Children's home run by After Care (NW) Limited in Sefton

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC063673 1 SC063673 Registered provider: After Care NW Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to four children with social and emotional needs.

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Information about this children’s home

There is no registered manager. The manager in post has submitted an application to register with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

On the 28 March 2023, Ofsted carried out an assurance inspection. Serious and widespread failures were identified. As a result, compliance notices were issued in relation to regulation 12, the protection of children standard, and regulation 13, the leadership and management standard. This monitoring visit was carried out to review the provider’s response to meeting the compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

During this visit, Ofsted found improvements had been made, and the compliance notices had been met overall with progress made.

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This monitoring visit

One child has left the home since the last inspection. At the time of this visit, two children were living there. Both children said that they ‘like living in the home’ and ‘feel safe, looked after and cared for’. A social worker spoke positively of the communication from staff and the improvements in safeguarding children.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have been able to build positive relationships with children. Individualism is supported and celebrated. Children take part in discussions, building on their understanding of the risks and dangers involved when they are missing from home. Both children know how to seek help if they are away from home. This helps children to understand their own vulnerabilities and promotes their safety in the longer term. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC063673 2 The full names of staff and working hours of waking staff are not recorded on the rotas. This does not meet regulation and makes it difficult to review who is working in the home.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have increased staff in the home, including waking night staff who are suitably qualified. This means that there is sufficient staff in the home to provide care for each child. However, there is still an inconsistent approach from staff searching for children who are missing for long periods and through the night. In addition, staff are not consistently sharing information when leaving. This means that new staff coming in are not always aware of pertinent information for the day ahead.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, managers have improved monitoring and review systems. However, managers have not used all the information available when evaluating whether staff have taken appropriate action to locate children who are missing. This is a missed opportunity for reflection and learning from staff.

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This monitoring visit

Previous requirements made at the assurance inspection have not been reviewed at this visit. They will be reviewed at the next full inspection. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC063673 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/05/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 24/03/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 23/11/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 11/06/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC063673 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, the 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

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. (Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the full names of staff and actual hours worked, including waking night staff, are clearly recorded on rosters. 16 July 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

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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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)(v)(vi)(b)) 16 July 2023 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC063673 5 In particular, the registered person should ensure that staff work consistently when children are missing from home for long periods and through the night.

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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 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 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c) (h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that there is effective oversight and review of the steps staff take to safeguard children when reported missing from home.

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Requirement Due date

Also, ensure that information is handed over effectively between staff. 16 July 2023

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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

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study; 16 July 2023 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC063673 6 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; and

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Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(x))

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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 develop the understanding and skills to recognise or withdraw from a damaging, exploitative or harmful relationship; 16 July 2023 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC063673 7 strive to gain each child’s respect and trust;

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(vii)(viii)(ix)(xi))

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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: SC063673 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: After Care NW Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 45 Kensington Road, Southport, Lancashire PR9 0RT

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Timothy Blundell

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Inspectors

Jennifer Quest, Social Care Inspector Sylvia Eboigbe, Regulatory Inspection Manager Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC063673 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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