Children's Home run by Nugent Care 2019 in Wigan

Inspection report for children’s home: 2725049 1 Registered provider: Nugent Care 2019 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 charity. The provider states in its statement of purpose that it provides care for up to three children who may have social and emotional difficulties or learning difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

This is the first inspection since the home was registered in May 2023.

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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: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2725049 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is currently one child living in the home. There are effective plans in place to support children moving into the home. However, records of children’s admissions into the home and discharges from the home did not include all required information. This was rectified during the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff spend time with children and their families in their home area before children move into the home. This helps children to develop strong relationships with staff before their move. Visits to the home for overnight stays and meals help them prepare for moving in and alleviate any anxieties they may have.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff spend time with the child now living in the home and use opportunities to engage him in meaningful work. They recognise the barriers to engagement and overcome these by using strategies in line with the child’s preferences. Positive behaviour is promoted through clear routines and boundaries, in line with the child’s level of understanding. As a result, the child is making good progress in all areas.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s health needs are met. Staff benefit from bespoke training to meet the child’s specific health needs. This means that they have a good understanding of his needs and can support him well. They recognise how his health needs impact on his behaviour and implement strategies that work best for him. They work in partnership with health professionals to ensure that they provide well-coordinated support. The manager challenges decisions when they are not in the child’s best interests.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff respect the child’s relationships with his family and friends. They support him to spend time with them in his home area and on family holidays. Staff support the child to re-establish and maintain safe relationships with family members, in line with his wishes. The child’s social needs are promoted through encouraging opportunities to develop new friendships, through identifying new hobbies and activities in the local area.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are proactive in identifying education placements which meet the child’s needs when moving into the home. They recognise his abilities and potential. They have high aspirations for him.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child knows how to make a complaint and is listened to. Complaints in the home are rare. However, when they are made, the child understands what action has been taken as a result. Opportunities for the child to express his wishes and feelings are implemented in line with his preferences. Staff are creative in implementing strategies for him to be involved in his care. Inspection report for children’s home: 2725049 3

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

The child is cared for by an experienced staff team. Staff know the child’s risks and vulnerabilities well. Risks for the child have reduced since living in the home.

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

Staff support the child well when incidents of challenging behaviour occur. They support him to manage his behaviour and feelings safely. They work in partnership with external professionals to ensure that he receives consistent care. Reflective practice following incidents helps staff to understand behaviours and implement strategies to support him. Specialist support is identified to address specific risks and needs. As a result, incidents have reduced since the child has been living in the home.

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

Incidents of staff physically holding children are rare. When incidents do occur, they are managed well. Staff use de-escalation techniques in line with the child’s wishes. There is clear managerial oversight of incidents. The child and staff are provided with opportunities to reflect on behaviour. This provides staff with opportunities to review their strategies of managing behaviour, in consultation with the child, and adapt their practice accordingly to meet the child’s needs. However, follow-up work after incidents is not consistently undertaken with the child. Furthermore, not all serious incidents have been notified to Ofsted.

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

Staff implement routines and boundaries in line with the child’s level of understanding. The use of immediate rewards and longer-term incentives promotes positive behaviour.

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

The child’s risk assessment and behaviour support plans are detailed. They provide clear guidance for staff to follow in practice. Strategies for staff to support the child are developed in consultation with him. However, records do not include all known risks. Action was taken to rectify this during the inspection.

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

Staff provide the child with opportunities to develop positive relationships with local police community support officers. They visit the home on a regular basis and provide education and support to promote positive behaviour.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by a suitably qualified and experienced manager. The manager works hard to create a warm and welcoming home environment. However, the bathroom is not designed or furnished as a family bathroom.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is supported by team leaders who provide strong leadership in the home in his absence. The manager and staff team work collaboratively to ensure that the child always receives consistent care. The manager has good oversight of the home. The use of trackers and projection plans helps to monitor progress and oversee the care being provided. Inspection report for children’s home: 2725049 4 The manager supports the staff team well. He invests time in providing learning opportunities to ensure that staff have the skills and knowledge to provide good care to the child. Professional development is promoted. Staff say they feel valued in their roles. Staff are assigned roles and responsibilities within the home. As a result, staff feel empowered.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from regular supervision and team meetings. Reflective sessions take place following incidents. This helps staff understand children’s behaviour and provides further learning opportunities. Staff training focuses on the child’s needs. Bespoke training opportunities provide staff with in-depth knowledge of the child’s individual and complex needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

External monitoring of the home takes place monthly. This provides independent scrutiny of the care being provided. Internal monitoring of the home is good. Systems are in place to identify strengths and areas for improvement. Inspection report for children’s home: 2725049 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, that children’s risk assessment records include all known risks. 18 October 2023

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone; 18 October 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2725049 6 communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding. (Regulation 11 (1)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to meaningful work being undertaken with children relating to their risks. Direct work should be carried out following incidents of challenging behaviour.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child —

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)) 18 October 2023

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the children’s home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meets the needs of the children. It should be a homely and domestic environment. Specifically, changes should be made to the bathroom to avoid it looking institutional. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) Inspection report for children’s home: 2725049 7

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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: 2725049 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Nugent, 99 Edge Lane, Edge Hill, Liverpool L7 2PE

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Inspector

Claire Hobbs, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2725049 9 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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