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

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC042652 1 SC042652

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Information about this children's home

This home is operated by a private company. The home provides care for up to three children. It specialises in caring for children who may have social and emotional needs.

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This monitoring visit

This children's home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 17 and 18 May 2023. Since then, there have been a number of improvements made by staff and managers to the care provided to children. The manager is now in the process of registering with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, there have been appropriate responses from staff when children have been at risk. Staff have sought the involvement of health professionals and have made referrals to external services for additional support.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have taken appropriate action to ensure that staff are trained to meet children’s needs and risks. This means that children are now cared for by staff who know how to keep them safe.

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This monitoring visit

There has been a reduction in the number of times children have been missing from home. When children are missing, there is a proportionate response from staff. Staff actively search for children, contact known associates as well as the police. This helps reduce the amount of time that children are missing from home.

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This monitoring visit

Managers and staff have taken action to ensure children have clear plans and routines in place. One child told the inspector that there is now more of a focus on children engaging in meaningful activities. Children are also encouraged to improve their independence skills.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have redesigned working documents to support them to quality assure the care given to children. However, there is limited support from senior managers to Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC042652 2 support the manager in her role. This means that there are missed opportunities to from senior managers to monitor an evaluate the care provided to children.

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This monitoring visit

A case review was held on 14 July 2023. The compliance notices have been met. Some of the requirements made at the previous inspection will be reviewed at the next full inspection.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 17/05/2023 Full Inadequate 09/08/2022 Full Good 27/09/2021 Full Good 03/03/2020 Full Good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC042652 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

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs;

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that requests for missing statutory documents are escalated quickly. 15 August 2023

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Requirement Due date

the privacy of children is appropriately protected;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home;

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Requirement Due date

is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and 15 August 2023 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC042652 4 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))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that the kitchen door is not locked.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to—

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Requirement Due date

HMCI. (Regulation 44 (1) (7)(a)) 15 August 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person should ensure that the quality of care review incorporates feedback from children. The quality of care review should be evaluative in nature and should identify learning from the past six months. This should then be carried forward to create an action plan with clear, measurable goals. 15 August 2023

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that that the home’s decor is homely and personalised to reflect each child residing in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC042652 5 and clear recording. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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.

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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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Inspector(s)

Rob Neild, social care inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC042652 6 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(s)

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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

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