Children's home run by Exceptional Care Limited

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2537801 1 Registered provider: Exceptional Care 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 operated by a private company. It currently provides care and accommodation for up to three children.

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Information about this children’s home

There is no registered manager in post. A new manager has been appointed but is not yet overseeing the home.

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This monitoring visit

The children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 10, 11 and 18 August 2022. This monitoring visit took place to monitor two compliance notices that were served following the full inspection.

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This monitoring visit

The first compliance notice was issued in relation to the help and protection of children. The inspector had found significant shortfalls in respect of pre-employment suitability checks, which had put children at significant risk of harm. Furthermore, the inspector had identified a lack of clear and appropriate professional boundaries in the home, which had hindered staff and children’s ability to identify and report concerns surrounding staff conduct and abusive practice.

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This monitoring visit

A second notice was issued in relation to the monitoring and review of staff’s communication and relationships with children. Shortfalls were also identified in respect of the action taken to respond to concerns raised by people external to the home. Managers and staff had failed to recognise and act on signs of misconduct and abuse.

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This monitoring visit

In working to meet the notices, the provider has completed a full review of the relevant policies and procedures in place to protect children. This included reviewing the code of conduct and safer recruitment, safeguarding, and complaints policies Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2537801 2 and procedures. Staff have revisited these and during the visit were able to demonstrate good working knowledge of the revised policies.

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This monitoring visit

Following the review of recruitment and vetting procedures, positive changes have been made to interview techniques and questions, suitability assessments and the information provided to staff during their induction period. Risk assessments which consider potential employees’ criminal histories and suitability have been strengthened and managers have been given increased responsibility for potential employees’ and pre-employment checks. These improved processes ensure increased accountability and oversight from managers and senior leaders and serve to ensure that those working with children are safe to do so. This also ensures that any potential risks arising from employees’ histories are appropriately assessed and mitigated.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders, managers and staff have completed comprehensive training in relation to the protection of children. Safer recruitment, professional boundaries and contextual safeguarding training have been completed by all staff permanently working in the home. Managers have completed in depth-complaints training, which supports their understanding of complaints, concerns and allegation management.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have benefited from comprehensive training in respect of risk management and assessment. Their understanding of this has also been assessed in depth by managers. As a result, children’s risk assessments are now clear, comprehensive and up to date.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has made amendments and additions to the code of conduct. At the time of this visit, the code remains under review. However, positive changes have been made to ensure that the expectations of staff are clear and that they are fully aware of its contents.

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This monitoring visit

Records of team meetings and staff supervision demonstrate that staff knowledge is assessed by managers. Recent meetings have specifically assessed staff’s understanding of professional boundaries, complaints, the code of conduct and assessing risk. Staff’s improved knowledge and understanding in these areas means that concerns are more likely to be recognised, reported and responded to effectively. The inspector was also able to see that the procedures in place for staff to whistle-blow and respond to allegations from children were followed by staff and managers in response to a concern raised.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s meetings demonstrate that children have had the opportunity to raise complaints, concerns and worries and that staff have responded robustly to these. For example, one child had said that she was unhappy due to increased restrictions in the home to ensure her safety. However, appropriate advocacy and local authority visits were arranged and discussions were held to support the child with her feelings and views. This demonstrates that children can report concerns and express their views and wishes to those external to the home and staff. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2537801 3 Several development days have been held with managers and senior staff across the organisation. At these, the provider has used lessons learned from the full inspection to review the processes across the organisation. This has resulted in wider improvements to safeguarding processes and improved quality of care for children.

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This monitoring visit

Following this visit, both compliance notices are deemed to have been met. The inspector was also able to determine that sufficient action had been taken to meet the requirements issued at the previous inspection. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2537801 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/08/2022 Full Inadequate 23/06/2021 Full Good 18/02/2020 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2537801 5

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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: 2537801 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Exceptional Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Exceptional Care Limited, Malthouse Business Centre, Southport Road, Ormskirk L39 1QR

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Inspector

Natalie Bennett, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2537801 7 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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