Children's home run by Exceptional Care Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2627967 1 Registered provider: Exceptional 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 with social and emotional difficulties. At the time of the inspection, two children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

There is no registered manager in post. An interim manager is currently managing the home.

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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

Date of last inspection: 28 September 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: 2627967 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/09/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 01/03/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2627967 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make clear and measurable progress as a result of the care afforded to them by staff. Children are clear about the progress that they have made since they moved to the home. In relation to this, one child said, ‘Yes, I have made progress; I missed three years of school before coming here, I have since sat my exams and will be going to college.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have been provided with nurture and care by a staff team whose members know them well. This has supported the children to live at the home for a significant period of time. One child told the inspector that this was the longest they had lived in the same home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have developed positive relationships with children. Throughout the inspection, children were observed having interactions with staff. As a result, children are made to feel welcome and included.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a warm, welcoming and homely environment. Children are supported by staff to be involved in the decoration of the home. Consequently, children are provided with a sense of ownership and belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Family members are positive about the support and care children receive from staff. One family member said, ‘I think they are doing an excellent job with how they are supporting [name of child] and any situation that arises, really well.’

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

Children told the inspector that they feel safe, that they have staff members who they can speak to should they have any worries or concerns.

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

Staff work with children to help reduce risks posed to them. Direct work with children is planned ahead and individualised depending on each child’s risks. For one child, staff have been undertaking creative direct work to reduce risks posed to them online and in the community.

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

When concerns are raised in relation to children, there is a prompt, coordinated and consistent response from the staff team. For one child, there has been a significant reduction in the number of incidents. This means that risks in relation to the child being criminalised are reduced.

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

When staff have concerns for children’s safety, they inform relevant professionals to support risks being reduced. The staff work well with local authorities and police. This means that decisions for children are made in a multi-agency way. Inspection report for children’s home: 2627967 4 One parent told the inspector of their relief in relation to how risks posed to their child have reduced thanks to the support from staff. One parent said, ‘We were in a situation before where he was not safe. However, because of the staff around and the support, I think that [name of child] has flourished.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The previous registered manager left in April 2023. A new manager has been appointed to manage the home and said that they are in the process of applying to register with Ofsted. The manager is supported by a responsible individual and service manager. Together, they form an effective management team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the manager being appointed in May, there have been improvements to the quality assurance in the home. This has resulted in specific areas of improvement being identified and bespoke training being arranged for staff. This ensures that children are cared for by staff who can meet their needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are extremely positive about working in the home and the support they receive from managers. In relation to support from the service manager, one staff member said, ‘Her contribution to fostering a nurturing and empathetic environment has been invaluable.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Not all children’s records are child friendly. Some records contain language that is institutional, which limits the quality of children’s records. A recommendation is made to address this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The previous manager completed a quality of care review as required by regulation. However, this has not been shared with Ofsted in the required timescales set by the regulations. This limits the regulators oversight of the quality of care afforded to the children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2627967 5

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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 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))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the manager should register with Ofsted. 7 September 2023

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, 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

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, Inspection report for children’s home: 2627967 6 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: 2627967 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Exceptional Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Exceptional Care Limited, Malthouse Business Centre, Southport Road, Ormskirk L39 1QR

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Inspector

Rob Neild, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2627967 8 regulates and inspects 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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