Children's home run by Potensial Limited in Wirral

Inspection report for children's home: 1221437 1 Registered provider: Potensial Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is operated by a large independent national provider. This home is registered to care for up to five children. The home operates as a short- breaks provider. There are currently 16 children who visit for short breaks and three children receiving extended breaks. During the inspection, three children were visiting.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2016.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 1221437 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/06/2022 Full Good 23/08/2021 Full Good 17/07/2019 Full Inadequate 19/12/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 1221437 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A stable, confident staff team supports children to enjoy their short breaks. Children are at the heart of care in this home. Staff know children well, and therefore how to support them. Children enjoy a range of varied activities. At the home, there is a large garden, well equipped for imaginative play, active play or even water play. Children have the opportunity to go on trips to the park, the beach and swimming pool. In school holidays, they go on trips further afield, to safari parks and theme parks.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Careful planning takes place when children join the service. This ensures staff know the information they need to plan safe and enjoyable breaks. Managers understand which children will enjoy spending time together, and help staff know how to support them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have clear targets to work towards. These often link to education targets, to avoid there being too many different demands on children. Photos help staff show parents and professionals the progress children make. Staff monitor children’s progress monthly and modify targets as children achieve them. However, some records do not make it clear why targets are not changed when it states they are met.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff seek feedback from children and use this to understand how they enjoy their visits. Parents say their children enjoy their short breaks. They say the care is ‘amazing’ and well planned for their children. Parents enjoy finding out about the new things children have done, and about the time they spend with friends.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is welcoming and child-centred. Rooms are personalised for children’s stays. Children have the same room each time they stay and this familiarity of routine helps them to settle. Repair work has been completed to the floor of one bathroom, however, the bath in the other still needs replacing.

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

Children’s behaviour is well managed. Clear plans show staff how to care for children during their stay. These documents help staff to create the right environment to give children positive experiences. When incidents do occur, staff receive debriefs which help managers identify learning. While there are clear records of incidents, the language used in the documents is not always child-friendly.

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

Managers support staff with regular conversations about safeguarding. This includes discussions about the purpose of body maps and what to do when there are concerns. This helps to maintain staff confidence in safeguarding children. Inspection report for children's home: 1221437 4 The home environment is safe and well maintained for children. All children have individual plans to help staff support them in the right way in the event of a fire. Children have opportunities to practise leaving the building safely, through regular fire drills. The manager consults with other agencies locally to consider the safety of the location.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

An experienced manager leads the home. Since the last inspection, leaders and managers applied to Ofsted to vary the conditions of the home’s registration. This was approved, and the home can now offer extended breaks to children who require more care. This supports children with more complex needs to live with their family for longer than might otherwise be possible. The needs of children remain central to the ethos of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff enjoy working in the home. They feel supported by the manager and each other. Staff understand the need to be flexible when planning for children’s care and support each other as a team to make children’s stays enjoyable. Staff receive regular supervision and training. Staff value the training, saying it offers them new ways of thinking.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have access to clear plans and information about children. This helps them to deliver consistent care that meets children’s needs. Managers attend children’s review meetings with other agencies and contribute towards the wider planning for children. Social workers speak highly of the support offered. They say it offers a home-from-home environment for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection, a new independent person has been carrying out visits to the home. Their reports provide the manager with challenge and scrutiny to drive improvement. Inspection report for children's home: 1221437 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that it is clear what progress children make against their targets so it can be seen when there is a need for new targets to be set. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.2)  The registered person should ensure that the remedial work needed in the upstairs bathroom is completed to provide children with a welcoming and homely environment. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that language used in documents is child- friendly. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: 1221437 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Potens, 68 Grange Road West, Birkenhead CH41 4DB

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Bettina Jeppesen

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Inspectors

Clare Nixson, Social Care Inspector Hazel Bailey, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 1221437 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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