Children's home run by Independent Living Services (North West) Limited

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1278022 1 Registered provider: Independent Living Services (North West) Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run children’s home provides care for up to three children. The provider states in its statement of purpose that it provides care for children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At these inspections, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1278022 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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The care of children

There is currently one child living in this home. She has previously lived in another home within the organisation and some staff who cared for her previously now care for her in this home. This has provided her with some familiarity. Positive relationships were observed between the child and staff during the visit.

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The care of children

The manager and staff promote good health and well-being for this child. Healthcare plans demonstrate that staff have a detailed understanding of the child’s individual health needs. Currently, the child does not wish to engage with any additional support for their emotional well-being. However, staff ensure that the child is aware of the help that can be accessed, should they change their mind. Healthy daily routines are promoted in this home and staff work appropriately with relevant health professionals.

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The care of children

Staff support and encourage the child with their education. The child has recently started a course at a local college. Although there are some difficulties in attending, staff are liaising with relevant professionals to ensure that the child has the right support in place to help them reach their full potential.

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The care of children

Key-work sessions capture significant conversations with the child regarding a range of topics. The records reflect the child’s views, wishes and feelings, and demonstrate how they are encouraged to share their views on the general running of the home.

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The care of children

The child knows how to make a complaint, although none have been made since the last full inspection.

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The safety of children

Staff have a good understanding of the child’s vulnerabilities and associated risks. Individual risk management plans detail identified risks and include the strategies that staff are to follow to manage these. When out in the community, the child maintains regular contact with staff. However, plans do not clearly outline how often staff should have contact with the child.

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The safety of children

Following a recent a safeguarding concern, the manager has been proactive in updating the child’s risk assessments, ensuring that the relevant people are notified and keeping clear records of the action taken. The home has responded appropriately to emerging concerns, increasing staffing ratios where required and undertaking appropriate direct work with the child. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1278022 3 There has been one incident of the child going missing from this home since the last inspection. While staff took appropriate action to ensure that the child returned safely, the current missing-from-home plan does not include the current information and guidance for staff. This is required in order to ensure that there is a consistent approach from all staff. Furthermore, records did not show information relating to the return-home interview that subsequently took place.

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The safety of children

Safe recruitment procedures are in place for new staff. This means that children are protected from unsuitable adults being employed to work in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

There have been changes to the management arrangements since the last inspection. An experienced manager is currently managing this home and another within the organisation. She intends to apply to register for both homes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Since joining the organisation, the manager has begun to address shortfalls in practice identified at the last inspection. She has a good understanding of the child’s needs and the progress they are making. However, there are some shortfalls in the manager’s monitoring and oversight of specific incidents and records. The manager has devised a new audit tool, although this is not yet embedded in practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff, including the manager, have completed training relevant to the specific needs of the child living in this home. This means that staff have the skills to safely care for this child. The manager has identified further additional training to support staff’s understanding of key issues.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The statement of purpose has not been sent to Ofsted in line with regulation. This means that Ofsted does not have the most up-to-date information about who is working at the home. The manager took action to address this during the visit.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The review of the quality-of-care report lacks evaluation, and identified actions for development of the home are generic. The report does not capture any learning that arises from behaviours or incidents, and does not support improvements in the quality of care for children. Furthermore, this has not been sent to Ofsted within the timescales, as required by regulation.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/05/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 08/02/2022 Full Inadequate 29/01/2020 Full Outstanding 15/11/2018 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1278022 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

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that risk management plans include clear guidance for staff to use in order to manage risk. This requirement was made at the last inspection and is reinstated. 18 November

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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

if the registered provider appoints a person to manage the home, the registered provider must, without delay, give HMCI notice of—

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Requirement Due date

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) (2)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the manager submitting their application to register with Ofsted. This requirement was made at the last inspection and is reinstated. 18 November Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1278022 5 The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality-of-care review”) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

the system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(b)(5))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that reports include the feedback of stakeholders, in order to drive forward improvements in the home. This requirement was made at the last inspection and is reinstated. 18 November

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

This registered person must ensure that there are effective monitoring systems in place to ensure oversight of all aspects of the day-to-day running of the home. This requirement was made at the last inspection and is reinstated. 18 November

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement ("the statement of purpose") which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must— 18 November Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1278022 6 keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (1) (3)(a)(b))

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that records show information relating to children’s access to independent return-home interviews after incidents of going missing from home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1278022 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Independent Living Services (North West) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Lakeside, Prescot Road, St. Helens, Lancashire WA10 3TP

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Inspector

Genevieve O’Reilly, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1278022 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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