Children's Home run by My3 Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: 1246331 1 Registered provider: My3 Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is owned by a private company. The provider states in its statement of purpose that the home provides care for up to four children with social and emotional difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1246331 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/03/2022 Full Good 04/12/2019 Full Outstanding 06/11/2018 Full Good 01/02/2018 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: 1246331 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff carry out regular key-work sessions with children. These include life-story work. This helps children to understand their backgrounds and to build connections with those adults who are important to them. A social worker said, ‘I feel the care and support they give to [name of child] has been outstanding.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand children’s physical and emotional health needs. They use a therapeutic model of care to consider the underlying causes of children’s behaviours and help children to manage their emotions. This enables staff to sensitively support children who experience traumatic events.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide a range of nutritious meals for children, and everyone sits together at mealtimes. Furthermore, family and friends are also invited to join mealtimes. This promotes structure and routine for children and improves their social skills. One child buys her own food and cooks her own meals. This helps her to develop independence skills in line with her pathway plan to prepare for adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s internal care plans reflect the aims and objectives of the placing authority. Staff ensure that they provide care in line with these plans. As a result, all children are attending education and making progress. One parent said, ‘Each member of staff works fantastically with all of the children. I couldn’t have wished for a better place for my child to live.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from living in a spacious and warm home. However, some areas of the home are in need of redecoration. The manager has plans in place to provide a more nurturing environment for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote opportunities for children in the community. This includes participating in fundraising events, volunteering for charity work and engaging with local youth clubs. This helps children to build self-confidence and develop their sense of belonging and purpose. One child said, ‘Things are great; it’s a brilliant place to live.’

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

Children feel safe and supported living in the home. Staff have a strong response to safeguarding children and work closely with agencies. An independent reviewing officer said, ‘The joint working and communication from the staff team is brilliant.’

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

Staff complete risk management plans for each child. This enables staff to identify and understand children’s risks. Staff review risk management plans regularly and discuss them in team meetings. This helps staff to maintain consistency when protecting children from harm. Inspection report for children’s home: 1246331 4 Children rarely go missing from home. Staff keep children safe by following robust missing-from-home protocols for each child. This ensures that staff can act quickly to prevent incidents from occurring. Managers recruit staff safely. Furthermore, managers encourage children to take part in the recruitment of staff. This helps children to have some influence over who works with them and understand safer recruitment processes.

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

Physical interventions are minimal and proportionate. Children and staff review incidents, which helps them to reflect and learn. This means that staff maintain positive and healthy relationships with children.

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

Managers do not consistently report serious incidents to Ofsted within the required timescale. This means the regulator has no initial oversight of what action staff take to keep children safe.

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

Staff support children to stay safe online. They complete direct-work sessions with children to talk about safe and healthy relationships. This raises children’s awareness of online harm and helps them to stay safe.

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

Managers use door alarms in two of the children’s bedrooms as a safeguarding measure. However, managers do not regularly review or evaluate the need for the alarms. As a result, this may unnecessarily limit children’s privacy and access in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The current registered manager is moving to another position in the company. An interim manager has been promoted from within the team. This helps to maintain consistency in the team while retaining the skills and experience of managers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers and leaders have a thorough knowledge of the children. Managers listen to children’s views and consider their wishes and feelings. This promotes children’s development and progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers follow-up and escalate concerns if responses from agencies are not satisfactory. This helps to ensure that children receive the right support and their needs are met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager provides a regular quality of care review report. However, the views of parents and the placing authorities are not consistently included in this report.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision and appraisal. They feel fully supported in their role and enjoy working at the home. This helps to retain staff and keep them motivated. They also attend regular team meetings, which helps them to discuss current issues and practice. Inspection report for children’s home: 1246331 5 Staff attend a wide range of training to develop their skills and knowledge. This helps them to provide better care for children. One member of staff said, ‘The induction and training into this home is the best I have ever had.’

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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, the 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 privacy of children is appropriately protected;

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Requirement Due date

any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home;

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Requirement Due date

is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and

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Requirement Due date

allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21 (a)(c)(i)(ii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that alarms are only placed on children’s bedroom doors in accordance with this regulation. 3 February 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)(e)) 27 January 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 1246331 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all areas of the home provide a welcoming and homely environment that meets the needs of its children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should undertake a review of the quality of care every 6 months, informed by the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.2)

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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: 1246331 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 300 St. Marys Road, Garston, Liverpool L19 0NQ

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Inspectors

Mark Woodbridge, Social Care Inspector Jennifer Quest, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1246331 8 inspects 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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