Children's Home run by St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council in St Helens

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC063550 1 SC063550

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St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority home is registered to provide care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, there were two children living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2022.

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This monitoring visit

At the assurance inspection on 28 March 2023, inspectors identified serious and widespread concerns in relation to the care and protection of children.

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This monitoring visit

Following the assurance inspection, two compliance notices were issued under section 22A of the Care Standards Act 2000. These related to regulation 12, the protection of children standard, and regulation 13, the leadership and management standard.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted also issued a notice restricting accommodation at the home. This notice had immediate effect from 28 March 2023 until 20 June 2023 inclusively.

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This monitoring visit

During this monitoring visit, the inspector confirmed that the registered provider had complied with the conditions of the restriction notice.

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This monitoring visit

The clarity of the children’s risk assessments has improved. Risk assessments now clearly identify individual risks for children and the strategies that staff should follow to reduce these risks. Staff understand children’s risks and have been proactive in their approach to managing risk. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC063550 2 Direct work has taken place to help children to understand risks and keep themselves safe. This is completed in a timely manner and there is relevant, reactive, and proactive work being undertaken.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have now received training in relevant subjects to develop their skills and knowledge in relation to children’s identified needs. There have been numerous opportunities for staff to reflect on the training that they have received.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has made improvements in the quality of their monitoring arrangements. The manager has greater oversight of significant events, including the actions taken following these.

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This monitoring visit

Two requirements that were made at the assurance inspection were not considered as part of this visit. Therefore, these are restated below.

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This monitoring visit

A case review was held following this visit. It was the decision of the case reviewer that the compliance notices have been met. The notice restricting accommodation at the home was lifted.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 17/08/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 29/03/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness 13/09/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 26/11/2019 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC063550 3

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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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand, in a way that is appropriate according to the child’s age and understanding, personal, sexual and social relationships, and how those relationships can be supportive or harmful; 2 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC063550 4 help each child to develop the understanding and skills to recognise or withdraw from a damaging, exploitative or harmful relationship;

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Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(ix))

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Requirement Due date

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

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

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Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(iv)(v)(viii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that children who do not attend school are supported to get back into education as soon as possible, and are encouraged to complete any home learning to support their learning.

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Requirement Due date

Further to this, the registered person must ensure that they have relevant plans in place to support understanding of children’s educational needs. 2 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC063550 5

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC063550 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Children & Young Peoples Services, Atlas House, 2 Corporation Street, St Helens, Merseyside WA9 1LD

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Inspector

Emma Thornton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC063550 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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