Children's Home run by Hapin Care Limited in Wirral

Inspection report for children’s home: 2527654 1 Registered provider: Hapin Care Limited Full inspection 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 two children who experience social and emotional difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2021.

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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: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2527654 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/04/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 24/01/2022 Interim Declined in effectiveness 17/08/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 05/02/2020 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2527654 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children were living in the home at the time of this inspection. They are making good progress living in this nurturing and happy home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are introduced to the home through careful planning and consideration of their individual needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff understand the needs of the children and know how to help each child get the best out of life. The day-to-day work carried out with the children is of a good quality. There are high levels of respect, compassion and acceptance. Children sense that the staff care ‘about’ them, not just ‘for’ them. One child said: ‘I know they care about me; they show me every day.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy good health. Their health needs are well considered and met by staff. Staff work closely and proactively with a variety of health services. This includes the in-house therapist, who works with the children and staff to ensure that children’s emotional and psychological needs are met. This supports children’s physical and emotional well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children have an identified education provision and staff have supported them to maintain high levels of attendance. Children who have been absent from education for long periods are now enjoying education and one child has recently completed his GCSEs and has been accepted into the sixth form for the coming year. A parent commented: ‘The staff have been incredible. I am so proud that my child is going to school now and doing well.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to spend time with people who are important to them. Staff understand that relationships may be complex. Staff help to strengthen family relationships, resulting in children spending more unsupervised time with family members.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children take part in beneficial and enjoyable activities, such as visits to cinema, meals out and football. One of the children enjoyed going with a staff member to an executive box to watch his favourite football team. Another child is involved in a majorettes group and has been awarded ‘best dancer’ on several occasions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is well decorated, warm and welcoming. Children’s bedrooms are decorated to reflect their individual interests. This gives children a secure base and a sense of stability and belonging. Inspection report for children’s home: 2527654 4

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

Staff have successfully developed good, trusting relationships with the children. The children benefit from good daily routines that provide structure to their lives. Children feel safe and have confidence in staff’s abilities to look after them.

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

Staff are trained and skilled in identifying safeguarding concerns. They know how and when to take action if there are concerns about a child’s welfare.

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

Risk assessments for children are detailed and provide guidance for staff on managing risk. Staff enable children to take age-appropriate risks and gain trust, which helps them to develop their independence and confidence.

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

The risk assessment of the local area is regularly reviewed and is of good quality. The manager has included information shared by the local police. This assessment provides detailed guidance regarding any risks in the local community. Staff use this knowledge to help children to understand these risks and recognise any potential dangers.

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

There has been a significant reduction in the frequency of children going missing from the home. A social worker commented: ‘There has been a huge shift in behaviour and the risk involved in going missing has massively decreased.’

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

Staff are focused on encouraging positive behaviour. Rewards are used when children have made significant progress, such as good school attendance. When consequences have been used, they are fair and proportionate. One child said: ‘It’s fair enough when I have been acting up and they let me earn back my internet time if I behave, so it’s up to me.’

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

When recruiting new staff, the manager ensures that all appropriate checks are in place before employment commences. The provider has a robust induction programme in place for new staff. However, on one occasion a new staff member commenced working with the children before starting the induction programme or completing the mandatory training.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by an experienced and qualified manager. Leaders and managers are dedicated in their work with the children and want them to do well in life.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staffing is consistent and well planned. There is a small team in place. Staff feel happy with the support they receive from the management team. This includes effective supervision and reflection on their performance. Consequently, there is a positive culture for staff, led by a supportive registered manager. Staff also benefit from regular child-centred staff meetings.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff have good and strong partnerships with parents and external professional agencies. They share information and establish effective channels of communication. Inspection report for children’s home: 2527654 5 A parent said: ‘They [staff] involve me in all decisions and I feel part of my child’s life again.’ A social worker commented: ‘The communication is second to none. They are excellent at keeping me updated and this helps tremendously in care planning.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals and parents speak highly of the care and support that the children receive. They say that managers and staff support children in all aspects of their care. The staff value the children, are nurturing and caring and enjoy children’s company. Family and professional visitors are warmly welcomed to the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Management oversight is generally good. Records are monitored regularly by the manager, with meaningful evaluation and comment. Internal and external monitoring systems are used to review progress. This oversight ensures that ongoing improvements are made. However, some records reviewed by the inspector were not signed or dated by the authors and the staff rota did not identify the full names of staff. These shortfalls did not impact on the care or outcomes for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager’s oversight of the security of the medication cabinet is inconsistent. During the inspection, the inspector observed the key left in the lock of the cabinet. None of the children require any prescribed medication. However, on examination of the contents, the inspector found expired throat lozenges. The registered manager acknowledged this shortfall and immediately put in place procedures for management checks to take place on the contents of the cabinet. Inspection report for children’s home: 2527654 6

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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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

medicines kept in the home are stored in a secure place so as to prevent any child from having unsupervised access to them. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(a)) 5 September 2023

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that good employment practice is maintained. In particular, ensure that new staff members complete the provider’s induction programme and undertake mandatory training. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1 )  The registered person should ensure that the author of any record clearly shows their name and date. The staff rota should clearly identify staff by using their full names. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3 )

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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: 2527654 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Suite 304A Business First, 25 Goodlass Road, Liverpool L24 9HJ

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Inspector

Elaine Allison, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2527654 8 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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