Children's Home run by Considerate Care Limited in Liverpool

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC059261 1 SC059261

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Registered provider: Considerate 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 owned and provides care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since April 2016.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 20 September 2022

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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: SC059261 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

At the time of this inspection, three children were living at the home. Children were happy to speak to the inspector and talked about being happy and safe in their home.

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The care of children

Children develop good relationships with the staff team. They can talk openly about their feelings. Children are developing their social skills while building resilience and self-confidence.

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The care of children

Staff promote children’s education. Children who have previously not engaged in education are now attending suitable provisions. However, when children are not in full-time education, the provider does not ensure that additional plans are in place for learning. This is a missed opportunity for each child to learn informally.

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The care of children

The home is spacious and well maintained. Since the last inspection, the home has been decorated and refurbished throughout. Items have been purchased which reflect the children’s personal tastes.

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The care of children

Children’s health and well-being are promoted by staff. Statutory health assessments have been carried out, and children are supported to attend required medical appointments. This has led to improvements in children’s physical and emotional health.

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The care of children

The inspector observed positive relationships between the children and staff. This creates a warm and relaxed environment where children can talk openly to staff.

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The safety of children

Children are safe and well cared for. Individual risk assessments are followed by staff, and strategies are effective in reducing risks. Appropriate safety and monitoring measures are in place to ensure that children are safe and protected. However, some risk assessments contain out-of-date information, and missing-from- home plans are not individualised. This makes it difficult to identify specific risks relating to each child.

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The safety of children

Incident reports are detailed and include any lessons learned to improve practice. Staff listen to children and help them to reflect on incidents. This promotes children’s self-awareness and helps them to manage their behaviour.

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The safety of children

Children receive positive praise and recognition for their achievements and progress. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC059261 3

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

At the time of the visit, the manager was not in work. The responsible individual and a manager from another home are supporting the running of the home in the manager’s absence. This cover is effective.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff describe managers as ‘helpful’ and ‘approachable’ and say that communication is good. The manager ensures that staff receive regular supervision, and regular team meetings take place. These opportunities enable the staff to discuss important issues and share information effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Since the last inspection, staff have completed a wide range of training. Training is now specific to children’s needs. This means that the staff team has developed the relevant knowledge and skills to be able to meet children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Internal monitoring is good. The manager has made improvements to the home’s documentation since the last inspection. She has developed systems to help show children’s progress. However, the staff rota does not include the actual hours worked by staff and does not always state which agency staff are on shift.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

There are still gaps in staffing, and shifts are regularly covered by staff from other homes and agency staff. This means that children are not cared for by a stable or consistent staff team. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC059261 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/09/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 08/03/2022 Full Good 22/10/2019 Full Good 13/12/2018 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC059261 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 education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

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Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(iv)(v)(viii)(x))

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Requirement Due date

The provider must ensure that education plans are followed and are up to date. 1 May 2023

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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. 1 May 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC059261 6 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

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

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

The provider must ensure that children’s risk assessments are regularly updated and remain current to their needs.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4. (Regulation 37 (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

The provider must demonstrate all hours that all staff have worked on rotas, including managers. 1 May 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC059261 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Considerate Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Keys PCE Limited, Maybrook House, Second Floor, Queensway, Halesowen, West Midlands B63 4AH

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Inspector

Jessica Higginson, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC059261 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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