Children's Home run by Inspire Children’s Services Limited in St Helens

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1213828 1 Registered provider: Inspire Children’s Services 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 operated by a private provider. It is registered to provide care for up to three children who may have social and/or emotional difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been in post since December 2022 and her application for registration with Ofsted is currently in process.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 25 October 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: 1213828 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

Since the last inspection, the same three children have remained living here and they continue to make progress. However, there have been a number of staff changes as staff have moved on from the home, for a variety of reasons. This inevitably leads to instability for children, as those staff they have established positive relationships with are no longer working at the home.

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The care of children

Children attend school regularly. One child has moved schools since the last inspection and is making very good progress in their new school, which is more suited to their needs. Older children are completing vocational courses and thinking about what they want to do when they leave school.

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The care of children

Children live in a welcoming family environment. There has been some refurbishment of the home since the last inspection. This includes a new kitchen and new flooring in the bathroom, and the rear garden has been tidied, ready for children to spend time there in the summer. Children’s bedrooms are also individually personalised. This helps children to develop a sense of belonging.

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The care of children

Children are supported to develop positive relationships with each other, although they can sometimes be irritated by each other’s behaviours. When incidents do occur, staff spend time with each child and carry out restorative work with them, helping them to see the situation from the other child’s perspective. This has helped to improve their relationships. However, the same approach has not been taken when incidents have involved children and staff, potentially leaving unresolved issues that resurface later.

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The care of children

Children receive support to keep in touch with people who are important to them. They are helped to engage in activities of interest to them. Staff also ensure that children’s health needs are met, providing appropriate support in line with children’s age and independence.

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The safety of children

Children are not engaging in risk-taking behaviour. They do not put themselves at risk by going missing from the home or misusing drugs or alcohol. However, they remain vulnerable to exploitation and staff remain alert to this. Older children have mobile phones and access to the internet, but appropriate safeguards ensure that they use these devices safely. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1213828 3 Children benefit from behaviour support plans which ensure that staff know the best way to support each child. Children also have individualised incentive plans that reward progress in identified areas. Some low-level physical intervention has been required when children have been unable to regulate their behaviours. Records demonstrate the need for the intervention and contain the required detail. However, identified follow-up work with children has not always been completed.

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The safety of children

CCTV is installed on the outside of the property, as well as monitoring internally at the entry to the home and overnight outside children’s bedrooms. The appropriate consents have not been maintained for this. Furthermore, there is no CCTV policy outlining who can access the footage or how long it will be retained for. In addition, a key is currently required to unlock the back door to the home, potentially resulting in children being unable to exit the home in the event of an emergency.

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The safety of children

Shortfalls in staff recruitment were identified at the last inspection and concerns remain. A discrepancy in employment dates between an individual’s application and dates given by referees had not been identified or explored. Furthermore, the manager was unable to locate records relating to the induction of new employees.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

There have been changes to the management arrangements since the last inspection. The new manager was the former deputy, so knows the children and staff well. She has the necessary qualifications and experience. She has applied for registration with Ofsted.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The home has not had a deputy manager since the manager was promoted. This, along with staff shortages, has impacted on the manager’s ability to devote time to the monitoring and development of the home. Shortfalls in the manager’s monitoring and oversight of the home are evident. This includes missing information and failing to identify that medication records had not been fully completed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The staffing situation is improving. Recruitment is ongoing and staffing shortfalls have been covered either by staff from other homes or by using agency staff. However, staff rotas do not always contain the specific details of the relief staff who have worked in the home, as required by regulation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff meetings take place monthly and the manager has introduced a discussion at each meeting about a particular topic or area of research. One recent topic discussed was county lines, including indicators of concern to remain alert to. This helps to further develop staff knowledge and keep them updated.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Action has been taken to meet six of the requirements and two recommendations made at the last inspection. However, sufficient action has not been taken to address four requirements made at the last inspection and these have been restated. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1213828 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/10/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 21/03/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 13/04/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 19/02/2020 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1213828 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 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

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 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)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, that a stable staff team is established, reparation work is completed between children and staff following an incident and that the manager’s oversight identifies effectively and addresses actions that need completing in the home.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 8 May 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or 8 May 2023 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1213828 6 if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that gaps in employment are identified and explored and that full records are maintained regarding staff induction.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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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

Specifically, ensure the rota is accurate and up to date.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 8 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. 8 May 2023 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1213828 7 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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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)(d))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, that the external door to the rear of the home has a thumb-turn lock to enable children to exit the home in the event of a fire.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children;

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Requirement Due date

the child’s placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, consents are required for the use of internal door sensors and external CCTV. Also, a CCTV policy is required that is clear about access and retention of recorded footage. 8 May 2023 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1213828 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Inspire Children’s 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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Inspector

Mandy Williams, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1213828 9 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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