Children's Home run by PIC Children’s Services in St Helens

Inspection report children’s home: SC022438 1 SC022438 Registered provider: PIC Children’s Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned children’s home.

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Information about this children’s home

The provider states in their statement of purpose that it provides care for one child with emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been in post since 2019.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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inadequate

There are serious failures that mean children are not protected and their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded.

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC022438 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/04/2021 Full Good 17/07/2019 Full Good 17/07/2018 Full Good 20/09/2017 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC022438 3

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inadequate

The overall experiences of the child and the quality of care are compromised by a lack of training and the manager’s failure to record important referral information in the child’s plans. The manager has failed to highlight the child’s attachment style and the importance of therapeutic parenting to guide the staff in their delivery of care. It was also identified that not all staff have completed training in these areas. As a result, the child has not always had his emotional needs met, and support strategies have often been ineffective, contributing to escalations in behaviour.

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inadequate

Direct work takes place to support and educate the child. However, this has not been consistent and does not always focus on how the child can further understand their actions.

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inadequate

There are concerns about substance misuse and the child smoking cannabis in his bedroom. Action has been taken by staff completing room searches. However, there is little evidence to show that indvidualised work has been carried out with the child to help him understand the risks associated with substance misuse and the impact on his emotional, mental and physical well-being. As a result, these incidents have continued.

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inadequate

Family time is promoted in the home, and the child is supported to spend time with people who are important to him. The staff are sensitive to the child’s needs and have recently supported him with bereavement and visiting a loved one’s grave.

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inadequate

The child told the inspector that he likes living at the home and that it is, ‘The best place I have lived.’ The child said that he has good relationships with the staff and is proud of the achievements he has made while living at the home.

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inadequate

Prior to moving into the home, the child had missed a significant amount of education. The child has made positive progress in education and has recently passed a level one qualification, with a plan to sit GCSEs in core subjects.

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inadequate

The child is supported to enjoy different experiences and has enjoyed holidays to Rhyl and Blackpool. He has also enjoyed activities with the staff, such as trampolining and go-karting. The team has begun capturing these memories through photographs and personalised words in a memory book.

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inadequate

The child’s views and wishes are promoted at the home. For example, the child no longer wanted to take medication prescribed to support a condition because he felt that this had an impact on his day-to-day life. The manager supported a medication review, and the child wishes were respected. Inspection report children’s home: SC022438 4 The home provides adequate living accommodation for the child. New sofas and soft furnishings have recently been purchased to improve the environment. There is still evidence of wear and tear, including the kitchen cabinets, carpets and fencing in the rear garden. The kitchen was dirty, but this was addressed by the manager on the day of the inspection.

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

Significant safeguarding concerns were identified during the inspection. The inspector identified that a child’s liberty had been restricted by a staff member holding shut the child’s bedroom door, preventing them from leaving. Inappropriate restrictive physical practice had also taken place, with the child being forcibly carried to their bedroom by staff. The manager had not identified these incidents as safeguarding matters, despite having reviewed the records relating to these incidents. In addition, the manager had not shared the details of these incidents with the child’s placing authority, until prompted by the inspector.

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

Not all significant incidents are routinely recorded in risk assessments and behaviour management plans. For example, a child had burned a staff member. The incident was not reflected in the child’s plans to inform staff of the risk and support their management in the event of a repeat incident. Furthermore, direct work had not taken place with the child to support them in understanding the dangers of their behaviour and the potential consequences of their actions.

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

Despite risk management plans being in place, on occasion staff have not followed the risk assessments and guidance. For example, on one occasion, the child returned to the home under the influence of substances. Although the child was heavily intoxicated and incoherent, the staff on duty failed to access medical advice or monitor the child adequately throughout the night. This practice does not ensure that the child’s safety and welfare are prioritised by the staff team.

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

Consequences imposed are not always fair or proportionate. The inspector identified that the child’s finances had been withheld as he was being supported to understand the impact of his behaviour and actions.

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

It was identified during inspection that following incidents of the child going missing from home, and despite his level of risk and vulnerabilities, the child had not been given the opportunity to engage in return home interviews. The manager failed to recognise her responsibility in requesting that these meetings take place.

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

Safer recruitment is practised at the home. The manager has ensured all relevant checks have been completed prior to staff members working at the home.

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

The home has received one complaint since the last inspection. The manager responded without delay and was transparent throughout the investigation. Inspection report children’s home: SC022438 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered manager is experienced in the role and is caring and considerate of the child in her care. However, she has not spent adequate time at the home, which has resulted in a lack of effective management oversight and monitoring of the home. There is now an interim manager supporting the home. Since her employment, the staff have stated that there has been an improvement in support and consistency.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There is insufficient management oversight of records. The child’s plans do not include important information recorded in a psychology report received by the home prior to the child’s admission. In addition, a number of the child’s plans have not been updated. This limits the effectiveness of support delivered by staff and their understanding of the child’s behaviours and difficulties.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager undertakes an internal review of the quality of care. However, the manager has failed to incorporate the views of the child, parents and carers and professionals. The report does not improve the quality of care delivered to the child, and the objectives identified for improvement are not specific or measurable. This reduces the capacity of the management team to reflect on and secure improvement at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager was unable to provide copies of recent supervisions and confirmed during the inspection that supervision sessions had not taken place consistently with the staff team. The manager also stated that she had not received copies of her supervisions for a number of months. As a result, she was unable to evidence that these had taken place regularly.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Not all staff have the necessary training to support children with specific health needs, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, attachment or risks such as substance misuse and criminal exploitation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The home has experienced a high turnover of staff and this has had an impact on the consistent level of support at the home. Staff duty rotas fail to detail accurately the full names of the staff who are on duty. The lack of transparency about who is on duty potentially places children at risk in the event concerns are raised about the quality of care. This was a requirement at the previous inspection and is repeated. Inspection report children’s home: SC022438 6

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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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the

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Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

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Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(ii)(iv)(vii)(c)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers should ensure that the home is welcoming and a homely environment. This relates specifically to the refurbishment of the kitchen, the replacement of carpets in the hall and on the stairs and landing, and the replacement of fencing in the rear of the garden. 5 March 2023 Inspection report children’s home: SC022438 7 Leaders and managers must ensure that children’s individual needs are accurately documented in plans, with clear guidance on how staff can support the child.

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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;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm;

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(b)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to the manager ensuring that all risk assessments are regularly reviewed to include the significant risks to children and support the staff team in identifying and managing risk effectively.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that staff supporting children have the correct training to meet the children’s individual needs and that they consistently complete direct work with children to educate and support them in regard to the impact of substance misuse and risk-taking behaviours. 5 March 2023 Inspection report children’s home: SC022438 8 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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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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

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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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)(a)(b)(c)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to the manager ensuring that records are accurately reviewed with robust oversight to identify shortfalls, evidence progression and highlight potential risk. The manager must also ensure that all staff have the necessary training to meet the needs of children and to support them effectively. 5 March 2023

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Requirement Due date

No measure of control or discipline which is excessive, unreasonable or contrary to paragraph (2) may be used in relation to any child.

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Requirement Due date

The following measures may not be used to discipline any child— 5 March 2023 Inspection report children’s home: SC022438 9 imposing a financial penalty, other than a requirement for the payment of a reasonable sum (which may be by instalments) by way of reparation. (Regulation 19 (1) (2)(f))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to the manager ensuring that punitive measures are not imposed, such as children’s finances being withheld.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to the manager ensuring that all staff members receive supervision and appraisals consistently. The manager must have a system in place to ensure that supervision records are readily available. 5 March 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

the date, time and location of 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;

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Requirement Due date

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 5 March 2023 Inspection report children’s home: SC022438 10 a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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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)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This relates directly to leaders and managers ensuring that they record restrictive practice on the relevant records to enable a review of safe practice.

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Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are kept up to date. (Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to the manager ensuring that rotas contain the full names of staff members working at the home. 5 March 2023

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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

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person 5 March 2023 Inspection report children’s home: SC022438 11 intends to take as a result of the quality of care review ("the quality of care review report"). (Regulation 45 (2)(a)(c) (3))

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Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to the manager ensuring that the views of children, parents and carers and professionals are sought, and that objectives identified for improvement are specific, measurable and improve the quality of care delivered to children.

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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 children’s home: SC022438 12

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: PIC Children’s Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2 North Street, Haydock, St Helens, Merseyside WA11 0TW

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Inspector

Kelly McCurdy, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC022438 13 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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