Children's Home run by iMapcentre Limited in Cheshire West and Chester

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2613341 1 Registered provider: iMapcentre Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a private provider. It is currently registered to care for up to nine children with learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager in post since May 2021. The current manager has applied to register with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

This home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 4 and 5 May 2022.

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This monitoring visit

A monitoring visit took place on 16 June 2022 to monitor the notice to restrict accommodation of any further children until 1 August 2022. The visit also assessed the progress made by the provider to meet the steps set out in four compliance notices issued under section 22a of the Care Standards Act 2000 after the full inspection. These related to regulation 8 (the education standard), regulation 12 (the protection of children standard), regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard) and regulation 35 (behaviour management policies and records). The provider demonstrated sufficient progress to meet the notice served under regulation 35 only.

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This monitoring visit

This second monitoring visit took place to assess the progress made to meet the steps set out in three new compliance notices served under regulations 8, 12 and 13. The restriction of accommodation was also monitored.

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This monitoring visit

One child has moved on from the home. One child remains living there. The provider continues to comply with the restriction of accommodation notice. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2613341 2 A new format for children’s care plans has been introduced. These clearly identify children’s educational needs, which are informed by local authority plans, including personal education plans and education, health and care plans. The new plans include how the staff should support children to achieve individualised targets. Records track how children are helped to make progress.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has introduced an ongoing and comprehensive training programme for the staff team. The staff have received training to meet the specific needs of children. This equips the team with the skills to deliver safe care.

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This monitoring visit

Significant progress has been made to address repairs and redecoration in the home, to ensure it is a safe and more homely environment for children to live in. One area of the home which required the most attention is close to completion.

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This monitoring visit

Clear and individualised care planning is now evidenced that tracks children’s progress. Plans are regularly monitored and reviewed by leaders and managers in the home. Files include additional monitoring tools to demonstrate children’s development and achievements over time.

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This monitoring visit

In addition to the ongoing training for staff, a team development day was delivered by an external provider. A member of staff indicated that this had been well received and supported a committed team ethos.

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This monitoring visit

New management monitoring tools are becoming embedded to improve oversight and practice in the home. Further improvements to audit tools have been identified and introduced. The manager reviews incident records to identify further practice development needs.

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This monitoring visit

Other requirements and recommendations made at the last full inspection were not considered at this visit and are carried forward to the next inspection.

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This monitoring visit

The appointed manager has submitted his application to register with Ofsted. The provider has applied to reduce the number of children living at the home to six.

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This monitoring visit

A case review was held on 28 July 2022. The decision was made that the provider has made sufficient progress to meet the steps in the three compliance notices. The restriction of accommodation has been lifted. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2613341 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/05/2022 Full Inadequate 03/11/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/06/2021 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2613341 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

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

a description of the measure and its duration.

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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 signed the record to confirm it is accurate. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(iv) (b)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, a record should be made on each occasion when a measure is used to manage a child’s behaviour and should record the duration of the measure used. Leaders and managers should evaluate the record to identify any improvements to recording and practice in behaviour management. 28 August 2022

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

protect and promote each child’s welfare; 28 August 2022 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2613341 5 treat each child with dignity and respect;

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Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

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Requirement Due date

make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(ii)(iii)(iv)(ix))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, that the staff follow children’s individualised plans to ensure that children’s care promotes their welfare and accords with their relevant plans.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child. (Regulation 36 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to ensuring that the registered provider obtains all relevant plans and reports relating to children to ensure that the staff deliver care that meets placing authorities’ expectations. 28 August 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

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Requirement Due date

must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40 (4)(e) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b)) 28 August 2022 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2613341 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the independent person appointed completes a rigorous assessment that identifies areas for practice improvement and regularly considers the views of stakeholders. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.5)  The registered person should ensure that consideration is given to the frequency of supervision. Staff members’ performance should be appraised formally on an annual basis to drive improvements in practice. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraphs 13.1 and 13.5)  The registered person should ensure that electronic records, for example in relation to recruitment, are easily accessible to individuals who legitimately need to view them. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 14.2)

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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: 2613341 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: iMap School, Barrowmore Estate, Barnhouse Lane, Great Barrow, Chester CH3 7JA

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Anthony Yearsley

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Inspectors

Karen Willson, Social Care Inspector Mark Woodbridge, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2613341 8 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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