Children's home run by Independent Living Services (North West) Limited

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1278022 1 Registered provider: Independent Living Services (North West) Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run children’s home provides care for up to three children who may have social or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 3 October 2023.

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This monitoring visit

On 22 and 23 August 2023, Ofsted inspected the children’s home and judged it to be inadequate. A compliance notice was issued under Regulation 13, the leadership and management standard. The purpose of this visit was to monitor the provider’s progress in meeting the compliance notice.

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This monitoring visit

Developments have been made to the manager’s monitoring systems. For example, the manager has introduced new monthly auditing tools, and any recommendations arising from using these auditing tools will be shared with the staff. The manager has introduced new processes to ensure that there is management oversight of all safeguarding matters and the quality of care that children receive.

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This monitoring visit

The manager ensures that there are sufficient staff on each shift who have the relevant skills, experience, and knowledge to meet the needs of the children.

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This monitoring visit

All staff are suitably trained in medication practice. In addition to the training, the manager has introduced systems to assess the skills of each staff member to administer medication. This means that only suitably skilled staff will administer medication to children.

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This monitoring visit

Improvements have been made to children’s plans. Plans have been reviewed, and they now provide clear strategies for staff to keep children safe. Managers challenge Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1278022 2 shortfalls in staff practice to ensure that staff understand what is expected of them. This means that staff are supported to deliver consistency in care to children.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has demonstrated that it has taken the necessary steps to ensure that the compliance notice issued under Regulations 13 is met.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted does not plan to take any further enforcement action. A further unannounced inspection will take place to continue to monitor the quality of care provided. The other requirements raised at the last inspection will be considered as part of the next inspection. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1278022 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/08/2023 Full Inadequate 24/05/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 08/02/2022 Full Inadequate 29/01/2020 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1278022 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 positive relationship standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding of 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. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that staff meet each child’s individual emotional needs and support children to learn about acceptable behaviour. 30 September

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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 registered person must ensure—

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(v)) 30 September Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1278022 5 This specifically relates to staff understanding their responsibilities in keeping children safe.

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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—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the homes statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications, and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(f))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to having management arrangements in place which ensure that the staff are meeting the needs of each child and that the staff team provides consistency of care for each child. 30 September

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medications received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed and no other child; and

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Requirement Due date

a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(b)(c)) 30 September Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1278022 6 This specifically relates to having arrangements in place to ensure medication is administered as prescribed and a record is kept of the administration of medication.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: 1278022 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Independent Living Services (North West) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Suite 4 Ena Works, Volunteer Street, St. Helens, Merseyside, WA10 2AY

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Catherine Chandler

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Inspector

Sally Griffiths, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1278022 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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