Children's home run by Inspire Children’s Services Limited

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2594033 1 Registered provider: Inspire Childrens Services Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private company and provides care for up to three children who may have social and emotional difficulties and/or learning difficulties. Three children were living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since July 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 15 November 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 inspectors 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: 2594033 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 told the inspectors that they are happy and feel safe and well cared for. They have positive relationships with staff, who are responsive to each child’s emerging and current needs. However, an improved understanding of children’s experiences before coming to the home would further enhance the good support that children receive.

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The care of children

One child has moved into the home since the previous inspection. Improved systems for gathering pre-admission information have contributed to children being matched well with each other.

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The care of children

The children are settled and making good progress in many aspects of their lives. They are supported well to attend school and to keep in touch with the important people in their lives. They have new and exciting recreational experiences. One child spoke excitedly about playing for a local football team.

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The safety of children

Children benefit from the support of staff, whom they trust to help them stay safe. Risk assessments have been improved. This ensures that staff know what is expected of them when managing behaviours such as children going missing from home. Positively, children are making good choices in this respect, and incidents of risk-taking behaviour are extremely low.

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The safety of children

Overall, children are respectful of staff, each other and the rules of the home. Staff are positive role models, and positive behaviour is incentivised and rewarded. Negative behaviour is proportionately challenged. There is an improved focus on ensuring that consequences are negotiated and restorative in nature. All children said that the rules are fair.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The home is run by an experienced and suitably qualified manager, who is also registered for a second children’s home. The need for the manager to split his time between the two homes and the absence of a deputy manager mean that some administrative duties have suffered. For example, children’s records are not organised in a way that makes them easily accessible for staff, or for the inspectors during this inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Vacancies and staff absences mean that staffing has at times been challenging. Every effort has been made to ensure that the impact on children is kept to a Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2594033 3 minimum, for example by using the same agency workers whenever possible. Children did not express any concerns about this arrangement. Positively, two experienced staff have returned to work, and only one vacancy remains outstanding.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff spoke positively about their work and the manager. They benefit from regular supervision and have good access to mandatory and needs-led training opportunities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Better use of systems for reviewing care planning, children’s progress and the quality of care means that the manager knows what the home does well, but also recognises areas for improvement. A recent audit of the home has been completed, and the manager is in the process of implementing a well-thought-out action plan. This is work in progress, with several areas for improvement remaining outstanding.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Suitable action has been taken to address three of the four requirements and the four recommendations from the previous inspection. Some key documents, such as the placing authority care plan, the health assessment and the education, health and care plan, are still outstanding. The manager recognises the importance of this information to inform care planning and is taking steps to challenge where appropriate.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/11/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/12/2021 Interim Improved effectiveness 27/04/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2594033 4

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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 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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(e)(f)(g)(h)) 02 May 2023

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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. (Regulation 36 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person should ensure that all statutory records are obtained from each child’s placing local authority. 02 May 2023

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff understand each child’s experiences prior to coming to the home, and that staff use this information to inform care planning. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.5) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2594033 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Inspire Childrens Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 3, Craig Court, Standish Street, St Helens, Merseyside WA10 1GJ

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Inspectors

Paul Scott, Social Care Inspector Sally Mitchell, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2594033 6 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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