Children's home run by Exceptional Care Limited

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2627967 1 Registered provider: Exceptional 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 is a private children’s home that is registered to care for up to two children who may find it difficult to manage their emotions, which has a negative effect on their behaviour. Two children were living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 28 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 these inspections, 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. The inspector has 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: 2627967 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

Children are well supported, and the care that they receive is making a positive difference to their lives. One child said, ‘It is good living here. Staff are friendly and there are always people around that I can talk to. It is just a nice place to live. Nothing could be better.’

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The care of children

Children benefit from the care and support from staff that understand and respond to their individual needs. This is done in a way that makes children feel valued and respected as individuals.

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The care of children

Both children have made good progress overall. They have re-engaged in education and are currently being supported to make college applications. They are making positive decisions about their lives and are well supported to prepare for adult life.

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The care of children

Formal pathway planning has not yet started for one child. The manager recognises that he has a role in ensuring that this is done within statutory timescales. However, he has not escalated his concerns about the potential delay with the child’s placing authority.

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The safety of children

Children say that they feel safe. They are confident in staff’s ability to keep them safe and identify key staff who they would go to if they had any serious concerns.

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The safety of children

The manager and staff understand and take seriously their safeguarding responsibilities. They have a good understanding of the support each child needs.

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The safety of children

Negotiated, age-appropriate strategies that are designed to reduce and manage risk are consistently implemented. The effectiveness of this approach is evident in the significant reduction in risks that could be seen before the children began living at this home. This includes going missing from the home, child sexual exploitation, criminal behaviour and substance misuse. A parent wrote, ‘While [name of child] has to be credited for changing things for the better, none of this would have been possible without the help and support offered by the staff.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager is in the process of registering with Ofsted. He is experienced and holds a level 5 management qualification. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2627967 3 Effective monitoring and oversight are maintained by the manager. He has a good understanding of the strengths of the home and is focused on improving quality of care. Action taken to address the six requirements and one recommendation from the previous inspection is testament to this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff benefit from effective support and formal supervision. They have good access to training. This includes needs-led topics such as child sexual exploitation, helping children stay safe online and substance misuse. This ensures that staff have the necessary skills to understand and respond to each child’s known needs, behaviours, risks and vulnerabilities. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2627967 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/09/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 01/03/2022 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2627967 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the placing authority starts the child’s pathway planning process within statutory timescales. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 12, paragraph 2.8) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2627967 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Exceptional Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Malthouse Business Centre, Southport Road, Ormskirk L39 1QR

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Inspector

Paul Scott, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2627967 7 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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