Children's home run by Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC037647 1 SC037647

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Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority home provides short-break care for up to 3 children with learning disabilities, physical disabilities and/or complex health needs.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a new registered manager in post.

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This monitoring visit

The visit took place after a three-month condition was imposed due to concerns around the registered manager vacancy and staffing complement. The local authority decided to stop the home operating. This enabled the local authority to recruit a suitable manager, train and recruit staff, and consider the ethos and vision of the home. The home has complied with the condition.

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This monitoring visit

Since the condition was imposed, the local authority recruited a new experienced manager. The manager has worked alongside the responsible individual to review practices in the home. The home environment has improved, and all rooms have been redecorated. Children’s bedrooms are clean, tidy and freshly decorated. They are ready for children to enjoy a short-break stay.

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This monitoring visit

The home has changed its statement of purpose as it wishes to provide care for up to three children and no longer accept emergency admissions.

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This monitoring visit

There is a full staff team employed at the home. Staff have completed training to ensure that they have the skills to safely care for children. They are enthusiastic about the home reopening and have attended team meetings to understand the ethos and vision for the home.

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This monitoring visit

The previous requirements were not considered at this visit but will be reviewed at the next inspection. The home is ready to provide care for children. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC037647 2

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 11/02/2020 Full Requires improvement to be good 28/08/2018 Full Outstanding 30/11/2017 Full Outstanding 14/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC037647 3

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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 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

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 10 (1)(a) (2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that, when necessary, up- to-date emergency or rescue healthcare plans are included in children’s care plans. 10 September

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that where children have very complex care needs, any use of mechanical restraint follows a rigorous assessment process and, as with any restraint, be necessary and proportionate. Wherever such restraint is planned, it should be identified within a broad ranging, robust behaviour support plan which aims to bring about the circumstances where continued use of such restraint will no longer be required. In particular, the registered person should ensure that there is appropriate specialist assessment and oversight for children who use beds that prevent their independent exit from them. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 47, paragraph 9.44)  The registered person should ensure that those with a leadership and/or management role are visible and accessible to staff and able to deliver their leadership and/or management responsibilities. Specifically, they should ensure

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Recommendations

that staff are given clear instructions about who is responsible for the day-to-day running of the home when they are absent from it. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.7)  The registered person should ensure that the workforce plan is used to record the continuing professional development needs of staff, including the home’s Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC037647 4 manager. This specifically relates to training in supporting children’s play and communication. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)  The registered person should have systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. (‘Guide to the

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Recommendations

Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)

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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: SC037647 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Knowsley MBC, Children’s Services, Huyton Municipal Buildings, 6th Floor, Huyton, Knowsley, Merseyside L36 9YU

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Inspectors

Michelle Edge, Social Care Inspection Manager Rose Maddocks, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC037647 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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