Children's Home run by Inspire Children’s Services Limited in St Helens

Inspection report for children’s home: 1213828 1 Registered provider: Inspire Children’s Services 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 three children who may have social and emotional difficulties and learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

There were three children living in the home at the time of inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager since 30 November 2022. There is an interim manager in post who has submitted his application to register with Ofsted.

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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 requires improvement to be good

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: 25 October 2022

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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: 1213828 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/10/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 21/03/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 13/04/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 19/02/2020 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1213828 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one child has moved out of the home and one child has moved in. Children who move into the home have opportunities to visit the home and meet the staff prior to moving in. Professionals say that staff and children warmly welcome new children when they arrive at the home. This helps children to settle quickly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child’s placement ended earlier than anticipated. The provider did not communicate effectively with the placing authority to provide opportunities to help the child to remain in the home. However, staff supported the child to prepare for the move. As a result, the child experienced a positive transition.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children say that they are happy, have adults who they can talk to, and feel listened to. Staff have built positive relationships with children and want the best for them. One social worker said, ‘Staff provide unconditional support to children.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There have been several changes to the staff team, and children said that it had been a difficult time. The interim manager has worked hard to establish a new consistent staff team.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children attend school and are making progress. Staff support children to plan for further education and employment opportunities. Independence is promoted in line with each child’s age and abilities. This ensures that children have the necessary life skills in preparation for adult life.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a range of activities. Staff provide opportunities for children to have fun and engage in activities of interest, including horse riding and gymnastics. Staff engage with children positively, including through role play and arts and crafts. Staff promote relationships between children through days out to the park, visits to places of interest, and trips to the beach to build sandcastles.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to spend time with family and friends. Staff ensure that arrangements are in line with children’s plans and are safe. Staff have positive relationships with parents and family members. This enables children to develop a sense of belonging and positive identity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is spacious. Children’s bedrooms are personalised to their taste. However, there are areas that require attention to ensure that the home is a clean, welcoming, and homely environment. The sofas in the living area appear dirty and the walls in communal areas need to be repainted. The garden is not maintained or equipped for children to enjoy spending time outside. The interim manager and deputy have identified areas for improvement, which will enhance the home environment for the children. Inspection report for children’s home: 1213828 4

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

Children feel safe. Staff understand risks and vulnerabilities for children and understand how to protect them. Written plans and assessments provide clear guidance for staff to follow.

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

Staff work with children to develop their understanding of risks in an age- appropriate way. Ongoing discussions on topics such as online safety, appropriate relationships, behaviour and exploitation, support children in making positive choices and increasing their knowledge.

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

Staff provide support to children to manage their emotions and behaviour. Staff respond in a calm way to ensure that children have time and space to regulate their emotions. Staff develop strategies to support children in an effective way, such as going for a drive or utilising sensory toys. The positive and consistent strategies used by staff mean that staff do not physically restrain children.

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

The interim manager ensures that staff implement consequences that are appropriate and effective. This helps children to recognise the impact of their behaviour. Children receive incentives and rewards for some of the positive choices they make. However, further work could be embedded into practice to celebrate children’s positive choices.

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

The interim manager ensures that incidents are recorded, and information is shared in a timely way with relevant professionals to effectively safeguard and plan for children. There have been no significant incidents, allegations or complaints.

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

Children’s privacy is compromised as sensors on bedroom doors are used when there are no specific risks identified to warrant their use. The interim manager removed these during the inspection.

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

The recruitment of staff is in line with safer recruitment practices. This ensures that only staff who are appropriately vetted and checked can work with children.

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good

The home has not had a registered manager since November 2022. The provider has taken steps to appoint an interim manager during this period. The interim manager has submitted his application to register with Ofsted.

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good

The interim manager has been in place since May 2023. This followed a period of instability with the home’s management and retention of staff. The interim manager and provider have worked hard to secure a stable staff team, which is now in place.

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good

The interim manager is suitably qualified and experienced. He is supported by a deputy manager who has the skills and experience to offer effective support and oversight alongside the manager. Inspection report for children’s home: 1213828 5 The managers are working as a team to make necessary improvements to the home and improve care practices. The managers have a clear action plan and are aware of the areas for development. Staff are committed to developing their practice and positive outcomes for children.

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good

Staff feel supported and enjoy working in the home. This is a positive change since the interim manager has been in place. Staff have regular opportunities to discuss children’s needs, practice issues, and development through reflective supervision and team meetings.

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good

There is a clear improvement in management oversight since the interim manager has been appointed. However, the interim manager has not ensured that relevant plans are received from the placing authority in a timely way. This could prevent staff from having an up-to-date understanding of children’s needs and plans. Children’s records have improved. However, some of the language used is not helpful for children. The interim manager has plans in place to address this and ensure that all written records are non-stigmatising and child friendly.

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good

Staff regularly consult with children to ensure that their views are sought and acted on. Children feel listened to, and changes have been made to activities and items in the home based on their wishes. Staff advocate for children and make sure that children can speak to an independent advocate and ensure their voice is heard.

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good

The interim manager ensures that internal and external monitoring of the home takes place. However, the quality of care review does not include feedback from key stakeholders or staff to enhance the quality of the report. Reports from the independent visitor have not been received in a timely way to ensure effective oversight by the regulator. This was due to an error in administration by the provider and was rectified during the inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: 1213828 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(vii)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the home is clean, that furniture in the home, including sofas, is cleaned or replaced, and that the garden is maintained and equipped for the children. 14 September

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. 14 September Inspection report for children’s home: 1213828 7 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority;

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Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(ii)(iii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that moves from the home are well planned, children are supported with the move, and relevant plans and assessments from the placing authority are available for each child.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person so appointed; and

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Requirement Due date

the date on which the appointment takes effect. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii) (2)(a)(b)) 14 September

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if— 14 September Inspection report for children’s home: 1213828 8 the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children;

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Requirement Due date

the child’s placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance;

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Requirement Due date

so far as reasonably practicable in the light of the child’s age and understanding, the child is informed in advance of the intention to do the monitoring or surveillance; and

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that internal bedroom door sensors or alarms are not used unless carefully assessed alongside any specific safeguarding risks. This requirement has been restated.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Staff should record information in a non- stigmatising way and in a way that will be helpful for the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure there is a system in place to regularly reward children, celebrate positive behaviour and recognise when children have managed situations well. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 47, paragraph 9.39)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the quality of care review includes feedback from children, staff, parents, and placing authorities. This will enhance reports and provide evidence regarding children’s experiences and the impact of these on their outcomes. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.2)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that independent regulation 44 reports are received by the regulator to ensure effective oversight of practice in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24) Inspection report for children’s home: 1213828 9

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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: 1213828 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Inspire Children’s Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Inspire Children’s Services, Unit 3, Craig Court, Standish Street, St. Helens WA10 1GJ

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Inspector

Jenni Gadsby, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1213828 11 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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