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

Inspection report children’s home: SC062013 1 SC062013 Registered provider: After Care NW Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides care for up to three children who may have complex needs, including social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since April 2022.

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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: improved effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC062013 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/03/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 11/08/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 10/03/2020 Full Requires improvement to be good 29/08/2018 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC062013 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is warm and welcoming. There are many photos on the living room wall which display positive images of children. This gives children a sense of belonging and ownership. A member of staff said, ‘I absolutely love working here. It feels like home.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children develop good relationships with the staff team, which enables them to talk openly about their feelings. Independent advocates also support children. This helps children to develop social skills while building resilience and self-confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to pursue hobbies and interests. As a result, children are learning new skills and trying different activities. This helps children to develop emotionally and socially, while also nurturing their self-identity. One member of staff said, ‘I enjoy coming to the home and do not see it as a job motivating them to get out and about to enjoy their childhood.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children attend weekly meetings to raise issues and to discuss activities and meals for the week ahead. This gives them a sense of ownership and helps them to develop negotiating skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making very good progress and feel safe in their home. One social worker said, ‘Staff have been great. [Name of child] is thriving and making excellent progress.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to manage their health needs. Children register with doctors and dentists and access support from a wide range of other services. This means that children’s routine appointments and checks are up to date.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff do not encourage children to access their files or contribute to them. This affects children’s ability to reflect on their progress and experiences. It also means that children’s records do not reflect their voices.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children explore equality and diversity issues with staff. This raises their awareness of different cultures and beliefs. The diversity of the staff team promotes an inclusive and welcoming environment.

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

The registered manager is aware of the risks associated with the location of the home. She reviews children’s needs to manage risks and to ensure that the location remains suitable.

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

Each child has a detailed and individualised action plan in case they go missing from the home. Staff support children to understand the risks involved with going missing Inspection report children’s home: SC062013 4 from care and complete key-work sessions with them. This currently prevents children from going missing.

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

Children feel safe and supported living in the home. Staff provide a strong response to safeguard children and work closely with agencies. An independent reviewing officer said, ‘I have been impressed by the care provided by the staff team. They work to the care plan and respond appropriately to [name of child]’s needs.’

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

Staff use de-escalation techniques to help children to manage their behaviour. This reduces the need for physical interventions. This means that staff maintain positive and healthy working relationships with children.

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

Children’s risk management plans are clear and well presented. This helps staff to understand and manage risks. However, plans do not include consideration of the increase in risk when children leave the home.

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

The registered manager follows safer recruitment procedures to ensure children’s safety. The stable staff team provides consistent support to help children feel safe and protected.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is newly registered for this home. She is developing new systems to improve care and support for children. As a result, staff feel better supported, and children are making good progress. A member of staff said, ‘The manager is staff centred and motivates the team very well. Always willing to listen and work with everyone. She’s a gem.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager challenges the local authority to ensure that children’s educational needs are met. As a result, children are attending education full time and are making progress. One teacher said, ‘[Name of child] is happy and he is always well presented. They obviously care a lot for him.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager does not complete a regular review of the quality of care. This limits their understanding of children’s experiences in the home. It also hinders the manager’s evaluation of children’s outcomes and improvements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel very well supported by the leadership team. They attend monthly supervision sessions with their manager. This helps staff to reflect on their work and to provide consistent levels of care. However, staff do not attend an annual appraisal. This affects their ability to reflect on their performance and limits their personal development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager maintains a record of staff training to ensure that all training is up to date. However, staff do not consistently complete training which is detailed in children’s plans. This affects their ability to provide specialised care for children. Inspection report children’s home: SC062013 5 Leaders and managers listen to children and help them to reflect on incidents. This promotes self-awareness and helps them to manage their behaviour. Leaders also review incidents with staff to promote learning and improve practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is developing close working relationships with a range of partners. This is promoting a multi-agency approach and is improving communication across different services. As a result, children’s plans are now clearer and reviewed on a regular basis. This is particularly relevant for children who are placed at a distance from their placing authority. Inspection report children’s home: SC062013 6

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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, the 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 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 quality of care provided for children;

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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

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (“the quality of care review report”).

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed; and

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Requirement Due date

make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home.

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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)(a)(b)(c) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5)) 6 May 2022 Inspection report children’s home: SC062013 7 The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home.

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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

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority;

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Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed.

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Requirement Due date

that staff help each child to access and contribute to the records kept by the registered person in relation to the child. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(b)(iii)(c)(f)) 31 May 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 staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to meeting the individual support needs of each child which have been identified in their relevant plans. 10 June 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(c)) 31 May 2022 Inspection report children’s home: SC062013 8

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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: SC062013 9

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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

Mark Woodbridge, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC062013 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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