Children's home run by After Care (NW) Limited in Sefton

Inspection report for children's home: SC063673 1 SC063673 Registered provider: After Care NW Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to four children with social, emotional and mental health needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The home currently does not have a registered manager.

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Inspection date: 24 March 2022

Date of last inspection: 23 November 2021

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Inspection date: 24 March 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 24 March 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC063673 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

Two children live in the home. They are settled and making good progress. Children have positive relationships with the staff and enjoy spending time with them. Staff are appropriately affectionate towards the children, and this is reciprocated. This provides the children with emotional stability.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff understand the importance of education and have worked well to ensure that the children are able to access education and individual tuition. This has been successful with one child attending education regularly. Staff work closely with the school to discuss the child’s progress and adapt the support that is available to him both at home and in the school with a good use of resources to support his learning.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff make sure that the children spend time with their families when appropriate. Staff are sensitive to how the child may feel before and after these visits and put in place the necessary support measures. This approach ensures that the children can maintain relationships with those people who are important to them.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff team is informative, positive and child-centred. Staff say they feel well supported by the leadership team. The interim manager has worked with staff as a team to share ideas and implement new ways of working to improve outcomes for children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is a policy in place for children and staff to follow to support children who smoke cigarettes or to encourage smoking cessation. However, during the inspection, there was evidence of children smoking in their rooms. This means that children are not being provided with the skills or knowledge that they need to make healthy lifestyle choices and to keep themselves safe.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The interim manager has worked hard to meet all the requirements raised at the last inspection. She has good insight of the home and has effective monitoring and review systems in place. One further requirement has been raised in relation to children smoking in their bedrooms. Inspection report for children's home: SC063673 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/11/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 11/06/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 04/09/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 29/08/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC063673 4

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that children understand the home’s expectations in relation to children smoking and that staff adhere to written policies in relation to children who smoke. 7 April 2022

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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: SC063673 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: After Care NW Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 45 Kensington Road, Southport, Lancashire PR9 0RT

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Timothy Blundell

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Inspector

Claire Deary, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC063673 6 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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