Children's home run by After Care (NW) Limited in Sefton

Inspection report for children’s home: SC037181 1 SC037181 Registered provider: After Care NW Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to two children with social, emotional and mental health needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since July 2014.

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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: SC037181 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/01/2022 Full Good 26/02/2020 Full Requires improvement to be good 17/05/2018 Full Good 31/10/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC037181 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is one child living in the home, and they have lived here throughout the period between inspections. They are making steady progress and feel settled. They said, ‘It’s a really nice place. The staff are great and I like living here.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff consult with the child to encourage them to be involved in planning and decision-making. The child attends a weekly meeting to plan their week ahead, and staff consider all requests made by the child. This ensures that the child feels listened to and valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is nicely decorated, warm and welcoming. However, the living room contains a bed that staff may use to sleep in. This may restrict the child’s access to communal areas in their home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help the child to access education. The child is engaging in full-time education and making progress. They are also making new friends and moving away from negative peer groups.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage the child to become more independent. The child is learning how to prepare their own meals and how to manage their own personal care needs. Furthermore, the staff team helps the child to maintain relationships with the people who are important to them. There is a focus on establishing the child’s support networks and links with agencies. This helps the child to prepare for their future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff raise the child’s awareness of diversity and inclusivity through regular discussions. This helps the child to develop their knowledge and understanding. It also promotes an inclusive and welcoming environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff are not aware of the local offer. This sets out the support available for children with special education needs or disabilities. This is a missed opportunity to access additional resources for the child.

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

When a risk arises in the child’s life, the manager reacts in a timely manner to ensure that there is a multi-agency response. Staff review safety plans and quickly put measures in place to help the child to keep safe. A social worker commented, ‘multi-agency work and communication from the team are really good; I never have to chase them up.’

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

The child said that they feel safe living in the home. Their care plans include therapeutic input. This ensures that staff have a better understanding of trauma and how they can support the child to overcome some of their emotional setbacks. Inspection report for children’s home: SC037181 4 There have been very few incidents of the child going missing from home in the reporting period. Staff understand how to respond if the child does go missing from home. Staff follow protocols to help the child to return home safe and well.

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

There have been no physical interventions in the inspection period. This means that staff are helping the child to regulate their emotions. This also helps staff to maintain a healthy and trusting relationship with the child.

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

Leaders and managers listen to the child and help them to reflect on incidents. This promotes the child’s self-awareness and helps them to manage their behaviour. This also helps to prevent incidents from reoccurring.

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

Staff use key-work sessions to educate the child about staying safe. This includes discussions relating to online risks and how the child can stay safe online. This is helping the child to build their online resilience.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is experienced and suitably qualified. They aspire for the child to be safe, happy and reach their full potential. This ethos and culture are shared by the capable and enthusiastic staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say that they feel fully supported by their leaders and managers. Staff have regular supervision and focus on the child’s needs and progress. Supervision also enables staff to discuss safeguarding concerns with their manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are suitably trained. Strong teamwork and good management support ensure that all staff are suitably equipped with the knowledge, skills and expertise to care for the child. One worker said, ‘I am proud to say that I have progressed and developed under [name of manager]’s help and guidance.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers regularly review and monitor the quality of the care provided. However, statutory plans for the child are not consistently up to date. This affects the child’s targets and overall planning.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers ensure that there are suitable levels of staffing in the home. However, the lone working risk management plan does not include a full assessment of risk when there is only one member of staff on duty.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Monthly team meetings for staff help them to provide consistent levels of care for the child. The meetings also help them to share good practice and support one another. Inspection report for children’s home: SC037181 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, 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 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 signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that the child’s health and education plans are up to date and on file. 7 April 2023

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that there are clear contingency plans in place when there is only one member of staff on duty. There should be a formal assessment of the risks and implications for children’s care. The assessment should be available for inspection by Ofsted. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.18)  The registered person should ensure that any decision to limit a child’s access to any area of the home is for safeguarding purposes only. Any such decisions should be informed by a rigorous assessment that is kept under regular review and properly recorded. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.10)  The registered person should make sure that managers and staff are aware of the local offer setting out the support available for children with special education

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Recommendations

needs and/or disabilities. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 26, paragraph 5.4)

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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 Inspection report for children’s home: SC037181 6 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: SC037181 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: After Care NW Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 45 Kensington Road, Southport, Lancashire PR9 0RT

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Timothy Blundell

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Inspector

Mark Woodbridge, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC037181 8 and 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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