Children's home run by Independent Living Services (North West) Limited

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1278022 1 Registered provider: Independent Living Services (North West) Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run children’s home provides care for up to three children. The provider states in its statement of purpose that it provides care for children who may have social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered managers post has been vacant since January 2022.

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This monitoring visit

This visit took place to monitor the actions taken by the provider in relation to compliance notices served on 15 February 2022. The notices were served against regulation 12, the protection of children standard, and regulation 13, the leadership and management standard.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, the registered manager’s post has remained vacant. The responsible individual continues to manage the home on a day-to-day basis. The child living in this home told inspectors that they are a visible presence in the home and that he listens to their views.

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This monitoring visit

The responsible individual has made progress in improving the quality of children’s risk management plans. Plans now reflect known and emerging risks to children and provide clear strategies for staff to follow to minimise these risks. The plans have been updated with relevant information. Plans have been shared with staff following any updates, and they are signed to demonstrate that staff are aware of the action they should take to keep children safe.

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This monitoring visit

There have been no incidents of children going missing from the home since the last inspection. Door sensors are now in place to alert staff if children leave the home Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1278022 2 during the night. Staff spoken to during this monitoring visit were familiar with the plans in place to manage this risk. They were able to describe the action they would take if a child was to go missing from home.

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This monitoring visit

Staff spoken to said that the responsible individual has been at the home frequently since the last inspection and that he is supportive. Following the last visit, the responsible individual held a team meeting to share the findings of the inspection and the actions he is taking to address the shortfalls. Staff spoken to had a clear understanding of the changes that have been made since the last inspection, and their roles and responsibilities in ensuring children’s safety.

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This monitoring visit

The responsible individual has introduced monitoring systems to ensure that they have sufficient oversight of the home. Serious incidents relating to children have been shared with relevant professionals and notified to Ofsted in a timely manner. This requirement has been met.

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This monitoring visit

This home is bright and well presented. Since the last inspection, internal door locks have been removed. This ensures that children have access to all areas of their home. This is in keeping with the homely environment the responsible individual and staff want to provide for children. This requirement has therefore been met.

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This monitoring visit

A number of requirements were not explored as part of this monitoring visit and will be reviewed as part of the home’s next inspection. However, sufficient progress has been made for Ofsted to assess that the compliance notices have been met. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1278022 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/02/2022 Full Inadequate 29/01/2020 Full Outstanding 15/11/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1278022 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 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

maintain regular contact with each child’s education and training provider, including engaging with the provider and the placing authority to support the child’s education and training and to maximise the child’s achievement;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(vi)(ix)(x))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the arrangements to support children’s educational attainment, and how these are promoted by staff are clear. This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 6 April 2022

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c)) 6 April 2022 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1278022 5 The registered person must ensure that any outstanding concerns in relation to children’s health needs are escalated to the relevant professionals and that the routines in the home support children to lead a healthy lifestyle. This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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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

strive to gain each child’s respect and trust;

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Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children;

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Requirement Due date

are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same;

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Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a) (2)(a)(viii)(ix)(x)(b))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that positive relationships and conflict resolution between children and staff are promoted. This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 6 April 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (3)(d)) 6 April 2022 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1278022 6 The registered person must ensure that full information is available in relation to each of the matters listed. This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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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

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; and

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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)(ii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that records demonstrate what action staff have taken to avoid using the measure and evidence consultation with children. This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 6 April 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which— 6 April 2022 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1278022 7 include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that children’s case records are kept up to date and signed by the author of the record. This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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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 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

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)(b)(5))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that reports include the feedback of stakeholders in order to drive forward improvements in the home. This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 6 April 2022

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1278022 8 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1278022 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Independent Living Services (North West) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Lakeside, Prescot Road, St. Helens, Lancashire WA10 3TP

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: William Mulvaney

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Inspectors

Genevieve O’Reilly, Social Care Inspector Claire Hobbs, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1278022 10 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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