Children's Home run by Nurture Support Services Limited in St Helens

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2711439 1 Nurture Support Services Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private provider operates this home. It is registered to provide care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the visit, one child was living in the home.

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This monitoring visit

This home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 13 and 14 July 2023. Following this inspection, three compliance notices were issued under section 22A of the Care Standards Act 2000. These compliance notices were in relation to regulation 10 (the health and well-being standard), regulation 12 (the protection of children standard) and regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard).

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted also issued a notice restricting accommodation at the home. This notice was issued with immediate effect, from 14 July 2023 to 6 October 2023.

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This monitoring visit

A monitoring visit was undertaken on 20 July 2023 to monitor and review the action taken by the provider to meet the compliance notice in relation to regulation 10, the health and well-being standard. Ofsted found that the provider had taken sufficient action to meet this compliance notice.

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This monitoring visit

The focus of this monitoring visit was to monitor and review the steps taken by the provider to meet the compliance notices under regulation 12, the protection of children standard, and regulation 13, the leadership and management standard. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2711439 2 Leaders and managers have reviewed how children’s risks are identified, monitored and addressed. Risk assessments have been updated to detail a range of strategies to reduce risk and manage a situation should a risk arise. They now include current concerns for the child and any additional measures that have been put in place. In addition, the child plays an active role in reviewing the assessment and commenting on the effectiveness of the strategies being used.

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This monitoring visit

Protocols for the management of safeguarding concerns have been further developed. New documentation identifies all relevant professionals who are contacted if a concern arises. Furthermore, should the child go missing, details of all known friends and addresses and places where children congregate provide a good starting point for staff in their search for the child.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have taken sufficient action to ensure that if children go missing from care, they can talk to somebody independent from the home following their return.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have worked with the placing authority to implement a suitable system to search the child’s bedroom to remove any items that may pose a risk to the child. Through careful collaboration, a detailed list has been created of items that should be removed if found. A daily room search is undertaken and is often overseen by the child, who produces their own record for staff to sign.

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This monitoring visit

Fire risk assessments are updated and include an assessment of the fire doors in the home.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have employed an experienced social care professional to operate as an independent person overseeing complaints or allegations made by a child. This additional layer of support ensures an independent approach to addressing any complaints or allegations.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers are working in partnership with a range of services to support the child’s mental health needs. These services include child and adolescent mental health services, the crisis team and a private provider offering art therapy. These services provide support and guidance for the child and offer the staff team additional learning to help them to improve the care they provide for the child.

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This monitoring visit

All staff have undertaken face-to-face mental health training specific to the needs of the child. In addition, staff are undertaking a six-week trauma-informed parenting course. This course is provided by a social care professional and experienced care leavers. Staff knowledge and understanding are now regularly assessed in supervision and team meetings. There is an expectation that staff complete a summary of learning for each course they attend.

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This monitoring visit

A new experienced manager has been appointed to the home and is due to start employment on 1 September 2023. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2711439 3 Leaders and the manager have improved their overall monitoring and review. This has focused on recording incidents, direct-work sessions and daily records. The responsible individual and the director work with staff to reflect on their practice. This work has resulted in more thorough and accurate recording. Furthermore, staff are assessed on their learning through training. This enables leaders and managers to identify any shortfalls in knowledge and understanding and put steps in place to address this.

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This monitoring visit

Monitoring systems have improved. All records are reviewed and signed off by the responsible individual. Records of incidents are used for reflective supervision and team meeting discussions. This provides a positive learning aid for staff.

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This monitoring visit

The child is also provided with a range of online learning tools. This has helped to build a positive learning portfolio in addition to their full-time education. The child demonstrated their learning by providing a training session for staff on the impact of drugs and youth culture.

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This monitoring visit

The child is engaging with staff. They have access to their online records and regularly review and comment on them.

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This monitoring visit

A case review was held on 21 August 2023. This review deemed that the provider has taken sufficient action to meet the compliance notices under regulation 12, the protection of children standard, and regulation 13, the leadership and management standard.

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This monitoring visit

The restriction of accommodation will remain in place.

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This monitoring visit

The other requirements were not considered as part of this visit and will be reviewed at the next inspection.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/07/2023 Full Inadequate 16/05/2023 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2711439 4

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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 with the given timescales.

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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.

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

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that the child’s relevant plans are used to inform the home’s plans for the child. These include education, health and care plans and local authority plans for the child’s care, and health reports. 11 September

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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; 11 September Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2711439 5 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

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(ix))

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Requirement Due date

After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

take adequate precautions against the risk of fire, including the provision of suitable fire equipment in the children’s home;

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Requirement Due date

provide adequate means of escape from the home in the event of fire. (Regulation 25 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that there are an adequate number of fire doors on the premises. 11 September

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (2)(a)(b) (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that copies of relevant training certificates are obtained. 11 September

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the behaviour management policy”) which sets out— 11 September Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2711439 6 how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must keep the behaviour management policy under review and, where appropriate, revise it.

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2711439 7 within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b) (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that records of consequences and restraints contain the information that is required by legislation.

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Requirement Due date

Further to this, the registered person must ensure that restraints are only used when necessary and as a last resort, in accordance with legislative guidance.

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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

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

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(c)(e)) 11 September

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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. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2711439 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Nurture Support Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 35 Prescot Road, St Helens WA10 3UF

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Inspector

Maria McGranaghan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2711439 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 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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