Children's Home run by Inspire Children’s Services Limited in St Helens

Inspection report for children’s home: 1213828 1 Registered provider: Inspire Children’s Services Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private company. It is registered to care for up to three children who may have emotional and social difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

There has not been a registered manager at this home since July 2021.

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Inspection date: 21 March 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 21 March 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1213828 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 improved effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager resigned in July 2021. The provider appointed a suitably experienced and qualified manager, who is in the process of applying to register with Ofsted.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The new manager’s priority was to establish a strong, stable and experienced staff team. This has been achieved. As a result, children are being cared for by knowledgeable and experienced staff. The manager’s and staff’s child-centred and nurturing approach is helping them to build trusting relationships with children. This is reflected in a child’s comment, ‘This home is fabulous and the staff are wonderful. I know and get along with them all.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, three children have left the home. With staff’s support, one child moved to semi-independent living. This was a successful move and a positive experience for the child. Two children moved from the home due to increasing safeguarding concerns. Staff worked collaboratively with the children’s social workers to identify alternative placements that had the resources and expertise to meet their needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The three children living at the home are well matched, settled and happy. Improvements in impact assessments are ensuring that staff have the knowledge, skills and experience to meet the needs of all children living at the home. Any potential risks that children may present to each other are now carefully considered prior to new children moving into the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Consistent routines and boundaries are helping children to progress and thrive. Staff help children to overcome any barriers to their learning by working collaboratively with schools and social workers. As a result, children’s individual educational needs are fully understood and supported.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children are encouraged and supported to stay fit and healthy. They have access to a range of services that support their physical and emotional well-being, for example, independent youth counselling services. Additionally, staff promote healthy lifestyles. On the day of the inspection, a child was looking forward to going to a local gym with staff.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children’s individual risk assessments are sufficiently detailed and provide staff with clear guidance on how to keep children safe. However, staff do not consistently follow these assessments. For example, when a child was under the influence of Inspection report for children’s home: 1213828 3 alcohol, staff did not seek medical guidance or monitor them throughout the night. This compromised the child’s welfare and safety.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff do not have a sufficient understanding of their safeguarding roles when children raise concerns about their colleagues. On one occasion, an allegation made against a member of staff was managed as a complaint rather than a safeguarding concern. As a result, the procedures for investigating allegations are not being followed correctly.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Most of the requirements raised at the last inspection have been satisfactorily addressed. However, one requirement is repeated due to some continued shortfalls in safeguarding practice. Inspection report for children’s home: 1213828 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/04/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 19/02/2020 Full Good 03/01/2019 Full Good 01/11/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1213828 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 that staff understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(v))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to managers ensuring that allegations are managed appropriately and that staff consistently follow risk assessments. 6 May 2021

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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: 1213828 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Inspire Children’s Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 3 Craig Court, Standish Street, St Helens, Merseyside WA10 1GJ

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Inspector

Marina Tully, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1213828 7 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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