Children's home run by Inspire Children’s Services Limited in St. Helens

Inspection report for children’s home: SC482410 1 SC482410 Registered provider: Inspire Children’s Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned children’s home. The provider states in the home’s statement of purpose that it provides care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a registered manager in post. He registered with Ofsted in January 2021.

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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

Date of last inspection: 1 February 2022

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC482410 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/02/2022 Full Good 25/02/2020 Full Requires improvement to be good 11/09/2018 Full Good 21/11/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC482410 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children living in this home are happy and settled. Children said that the best part of living in this home is their positive relationships with staff. This shows that staff are invested in the children, which supports children being able to build trusting relationships. Because of this, children have a good sense of belonging to the home. One child said, ‘This is the best place I have ever lived.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All the children described the home as their family home. This is because care is taken to ensure that children are well matched. A good impact risk assessment had been completed to match a child with the other children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are passionate and good advocates for children in this home. In partnership with other professionals, they successfully challenged a decision to permanently exclude a child from school. As a result, all children are now in education and doing well.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s progress is well documented in the home. Placing social workers talked positively of the progress children make. One child’s social worker said, ‘All staff support my child. I am very proud of him, he is making amazing progress.’ Staff implement consistent routines and boundaries, which supports children’s progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have a voice in the home. They are consulted and their views are sought in many ways. This was demonstrated in the home’s holiday planning, as the children said they did not want to go to Spain but instead wanted to have activity days out. Children are also given the opportunity to engage in a range of regular activities in the community. They go to a performing arts group, to football, swimming and gymnastics and attend the gym. This helps children to develop their social skills and confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is very welcoming, with lots of photos of the children. The children’s bedrooms were decorated in line with the children’s ages and preferences. One child requested a change in bedroom in line with his independence and he was pleased this was granted.

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

Children have developed trust in the staff, which means they feel safe and well protected in their home. It enables children to share any fears or worries. Staff therefore have a clear understanding of children’s vulnerabilities and their needs, and how best to meet these.

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

Staff understand the need for welfare checks when children go out, to keep them safe. They have supported children to understand the importance of keeping in Inspection report for children’s home: SC482410 4 touch with staff when they go out. This has enabled children to have more time out in the community with their friends, maximising their social interactions.

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

Risk assessments and behaviour management plans provide clear and effective strategies for managing risks to individual children. They are easy to read and understand. Because of this, staff are able to use strategies which are effective in de-escalating behaviours. This has resulted in staff not using physical interventions. Concerns raised by children are acted on immediately and staff have appropriately escalated concerns when incidents have not been dealt with effectively by other agencies.

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

The manager has not reviewed and monitored staff recruitment files effectively. Employment references for one staff member had not been verified, which could impact on children’s safety. During the inspection, the manager took action and verified the checks.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has worked in the home for a number of years and has a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the team. He is supported by a competent deputy manager. The ability of the registered manager and deputy manager to work together clearly has a positive impact on the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel supported and valued by managers. They are passionate about their roles and enjoy spending time with children. Staff said that there is high staff morale in the home. Children benefit from this positive environment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Monitoring of the home is in place and in most areas it is effective. While direct-work sessions support children with identified risks and specific behaviours, these documents lack managers’ oversight. Managers should be reviewing all direct- work sessions. Also, when children move out in an emergency, it is important that support is still provided after their departure, in relation to their move and after-care support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are committed to training and are up to date with mandatory training. Staff receive regular supervision, which is practice-related and focuses on helping them to review and reflect on their practice. This in turn helps them develop in their role. Their performance is also reviewed annually. Team meetings are purposeful and well attended by all staff members. Inspection report for children’s home: SC482410 5

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

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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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) (2)(a)(b) (3)(d)) 16 September

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Recommendations

 The registered person should help each child to prepare for any moves from the home, whether they are returning home, moving to another placement or adult care, or to live independently. This includes supporting the child to develop emotional and mental resilience to cope without the home’s support. A child left in an emergency and there was no follow-on support from the home in relation to this move. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 17, paragraph 3.27)  The registered person should actively seek independent scrutiny of the home and make best use of information from independent and internal monitoring (including under regulations 44 and 45) to ensure continuous improvement. Direct work- sessions with children had no evaluation by managers. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24) Inspection report for children’s home: SC482410 6

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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: SC482410 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Inspire Children’s Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 3 Craig Court, Standish Street, St Helens, Merseyside WA10 1GJ

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Inspector

Nicola Clements, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC482410 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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