Children's Home run by PIC Children’s Services in Sefton

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC040785 1 SC040785

p.1

Registered provider: PIC Children’s Services Limited

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private company. It is registered to provide care for up to two children who may experience social and/or emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2019.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 26 October 2022

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

p.1

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: SC040785 2

p.1

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.

p.2

The care of children

The child is happy living in the home. The child is regularly consulted about their care and feels listened to. The child is supported to develop positive relationships with the staff team.

p.2

The care of children

The child is helped to engage in a variety of activities, such as going to the beach and to the cinema. The staff team has supported the child to join different youth groups. This enables the child to develop positive friendships with peers who share similar interests.

p.2

The care of children

Staff recognise the importance of education. The child is supported to attend school. However, recently, there have been incidents which have resulted in the child being temporarily excluded. During these periods, the child has not been provided with work to complete at home. The manager has challenged the child’s education provider and is advocating on the child’s behalf to ensure that they receive sufficient support to meet their learning objectives.

p.2

The care of children

Staff support the child to express their views about the arrangements for their care and their plans. Staff work closely with the child and their placing authority to plan the child’s independence. The child is being supported to develop practical skills, such as budgeting and cooking.

p.2

The care of children

The child is in good health. They are regularly supported to attend health appointments. Direct work is carried out with the child to educate them around maintaining a healthy lifestyle and developing self-care skills.

p.2

The care of children

Staff support the child to spend time with their parent. They listen to the child’s views and wishes about family time and support them to safely spend time with their family.

p.2

The care of children

Improvements have been made in the home since the last inspection. The addition of new flooring and carpets has created a more homely feel. Further work is required in the kitchen and bathroom to ensure that the home is of a good standard throughout.

p.2

The safety of children

Staff are trained to meet the specific needs of the child. Overall, the child’s behaviours are managed safely and effectively. However, since the last inspection, there have been two occasions when the police have been called to the home to Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC040785 3 manage the child’s behaviour. The manager has evaluated these incidents and action was taken to temporarily increase staffing levels to provide additional support to the child.

p.2

The safety of children

The child benefits from the support they receive to safely self-regulate their feelings, emotions and behaviours. Risks associated with the child are well known and understood by staff. However, risk management plans do not include significant changes in the child’s behaviour. This limits their effectiveness and reduces opportunities for staff to work consistently to manage risks for the child.

p.3

The safety of children

The staff continue to help the child to make safer choices. Additional work has been carried out on internet safety after concerns were identified by the staff. The manager acted without delay in increasing security settings across devices.

p.3

The safety of children

Rotas do not always record the full names of staff. Anomalies were identified across all rotas since the last inspection. This has the potential to impact on the safeguarding of children in the event of a concern being raised.

p.3

The safety of children

Missing from home is not an area of concern. However, the staff have completed missing-from-home training and there is clear guidance in place on the action to take to safeguard the child based on his level of vulnerability.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager is a passionate and experienced leader who demonstrates positive relationships with the child and staff team.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Recording systems are disorganised. The child’s plans are not up to date, and their most recent personal education plan (PEP) had not been requested. This impacts on the effectiveness of monitoring the child’s progress and achieving targets in the home.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The use of some language in the child’s records is stigmatising and not always child friendly. The manager took swift action to address this to ensure that information about the child is recorded in a way that is non stigmatising and will be helpful to the child.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Sufficient action has not been taken to address shortfalls in staff supervision. Records fail to demonstrate reflective practice or if tasks are followed up. Opportunities to ensure that staff are guided or challenged to improve their practice have been missed.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Monthly independent visits take place. However, reports are not always received by Ofsted as required by regulation and lack feedback from stakeholders.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Team meetings take place monthly. However, minutes and action plans are repetitive and lack detail. The manager was unable to demonstrate the value of meetings or if Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC040785 4 staff read the minutes. This is a missed opportunity to support and develop the staff team and to improve practice in the home.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager has not made sufficient progress to meet five requirements made at the last inspection and they have been restated. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC040785 5

p.4

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/10/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 15/03/2022 Full Good 12/03/2020 Interim Improved effectiveness 29/05/2019 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC040785 6

p.5

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 must comply within the given timescales.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

maintain regular contact with each child’s education and training provider, including engaging with the provider and the placing authority to support the child’s education and training and to maximise the child’s achievement. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(vi))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to the manager ensuring that an up- to-date PEP is requested and incorporated into the child’s plans.

p.6

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 21 May 2023

p.6

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.6

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; 21 May 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC040785 7 understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

p.6

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)(a)(i)(v)(d))

p.7

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the manager must ensure that the home is a clean, welcoming and homely environment. In particular, the bathroom and kitchen require refurbishment.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The manager must ensure that risk management plans are accurately reviewed to include details of any changes in behaviours to support the staff in managing risk.

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

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—

p.7

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.7

Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

p.7

Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

p.7

Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

p.7

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)(f)(g)(i)(h)) 21 May 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC040785 8 Specifically, the manager must have good oversight of records and ensure that information is recorded in a non- stigmatising way.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The manager must ensure that team meetings are a resource to share good practice and research and development is used to improve the home and support delivered to children.

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

p.8

Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

p.8

Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)(c))

p.8

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the manager must ensure that all staff members receive supervision and appraisals consistently and within timescales. In addition, supervision records must be detailed and reflect discussions that have taken place.

p.8

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 21 May 2023

p.8

Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

p.8

Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4;

p.8

Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are kept up to date. (Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a)(b))

p.8

Requirement Due date

This relates to the manager ensuring that rotas contain the full names of staff members working in the home.

p.8

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 21 May 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC040785 9 The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

p.8

Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

p.9

Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires.

p.9

Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to—

p.9

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the manager must ensure that reports are received by Ofsted within timescale and include the feedback of parents/carers and professionals. 21 May 2023

p.9

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the home’s records on each child represent a significant contribution to their life history. In particular, ensure that children’s files are in good order. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.5) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC040785 10

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider: PIC Children’s Services Limited

p.10

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2 North Street, Haydock, St Helens, Merseyside WA11 0TW

p.10

Inspector

Kelly McCurdy, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC040785 11 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.

p.10

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.11

Inspector

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.11

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.11

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.11