Children's Home run by Hapin Care Limited in Wirral

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2527654 1 Registered provider: Hapin Care Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately run. It provides care for up to two children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since July 2021.

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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: 2527654 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

Two children have moved into the home since the last inspection. The registered manager has made improvements to the pre-admission planning processes. She assesses the ability of the staff to meet the new child’s needs, and the needs of the child already living at the home, to ensure that the home is suitable.

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The care of children

Both children attend and enjoy education. This is positive progress for children who had not attended school regularly before moving to the home. Children have been able to develop friendships to improve their social development and reduce isolation.

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The care of children

Children’s physical health is promoted. A therapist provides direct sessions for children and contributes to planning children’s care. This helps the staff to support children’s emotional needs sensitively. Any concerns are shared with external agencies appropriately.

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The care of children

Children said that they are happy living at the home and can identify their key worker. In general, they have positive relationships with the staff, who understand them well.

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The care of children

One child said that consequences used when children do something wrong are not equal. The child was also unsure of the role of an independent advocate. The manager said that this has been discussed before. However, children would benefit from being reminded of this entitlement to independent support.

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The care of children

The downstairs bathroom now has handwashing facilities to promote good hygiene.

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The safety of children

Risk-management plans are improved. They now reflect children’s current circumstances and provide staff with appropriate strategies to respond to risk effectively. Staff spoke confidently about their roles and responsibilities to keep children safe.

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The safety of children

Children with a history of regularly going missing from home no longer do so. When children were going missing from home, staff followed procedures to ensure that they returned safely. The manager evaluates any patterns that contribute to children’s missing-from-home behaviour over time. Individual records are not evaluated to identify any omissions or discrepancies, including any searches that staff make to find children. However, this does not impact on children’s safety. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2527654 3 Staff provide consistent boundaries for children. They help children to understand the impact of their behaviour in direct-work sessions. As a result, incidents have reduced for one child who can present with challenging behaviours when their needs are not met. However, when negative consequences have been used, the duration of the consequence is not always clearly recorded.

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The safety of children

There has been one incident when a child has been physically restrained. Recording now complies with the regulation.

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The safety of children

Staff are debriefed after any safeguarding incidents. The manager evaluates practice and supports staff to improve.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

A qualified and experienced registered manager leads the home. There have been changes in the staff structure, which team leaders said has empowered them to develop professionally. Where possible, managers and staff promote positive endings to relationships with children when staff leave.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

There are sufficient staff to provide consistent care to children. Staff said that they feel well supported by managers. They refresh their training to maintain their knowledge and skills to meet children’s individual needs. A requirement was made at the last inspection due to some staff not completing their qualification within timescales. This is repeated at this assurance inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager completed an investigation into staff practice following one incident. Appropriate disciplinary action was taken in response to the concerns identified.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The independent person does not regularly consult with children or other stakeholders as part of their monitoring visits. This is a missed opportunity to gain valuable feedback on the quality of care provided.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

In general, internal monitoring systems have improved. Despite a previous requirement, the quality of care review report continues to lack children’s views and would benefit from further evaluation. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2527654 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/04/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 24/01/2022 Interim Declined in effectiveness 17/08/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 05/02/2020 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2527654 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 registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform. (Regulation 32 (1) (3)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to ensuring that all staff obtain the relevant qualification within the required timescale.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is repeated. 26 March 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

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 quality of care provided for children;

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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

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to ensuring that the quality of care review evaluates the care provided to children and reflects children’s views about the care that they receive.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is repeated. 26 March 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2527654 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the independent person consults regularly with external stakeholders and children as part of their assessment of the care provided in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.5)  The registered person should ensure that any consequence imposed to help children to understand the impact of their behaviour has clear timescales for the duration that it will be in place. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.38)  The registered person should ensure that monitoring of any missing-from-home incidents is completed following each incident and identifies any gaps in recording, for example of searches made for children, to ensure that records are accurate. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.31)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children are reminded of their right to an independent advocate to support them in any issues about their care in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 23, paragraph 4.17) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2527654 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Suite 304A Business First, 25 Goodlass Road, Liverpool L24 9HJ

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Inspector

Karen Willson, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2527654 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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