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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC411825 1 SC411825 Registered provider: Inspire Childrens Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private company owns this home. The home’s statement of purpose states that it provides care for up to two children.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager in post since September 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 requires improvement to be 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: 9 December 2021

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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: SC411825 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/12/2021 Full Good 23/09/2019 Full Good 07/08/2018 Full Good 11/01/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC411825 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of the inspection, one child was living at the home. The child told the inspector that he is happy living at the home and described the home as ‘my home’. Staff enjoy coming to work and spoke positively of the home environment and their relationships with the child. As a result, the child is happy, settled and making good progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child to develop his independence skills. The ways in which staff do this are creative and individualised to meet the needs of the child. For example, the child is supported to have a part-time job, develop his cooking skills, manage his daily routine and keep the home clean. This has increased the child’s confidence and these skills will help him when he moves out of the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff’s relationships with the child are a strength. Staff spoke with warmth, care and pride about the child. The inspector observed positive relationships between the child and staff. The child is happy in the company of the staff. This helps the child to feel valued and cared for.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child to attend education. Staff help the child to achieve full attendance and he has gained qualifications. Staff have arranged for the child to visit the college that he will be attending later in the year. Consequently, the child is making excellent progress in education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Activities in the home are tailored to the child’s interests and he is supported in developing his hobbies. For example, he is a member of two local football teams and attends a local club for construction-block modelling enthusiasts, all of which he thoroughly enjoys. As a result, he is supported to develop his social skills and build friendships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is generally warm and welcoming, and the child’s bedroom is personalised and decorated to a high standard. However, the bathroom is tired-looking and needs general maintenance work. As a result, the child is not living in a home maintained to a good standard in all areas.

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

The home has a clear and consistent approach to risk management. There are clear and individualised risk assessments in place for the child. The manager regularly reviews risk assessments, and staff are knowledgeable about the strategies within them. Therefore, staff keep the child safe.

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

The staff have implemented a restorative model of behaviour management. The staff are trained in using de-escalation techniques and these techniques work well Inspection report for children’s home: SC411825 4 with the child. There have not been any incidents of physical intervention. This helps the child to maintain a positive sense of well-being and respect.

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

The child knows he can talk to staff if he is concerned or worried. He talked about how staff keep him safe. For example, he said that staff check his phone, and they contact him when he is out in the community.

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

Staff talk to the child about how to keep safe. For example, staff educate the child about potential risks when he uses social media and the internet. Risk assessments are updated with the child’s views and include new strategies to keep him safe online. This means that staff work consistently to reduce this risk.

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good

An experienced manager currently manages the home. She is supported by a committed deputy manager. The manager has not submitted her application to register with Ofsted in a timely manner. Although this is a significant shortfall, it was clear during the inspection that this has not affected the child’s progress and experiences.

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good

The manager and deputy manager know the child well. Managers regularly review the child’s plans and include the relevant professionals in planning for the child. Therefore, managers review and evaluate the child’s care effectively. This is necessary to ensure that staff continually improve the care that they provide for the child.

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good

The manager has established positive relationships with external professionals. External professionals gave positive feedback about the level of communication they have with the manager and the quality of care the child receives.

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good

The staff benefit from regular supervision and appraisals. These are structured and give staff the opportunity to reflect on their practice. Supervisions are also used as a space to talk about staff skills and training needs. This helps the manager to have good oversight of staff strengths and areas for improvement.

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good

Management oversight and evaluation are particular strengths in this home. The child’s records and plans are regularly updated and include clear oversight and evaluation from the manager and deputy manager. Therefore, managers know the progress the child is making. Inspection report for children’s home: SC411825 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 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

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to the registered manager ensuring that the bathroom is clean and maintained to a good standard. 6 October 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home; and

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Requirement Due date

is not, or does not intend to be, in day-to-day charge of the home.

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Requirement Due date

If the registered provider appoints a person to manage the home, the registered provider must, without delay, give HMCI notice of— 6 October 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC411825 6 the name of the person so appointed; and

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Requirement Due date

the date on which the appointment takes effect. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii) (2)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to the manager submitting their application for registration in a timely manner.

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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: SC411825 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Inspire Childrens 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

Rose Maddocks, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC411825 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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