Children's Home run by PIC Children’s Services in Sefton

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040785 1 SC040785 PIC Children’s Services

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in March 2003 and is owned and operated by a private company. It provides care for up to two children who experience social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2019.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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This monitoring visit

At the full inspection on 6 and 7 September 2023, inspectors identified poor practice in relation to the standard of cleanliness in the home. There was an insufficient response to repairs and maintenance required in the home. Furthermore, significant failings were observed in the leadership and management of the home.

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This monitoring visit

As a result, requirements were raised, two of which were subject to compliance notices. These were in relation to Regulation 6 (the quality and purpose of care standard) and Regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard).

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken by the provider in response to the compliance notices. It was determined that the provider has taken sufficient action to meet both compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

Since the full inspection, the provider has taken steps to ensure that the environment is clean and free of hazards. The child is now provided with a warm and homely environment. This safeguards the child effectively and protects them from harm. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040785 2 Personalised artwork and photos of the child and the people who are important to them are displayed throughout the home. The registered manager and staff have captured the child’s journey through the home. This means that the child feels a sense of belonging.

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This monitoring visit

Care records have been updated to provide information about the child’s individual needs. There are clear routines and structures in place. Staff spoken to were consistently able to identify plans and arrangements for the child in their care.

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This monitoring visit

Daily records focus on evidencing the child’s development, as well as the positive and varied experiences they are supported to enjoy. The child is encouraged to celebrate their achievements and progress.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager has implemented monitoring systems and reviews daily records and incidents. Staff are supported to learn from practice and reflect on the quality of care they provide through supervision sessions and team meetings.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager has introduced a training matrix which clearly identifies staff’s training needs. Systems are in place to monitor and review the effectiveness of training and consider how learning is implemented into practice.

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This monitoring visit

The additional requirements identified at the full inspection were not considered as part of this visit and will be reviewed at the next inspection. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040785 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/09/2023 Full Inadequate 26/10/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 15/03/2022 Full Good 12/03/2020 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040785 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

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs. (Regulation 5 (1)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that the child has access to specialist services based on their individual needs. 22 October 2023

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Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

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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

ascertain and consider each child’s views, wishes and feelings, and balance these against what they judge to be in the child’s best interests when making decisions about the child’s care and welfare;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to express views, wishes and feelings;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how the child’s views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child; 22 October 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040785 5 regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home’s care;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to prepare for any review of the child’s relevant plans and to make the child’s views, wishes and feelings known for the purposes of that review; and

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Requirement Due date

make each child aware of and, if necessary, remind them of each of the matters in sub-paragraph (d)(i) to (iii);

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Requirement Due date

is enabled to provide feedback to, and raise issues with, a relevant person about the support and services that the child receives;

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Requirement Due date

has access to the home’s children’s guide, and the home’s complaints procedure, when the child’s placement in the home is agreed and throughout the child’s stay in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

keep the children’s guide and the home’s complaints procedure under review and seek children’s comments before revising either document;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that an explanation is given to each child as soon as reasonably practicable after the child’s arrival about—

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Requirement Due date

how to make a complaint or representations in relation to the home or the care the child receives and how any such complaint or representations will be dealt with. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(vi)(vii)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(c)(d)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, children must be supported to share their feelings and wishes and give feedback about the quality of care that they receive.

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Requirement Due date

Furthermore, leaders and managers must ensure that children understand how to make a complaint in line with their age and understanding. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040785 6 The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

maintain regular contact with each child’s education and training provider, including engaging with the provider and the placing authority to support the child’s education and training and to maximise the child’s achievement. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered manager ensuring that children benefit from up-to-date education plans and that relevant information is incorporated into the child’s plans.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 22 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; 22 October 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040785 7 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)(v))

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that children are supported to understand acceptable behaviour. Children should benefit from consistent strategies and a consistent approach from those caring for them.

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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

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

help each child to understand how to keep safe. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 22 October 2023

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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

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;

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Requirement Due date

that staff help each child to access and contribute to the records kept by the registered person in relation to the child. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(c)(f)) 22 October 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (“the statement of purpose”) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must— 22 October 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040785 8 keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it. (Regulation 16 (1) (3)(a))

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that the statement of purpose is kept up do date and details the qualifications, experience and skills of those working in the home.

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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. (Regulation 25 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that fire doors and closers are fitted appropriately and in good working order. 22 October 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 22 October 2023

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Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are kept up to date; and

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Requirement Due date

retain the records for at least 15 years from the date of the last entry. (Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that there is an accurate register detailing admissions and discharges of children. 22 October 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040785 9 In addition, this relates to the registered manager ensuring that rotas contain the full names of staff members working in the home and the actual hours worked.

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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: SC040785 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: PIC Children’s Services

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: PIC Children’s Services Limited, 2 North Street, Haydock, St Helens WA11 0TW

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Inspector

Nichola Croft, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040785 11 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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