Children's Home run by Building Bridges Care Homes Ltd in St Helens

Inspection report for children’s home: 1250035 1 Registered provider: Building Bridges Care Homes Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties. The home is privately owned and managed.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The registered manager post is vacant. The current manager has applied to register with Ofsted.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Two children were living in the home at the time of the inspection.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

p.1

Enforcement action since last inspection:

The home was judged inadequate in all areas at the last full inspection on 23 and 24 May 2023. Two compliance notices were issued under section 22A of the Care Standards Act 2000. These related to regulation 12, the protection of children standard, and regulation 13, the leadership and management standard. Inspection report for children’s home: 1250035 2 A monitoring visit took place on 4 July 2023. The provider had not taken sufficient notice to meet both notices. As a result, the notices were issued again.

p.1

Enforcement action since last inspection:

Following this visit, a case review was held on 4 September 2023. Both compliance notices were met.

p.2

Enforcement action since last inspection:

The reports are published on the Ofsted website. Inspection report for children’s home: 1250035 3

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/05/2023 Full Inadequate 14/02/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 09/11/2021 Full Good 21/01/2020 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: 1250035 4

p.3

improvement to be good

Children’s daily routines lack structure and consistent boundaries. One child said that they would like a better structure to their day. Furthermore, children’s attendance in education is inconsistent, and staff do not provide children with planned educational activities to support their learning. This prevents children from reaching their full potential.

p.4

improvement to be good

One child moved out of the home as staff could not meet their needs. Staff did not follow clear or agreed plans with the local authority. This meant that the child’s placement ended prematurely.

p.4

improvement to be good

Staff are aware of children’s health needs. They encourage children to attend health appointments and help them to overcome any concerns that they may have.

p.4

improvement to be good

Staff are developing trusting relationships with children. Previously, relationships between children, and staff and children were inconsistent. As a result, children are now beginning to make progress.

p.4

improvement to be good

Children said that they now like living in their home. Their bedrooms are clean, tidy and individualised. This helps children to develop independent living skills and a sense of belonging.

p.4

improvement to be good

Children know how to make a complaint if they have any concerns about their care. They are also aware of their right to have an advocate to help them to express their views, wishes and feelings.

p.4

improvement to be good

Staff offer children a range of activities to take part in. However, children do not consistently engage in the activities. Children recently enjoyed a holiday break with staff, which helped to expand children’s experiences.

p.4

improvement to be good

Staff now use creative key-work sessions to educate children in staying safe. This includes discussions relating to safe relationships and e-cigarettes. This helps children to build their resilience.

p.4

improvement to be good

Previously, one child felt bullied by children in the home. However, staff were unable to manage relationships between the children to resolve the ongoing conflict. As a result, the manager served notice on one of the children and ended their placement. Children said that they now feel safe living in their home.

p.4

improvement to be good

Children currently have complex needs and high levels of vulnerability. Risk Inspection report for children’s home: 1250035 5 management plans have strategies for staff to follow to keep children safe. Staff also use daily records that detail children’s current vulnerabilities and risk levels. This helps staff to share information and strategies to keep children safe.

p.4

improvement to be good

There have been two serious safeguarding incidents since the last inspection. Staff responded appropriately to manage the incidents and safeguard the children. Staff passed information to the relevant partner agencies, including Ofsted.

p.5

improvement to be good

Staff are trained to de-escalate incidents, and to only use physical intervention as a last resort. As a result, staff have not used any physical interventions. This helps staff to develop relationships with the children.

p.5

improvement to be good

Missing-from-home incidents have increased in recent months. However, staff follow robust plans to quickly respond to incidents and help children to return home safely.

p.5

improvement to be good

Repairs and the refurbishment of the home are now complete, so it is a safe and comfortable place for children and young people to live in. However, some areas of the home give an institutional impression, which detract from the homely feeling.

p.5

good

There is no registered manager in post. However, the interim manager has now applied for registration with Ofsted. Staff said that leaders have improved in recent months and there is now a full staff team in place. As a result, staff feel better supported.

p.5

good

Leaders and managers have worked hard to meet the compliance notices previously issued. They have improved monitoring systems. However, there has not been sufficient time for these to be embedded in practice. The interim manager’s monthly monitoring systems collate data relating to children’s care. However, the manager does not clearly evidence how they evaluate the data to improve the quality of care for children.

p.5

good

Leaders provide staff with monthly supervision. This helps staff to reflect on their work and identify areas for development. Staff also attend regular development days, which help them to share good practice and enhance their learning.

p.5

good

The manager now completes a workforce development plan. This helps the manager to monitor staff training and ensure that all current training is now up to date.

p.5

good

Safer recruitment practices ensure that any new employees working at the home are vetted as safe and suitable individuals to work with children. However, the workforce is all female, therefore children do not benefit from receiving regular care from different gender groups.

p.5

good

The manager has not yet updated the quality of care review report following the previous inspection. This did not consistently include or evaluate the opinions of Inspection report for children’s home: 1250035 6 children, their parents, and the placing authorities. Therefore, it was a missed opportunity for the manager to evaluate a range of opinions and improve children’s care. Inspection report for children’s home: 1250035 7

p.5

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.

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

p.7

Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(ii)(iv))

p.7

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 30 September

p.7

Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires, and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

p.7

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

p.7

Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(f)(h))

p.7

Requirement Due date

This is particularly in relation to leaders and the manager continuing to improve overall monitoring, specifically evaluation. 31 October 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 1250035 8 The care planning standard is that children—

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b)(iii) (2)(a)) 31 October 2023

p.8

Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

p.8

Requirement Due date

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

p.8

Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

p.8

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

p.8

Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

p.8

Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance 31 October 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 1250035 9 with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(x))

p.8

Requirement Due date

When a child is not attending school, the staff need to support children to engage in home learning and independent study and provide them with educational activities. This should form part of a daily routine and structure.

p.9

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

p.9

Requirement Due date

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

p.9

Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

p.9

Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

p.9

Requirement Due date

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

p.9

Requirement Due date

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

p.9

Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

p.9

Requirement Due date

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

p.9

Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

p.9

Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children;

p.9

Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(xi)(b)) 30 September Inspection report for children’s home: 1250035 10

p.9

Recommendations

 The registered person should complete a review of the quality of care every six months, which considers the opinions of children, their parents, local authorities and staff. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.2)  The registered person should ensure that all areas of the home provide a homely and domestic environment that meets the needs of its children. (Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that, wherever possible, staff in day-to-day contact with children include staff from different gender groups. (Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’’, page 54, paragraph 10.22)

p.10

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: 1250035 11

p.10

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Building Bridges Care Homes Limited

p.11

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Mill Farm, Bull Bridge Lane, Liverpool L10 6LZ

p.11

Inspector

Mark Woodbridge, Social Care Inspector Catherine Fargin, Regulatory Inspection Manager Inspection report for children’s home: 1250035 12 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.

p.11

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.12

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.12

Inspector

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

p.12