Children's home run by Metropolitan Borough of Wirral in Wirral

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC035954 1 SC035954

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Registered provider: Metropolitan Borough of Wirral

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This service provides short-term breaks for up to six children. The provider states in their statement of purpose that they provide care for children who may have physical disabilities and/or complex learning disabilities. In addition, the home also provides accommodation on a permanent basis for up to three children. The local authority owns and manages this home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 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 these inspections, 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: SC035954 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

There is effective matching and planning in place when children move in and out of the home. Managers and staff ensure that there are regular tea visits in place prior to children moving in or accessing their short break. When children move on from the home, this is celebrated by parties and gifts for the children to recognise their time spent in the home.

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The care of children

At the last inspection, inspectors identified a lack of up-to-date education, health and care plans on file for children. The manager was taking action to address this with the local authority. However, some children still do not have an up-to-date plan. As a result, staff do not have all the accurate information about the children’s needs.

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The care of children

The home has recently undergone some redecoration in the lounge area. This gives the home a bright and welcoming feel. There are still some areas of the home where work is yet to be completed. The manager has a schedule of work in place for this. Additionally, the staff have worked with an outside company to source specialist padding for some of the beds. As a result, this helps children to sleep safely and comfortably.

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The care of children

Children’s views of the home are understood, and the management team has introduced new feedback forms in various communication formats. This means that children can share their views with staff regularly.

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The safety of children

Risks are understood by staff, who know the children well. Since the last inspection, the manager has improved these documents. Staff understand what action they must take when a child protection concern arises. However, there is further work to be done around clearer identification of risks, and the manager must ensure that these are individualised to each child. This is a repeat requirement and has been restated.

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The safety of children

Staff use a range of de-escalation techniques to help children when they are upset or distressed. There are individualised behaviour support plans in place. Consequently, the use of restraint is very minimal.

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The safety of children

The manager has ensured that improvements have been made in obtaining all the correct information for staff prior to them starting in the home. However, inspectors found that not all staff have references on file in line with safer recruitment guidelines. A recommendation has been made to address this. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC035954 3

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

There is an experienced and suitably qualified manager in the home. Since the last inspection, she has registered with Ofsted.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The staff spoke about the positive changes that the new manager has started to implement in the home. Staff say that they work well together, and the manager is flexible and provides guidance.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager has made some changes to incident records, and the quality in the recording of these records has improved. However, more work is required around her oversight of these documents, including risk management plans. Furthermore, the manager must ensure that all staff complete restraint training. This is repeat requirement and has been restated.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager is making good use of external and internal monitoring. She has recently used recommendations made from her monthly independent visits to enhance children’s feedback forms, and improvements have been made to ensure that there is regular in-house auditing on children’s case files and medication.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Feedback from professionals is positive. One professional said, ‘They always put children first.’ This is a strength of the home. Furthermore, they said that staff work collaboratively with families and professionals, and there is good communication.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/08/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 30/03/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 12/10/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 08/01/2020 Full Outstanding Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC035954 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

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to obtaining all up-to-date education, health and care plans for children. 5 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.

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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

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

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, risk management plans should be individualised to each child and clearly identify all specific risks. 5 May 2023

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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— 5 May 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC035954 5 ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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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 (2)(c)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager must ensure she has full oversight across all children’s records, and that staff are suitably trained.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they maintain good employment practice in respect of recruitment of staff that safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC035954 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Metropolitan Borough of Wirral

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, Education Department, Hamilton Building, Conway Street, BIRKENHEAD, Merseyside CH41 4FD

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Inspectors

Judith Birchall, Social Care Inspector Jennifer Gadsby, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC035954 7 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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