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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC422481 1 SC422481 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 two children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a registered manager in post. She registered with Ofsted in July 2020.

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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: 8 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: SC422481 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/02/2022 Full Good 23/07/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 09/10/2018 Full Good 25/10/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC422481 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of the inspection, there was one child living at the home. The child has lived at the home for a long-time and he is settled and happy. Staff know the child well and continually prioritise his needs. As a result, the child is receiving good- quality care from a committed staff team.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is bright and spacious. Staff maintain a calm and homely environment for the child that meets his individual needs. Inspectors observed the child making choices for his evening meal and choosing his own music. He was seen happily dancing and playing with his toys. This demonstrates that the child is comfortable with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child engages in various activities that he enjoys. For example, he went on holiday to a theme park and staff took photos to capture his experiences. Furthermore, the child’s achievements are celebrated and rewarded in creative ways and photos are displayed throughout the home. This provides the child with good memories of his time spent with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have worked collaboratively with partner agencies such as occupational therapy and speech therapy services. This supports the child to make progress with his vocabulary and sensory needs. The child has up-to-date health assessments and access to universal health services. As a result, his health needs are met.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is encouraged to develop his independence skills. Staff use research- informed practice to help the child with his daily routines. As a result, the child has made progress with his personal hygiene routines.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote the child’s education, and he is making good progress at school. Inspectors received positive feedback from education professionals. They said staff help the child with his schoolwork and attend parent evenings to discuss his education. The child’s social worker told inspectors that the staff have made a significant positive difference to the child’s life.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child to spend time with his family. This helps the child maintain relationships with people who are important to him. A parent said, ‘Everything staff do is for my child. They are amazing.’

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

Safeguarding practice in the home is good. Staff identify the child’s risks and risk assessments are clear and regularly reviewed. Furthermore, staff demonstrate what action they would take should a child protection concern arise. Inspection report for children’s home: SC422481 4 All staff follow safe medication processes. Staff are trained in the administration of medication, and they ensure that medication is safely stored.

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

The manager ensures that fire safety practice in the home is effective. The child has a personal emergency evacuation plan that provides staff with details about the support he needs if there is a fire in the home. All staff are trained in fire safety and the child regularly takes part in fire evacuations.

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

The home is safely located and there is a detailed location assessment. This assessment considers any local risks, alongside the child’s complex needs.

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

Staff are proactive and effective in their use of de-escalation techniques. Staff talk about the strategies and the importance of routines they use to help support the child when he is upset and distressed. Additionally, staff have helped the child to recognise different emotions, such as bored and angry. As a result, restraints are not necessary, and incidents have reduced.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by a qualified and experienced manager. She is supported by a deputy manager. Staff are positive about the registered manager. Staff describe her as a strong leader who is aspirational for the child. Furthermore, staff morale is good, and staff told inspectors that they enjoy working at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The child is supported by a stable and consistent staff team who know the child well. Staff are strong advocates for the child. They are passionate about their roles and demonstrate warmth and affection for the child. This has contributed to the child making good progress in his life.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager makes good use of internal and external monitoring systems. Development plans are detailed documents that are continually reviewed to meet the child’s complex needs. However, on one occasion, records do not demonstrate what actions staff took when the child sustained a minor injury at school. Additionally, this was not identified by the manager in her oversight of the records. As a result, records do not demonstrate what action was taken. A requirement is made to address this shortfall.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Regular training, supervision and appraisal processes are successful in ensuring that staff can meet the needs of the child. However, not all staff have completed online safety training. This means staff may not always have the appropriate knowledge and skills to manage the level of risk in this area effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are encouraged to develop in their roles and they undertake their own research and present their findings at staff meetings This helps staff to have up-to-date knowledge of current research that they can use to inform their practice, such as in eating disorders and autism. This enhanced staff knowledge has improved the care that staff provide for the child. Inspection report for children’s home: SC422481 5 Records from staff meetings demonstrate that they are frequent and well attended by staff. These meetings provide staff with an opportunity to reflect on their practice and discuss any other issues. Action plans are implemented, and then reviewed at subsequent staff meetings. This demonstrates that staff are working to continually improve the quality of care that they provide for the child. Inspection report for children’s home: SC422481 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, 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 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;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that all staff complete online safety training and that all accident forms are fully completed to record all actions and outcomes. 28 October 2022

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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: SC422481 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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Inspectors

Judith Birchall, Social Care Inspector Kelly McCurdy, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC422481 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

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