Children's Home run by Building Bridges Care Homes Ltd in St Helens

Inspection report for children’s home: 1250035 1 Registered provider: Building Bridges Care Homes Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties. The home is privately owned and managed.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

p.1

inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

p.1

inadequate

There are serious and widespread failures that mean children and young people are not safeguarded and the care and experiences of children and young people are poor.

p.1

inadequate

Date of last inspection: 14 February 2023

p.1

inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1250035 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/02/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 09/11/2021 Full Good 21/01/2020 Interim Declined in effectiveness 09/05/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1250035 3

p.2

inadequate

At the time of the inspection, four children were living in the home. Staff do not develop positive relationships with all the children. This has a negative impact on children. One child said that she did not like living in the home and that she wanted to move out.

p.3

inadequate

Children do not have positive routines or structure to their days. Inspectors observed that children stayed in their bedrooms until the afternoon. Poor routines and sleep patterns negatively affect children’s well-being and progress. Children also use inappropriate language towards staff that goes unchallenged.

p.3

inadequate

Before children move into the home, managers do not fully consider their risks when assessing their suitability. As a result, children have adversely affected one another and prevented others from making progress. One child complained that children in the home had bullied her.

p.3

inadequate

Not all children are currently attending or engaging in education. When children are not in school, staff are not able to engage them in structured daily activities. Education planners do not provide children with a specific timetable of activities.

p.3

inadequate

The manager restricts children’s privacy and access by locking internal doors, including children’s bedroom doors and the kitchen door. This affects children’s relationships with staff and their emotional well-being.

p.3

inadequate

The manager uses CCTV surveillance equipment in the home. This captures images of all areas surrounding the home, including the back garden. However, children’s placing authorities have not agreed to this by providing written consent. This also intrudes on children’s privacy.

p.3

inadequate

One child recently moved from the home into semi-independent accommodation. Another child is preparing to move out later in the year. They recently painted the garden fence and received a financial reward from the staff.

p.3

How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Leaders and managers do not ensure that children are protected from harm. They do not take appropriate steps to manage and reduce risks to children’s safety. For example, there are locks on doors that may prevent children from evacuating the home safely in the event of a fire. The self-close mechanism on one child’s bedroom door is damaged and no longer works effectively.

p.3

How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Managers do not update children’s risk management plans following incidents. This means that staff are unable to follow agreed strategies to manage children’s Inspection report for children’s home: 1250035 4 vulnerabilities. For example, one child is at risk of misusing aerosols. Staff do not follow a plan to manage this risk, despite the seriousness of the risk to the child. This hinders staff’s ability to respond to incidents and puts children at increased risk of harm.

p.3

How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Staff did not respond appropriately when a child raised a serious concern relating to online harm. Staff did not share the information with the child’s social worker. The provider also failed to notify Ofsted. The failure to respond to significant concerns affects children’s safety and well-being.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Staff help children to regulate their behaviour through regular key-work sessions. However, staff do not speak to children about current vulnerabilities, such as aerosol misuse. This means that children do not consistently receive help to stay safe.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Some areas of the home are welcoming and spacious. The garden and sensory room provide children with comfortable areas to relax in. However, three of the children’s bedrooms are very untidy, and the upstairs bathroom is unkempt. This detracts from the environment being safe, homely and nurturing for children to live in.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Physical interventions with children are extremely rare. Staff only use physical intervention as a last resort. However, staff are not trained in restraint, and this could compromise children’s safety.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The home has been without a registered manager since February 2023. An acting manager has been in post since April 2023 although they have not submitted an application to register with Ofsted.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Management oversight of the home is poor. Leaders and manager’s monitoring and review systems are not effective. Several documents are not up to date, including the workforce development plan. Some children do not have relevant plans in place. This does not support leaders and staff to monitor children’s experiences and progress to ensure children reach their full potential.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Several requirements made at the last inspection are repeated. Leaders and managers have not demonstrated that they have taken appropriate action to address the shortfalls identified during previous inspections.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders have not submitted the statement of purpose to Ofsted following changes to the staffing structure and new approaches used by managers. This has prevented appropriate oversight, monitoring and review by the regulator.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager is not leading and managing the home in a manner that is consistent with the aims outlined in the statement of purpose. This affects children’s overall experiences and progress. Inspection report for children’s home: 1250035 5 Staff generally feel supported in their roles and attend regular supervision meetings with managers. They also attend team meetings to share their knowledge and discuss current issues.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff have not completed all their core training or training related specifically to children’s needs. This affects their ability to understand and respond to children’s needs.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager provides a quality-of-care review report. However, this does not consistently include or evaluate the opinions of children, their parents and the placing authorities. This is a missed opportunity for the manager to evaluate a range of opinions and improve children’s care. Inspection report for children’s home: 1250035 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, 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 within the given timescales.

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;

p.6

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

p.6

Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

p.6

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;

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)ii)(iii)(vi)(vii)(b)(d))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 2 July 2023

p.6

Requirement Due date

*The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires, and leads a culture in 2 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 1250035 7 relation to the children’s home that—

p.6

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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose.

p.7

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; 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)(a)(c)(f)(g)(ii)(h))

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children-

p.7

Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set 2 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 1250035 8 out in the home’s statement of purpose.

p.7

Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed;

p.8

Requirement Due date

that the child’s placing authority is contacted, and a review of that child’s relevant plans is requested, if—

p.8

Requirement Due date

the registered person considers that the child is at risk of harm or has concerns that the care provided for the child is inadequate to meet the child’s needs. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(e)(i))

p.8

Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to the registered manager ensuring that pre-admission planning robustly considers the needs of any new child and those of all children already living in the home, and how any risks can be managed.

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

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;

p.8

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;

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

p.8

Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans. 2 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 1250035 9 (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(x))

p.8

Requirement Due date

When a child is not attending school, the staff need to support them to engage in home learning and independent study and provide them with educational activities. This should form part of a daily routine and structure.

p.9

Requirement Due date

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

p.9

Requirement Due date

the privacy of children is appropriately protected;

p.9

Requirement Due date

children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises; and

p.9

Requirement Due date

any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises—

p.9

Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home;

p.9

Requirement Due date

is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and

p.9

Requirement Due date

allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21 (a)(b)(c)(i)(ii)(iv))

p.9

Requirement Due date

Specifically, to ensure that that children have access to fire exits, bedrooms and communal areas at all times. 2 July 2023

p.9

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

p.9

Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

p.9

Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

p.9

Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

p.9

Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child — 2 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 1250035 10 is instigated; or

p.9

Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

p.10

Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii))

p.10

Requirement Due date

This relates to the registered person ensuring that regulation 40 notifications are sent to Ofsted without delay.

p.10

Requirement Due date

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

p.10

Requirement Due date

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

p.10

Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

p.10

Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

p.10

Requirement Due date

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

p.10

Requirement Due date

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

p.10

Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

p.10

Requirement Due date

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

p.10

Requirement Due date

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

p.10

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;

p.10

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand, in a way that is appropriate 2 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 1250035 11 according to the child’s age and understanding, personal, sexual and social relationships, and how those relationships can be supportive or harmful;

p.10

Requirement Due date

help each child to develop the understanding and skills to recognise or withdraw from a damaging, exploitative or harmful relationship;

p.11

Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child’s respect and trust;

p.11

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;

p.11

Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children;

p.11

Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(ix)(xi))

p.11

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.11

Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

p.11

Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

p.11

Requirement Due date

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

p.11

Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

p.11

Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

p.11

Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

p.11

Requirement Due date

treat each child with dignity and respect;

p.11

Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background; 2 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 1250035 12 help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect;

p.11

Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

p.12

Requirement Due date

make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vii)(ix))

p.12

Requirement Due date

In particular, that the statement of purpose is kept up to date and that the quality of care is delivered in accordance with this document.

p.12

Requirement Due date

The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

p.12

Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home; and

p.12

Requirement Due date

is not, or does not intend to be, in day-to-day charge of the home.

p.12

Requirement Due date

If the registered provider appoints a person to manage the home, the registered provider must, without delay, give HMCI notice of—

p.12

Requirement Due date

the name of the person so appointed; and

p.12

Requirement Due date

the date on which the appointment takes effect. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii) (2)(a)(b))

p.12

Requirement Due date

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

p.12

Requirement Due date

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

p.12

Requirement Due date

the child’s placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance; 2 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 1250035 13 the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(b)(d))

p.12

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that CCTV is only used in accordance with this regulation, with full consideration for the privacy and welfare of the children.

p.13

Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

p.13

Recommendations

 The registered person should complete a review of the quality of care every six months, which considers the opinions of children, their parents, local authorities and staff. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.2)  The registered person should ensure that they keep their workforce development plan up to date, in accordance with the requirements of regulation 16, schedule 1. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)

p.13

Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the social care common inspection framework. This 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’. Inspection report for children’s home: 1250035 14

p.13

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Building Bridges Care Homes Limited

p.14

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Mill Farm, Bull Bridge Lane, Liverpool L10 6LZ

p.14

Inspectors

Mark Woodbridge, Social Care Inspector Sarah Jackson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1250035 15 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.14

Inspectors

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 . 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.15

Inspectors

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

p.15

Inspectors

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

p.15