has started to use longer sentences, and the other child has started to say more words when communicating.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Careful planning and robust risk assessments mean children have access to a range of positive experiences. Children enjoy swimming, trampolining, outings and caravan holidays.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make progress in education. Their records show they are calmer in school and follow instructions better. Both enjoy school, and good working relationships between staff and school have allowed the children to progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Individualised health plans mean children’s health needs are being met. The children are registered with and have access to primary care services in the local area. Staff seek specialist help when this is necessary. Medication is being managed safely and effectively.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Plans for transitions to adulthood are being implemented. Children’s independence skills are being developed in line with their plans. Children enjoy cooking meals for the home.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children have a high level of supervision, which is consistent with their plans. This means they can develop their independence while staff ensure they are safe.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Individual, up-to-date risk assessments address known risks for children effectively. Staff understand the risks, and the strategies used are clear and effective. Children are safeguarded effectively because of the care they experience. Staff use their assessments of risks to identify the progress of children and to address areas of concern.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Restraints are proportionate and used as a last resort. The recordings of restraining incidents are in line with regulations. Records show a range of de-escalation strategies used in attempts to avoid the restraints. Staff and children receive a debrief after an incident. Debriefs for children are child centred and in accordance with their communication needs. The number of restraints has reduced for both children. Inspection report children's home: 2500668 4 Managers recruit new staff safely, which means children are protected from unsuitable adults working in the home.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The home environment is safe; however, areas for improvement were identified, such as new carpets, repairs to a floor and a new bed for one of the children. The manager had already started to address these during the inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is new to the role. He is suitably qualified and has applied to Ofsted for registration. He is aware of the strengths of the home and has already begun taking steps to address any shortfalls.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There has been a high turnover of staff since the last inspection. While staff work hard to cover the gaps, agency staff have been used and this has had an impact on the continuity of care for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff rotas are not clear, and at times there have been changes to the supervision levels of children. This is particularly in relation to night staff, and the manager has, on occasion, made the decision to change a waking night to a sleep-in shift. So far, this has not had an impact on the care the children have received, but a requirement has been made to address this shortfall.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff speak positively about the manager and the support they receive. They feel valued and that their skills are used well. They have received training relevant to the role. However, training on communication with disabled children has not taken place and this is a recommendation. Inspection report children's home: 2500668 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

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)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to repairing one child’s bedroom floor, replacing a bed, new carpets and repairs to drawers. 24 March 2022

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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

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring there are sufficient waking night staff. 24 March 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (“the statement of purpose”) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1. (Regulation 16 (1)) 24 March 2022 Inspection report children's home: 2500668 6 This specifically relates to ensuring that staffing and staff structure are up to date in the statement of purpose.

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Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are kept up to date; and

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Requirement Due date

retain the records for at least 15 years from the date of the last entry. (Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to the need for staff rotas to be clear, easy to understand and show accurate staffing levels. 24 March 2022

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that children are provided with support to communicate their views. This may include the use of communication aids or equipment. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.6)

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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 children's home: 2500668 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 6 Stable Court, Business Centre Water Lane Tarbock Green, Prescot L35 1RD

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Inspectors

Rachael Crook, Social Care Inspector Sophie Thomson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: 2500668 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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