Children's home run by Independent Living Services (North West) Limited in St. Helens

Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC431192 1 SC431192

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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 four children. The provider states in their statement of purpose that the home provides care for children who may have social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has made an application to register with Ofsted.

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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 this inspection, 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: SC431192 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

This home is bright and welcoming and is decorated to a high standard. Children’s bedrooms are personalised to their own individual tastes. One child told the inspector, ‘When you come in, it just feels like a home, not a children’s home.’

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The care of children

Children have developed positive relationships with the staff working at this home and told the inspector that they have fun together. Children are able to take part in activities that they enjoy, including going to the cinema, visiting breakout rooms and having pamper nights.

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The care of children

Staff talk with health professionals to ensure that children’s health needs are met. This includes working with other agencies to support children with their emotional well-being. Children are appropriately encouraged and supported to attend routine medical appointments.

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The care of children

Children’s educational progress is variable. One child has been out of formal education for a significant period. The manager is working with the placing authority and the virtual school to progress arrangements for the child’s education. However, additional challenge and escalation are needed to prevent further delay.

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The care of children

Children are supported to keep in touch with the people who are important to them, and staff work well with children’s families.

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The care of children

Children are given opportunities to share their views on their care and the daily routines of the home. Children told the inspector they feel confident that the manager will respond appropriately to any issues or concerns they may raise. They are aware of how to make a complaint, although none have been made since the last inspection.

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The safety of children

Individual risk management plans detail children’s risks and vulnerabilities and the strategies staff are to follow to keep children safe. They are updated and reviewed regularly.

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The safety of children

There have been incidents where one child has gone missing from this home. Staff have followed the child’s individual plans and taken appropriate action to find the child and encourage them to return home. While appropriate action has been taken, information relating to independent return home interviews is not clearly recorded. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC431192 3 Incidents are well managed. Staff understand and act on any concerns relating to children, to ensure that they are kept safe. This includes working with other agencies and professionals, as well as the use of online safety applications, to ensure that children are safe when using their mobile phones.

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The safety of children

Individual key-work sessions focus on children’s specific needs and vulnerabilities. Staff plan sessions to best secure children’s engagement, and they revisit key topics to ensure that children understand the topics covered in the sessions.

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The safety of children

Physical intervention has not been necessary to manage children’s behaviour, and consequences are used sparingly. However, the measures used are not always appropriate. Furthermore, records do not demonstrate consultation with children. This was a requirement at the last inspection and is restated.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

There have been changes to the management arrangements since the last inspection. A new manager is currently managing this home and she has made an application to register with Ofsted.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

There have been some staffing changes since the last inspection. However, the home is currently fully staffed. Staff spoken to during the inspection were positive about the home’s new manager and the changes she is making.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager has a good understanding of the children’s needs and the progress they are making. She has implemented a new audit tool to help her to identify areas for improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

At the last inspection, a requirement was made for staff to complete training in autistic spectrum disorder. Although the manager has completed this training, she has not assured herself that this course has been completed by all staff working at this home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The quality of care review report has not been sent to Ofsted within the correct timescale. The report lacks evaluation and does not capture any learning that arises from behaviours or incidents. These reports do not include feedback from stakeholders in order to support improvement at the home. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC431192 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/04/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 04/08/2021 Full Good 26/02/2020 Full Outstanding 06/11/2018 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC431192 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 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

The registered person must ensure that staff have training specific to the individual needs of children and that all staff receive an annual performance appraisal.

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Requirement Due date

This was a requirement at the last inspection and is restated. 31 January 2023

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child's behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure; 31 January 2023 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC431192 6 the name of the person who used the measure ("the user"), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(ii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that records demonstrate what action staff have taken to avoid using the measure and evidence consultation with children.

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Requirement Due date

This was a requirement at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that children's case records are kept up to date.

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Requirement Due date

This was a requirement at the last inspection and is restated. 31 January 2023

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Requirement Due date

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

The registered person must— 31 January 2023 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC431192 7 supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed.

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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) (4)(a) (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, and that they are sent to the regulator in a timely manner.

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, challenge further regarding children’s education arrangements. 31 January 2023

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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: SC431192 8

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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: SC431192 9 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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Inspector

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