Children's home run by Quality Protects Children Ltd in Knowsley

Inspection report for children’s home: SC052744 1 SC052744 Registered provider: Quality Protects Children Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to five children with learning disabilities. There is a school on site. The inspector only inspected the social care provision on this site.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, four children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2018.

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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

Date of last inspection: 6 December 2022

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC052744 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/12/2022 Full Good 26/04/2021 Full Good 09/07/2019 Full Good 11/07/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC052744 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff are enthusiastic about achieving positive outcomes for children. Children have good relationships with staff. They trust the members of the staff team, who interact with them with humour and praise. This helps children to develop a sense of permanence and belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff place the children at the centre of their practice. When children need additional support to attend meetings about themselves, staff ensure this happens. This gives children the opportunity to share their views and be part of the planning for their future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff have worked tirelessly with children who have complex needs. Good practice has resulted in children making good progress in all aspects of their daily life. Children who have reached adulthood have been supported to move on from the home, with the right level of support in place.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children attend the school based on the same site. Staff regularly communicate with school staff, so that they understand any known or emerging issues that may affect children’s learning. This allows children to be fully supported. Children have excellent attendance at school and from their individual starting points are making good progress. Children have taken and passed exams that will support them into adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s time with their families is well supported. Individual plans are in place to ensure that the time children spend with people who are important to them is enjoyable and beneficial.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s hobbies and interests are encouraged. Some children have successfully completed the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Managers and staff have developed strong links with community-based services. Children participate in activities that are specific to their specific needs. For example, one child enjoys football sessions that support their visual impairment.

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

Children are settled living in the home. Since the last inspection, there have been no missing-from-home incidents. The manager has ensured that there is clear guidance in place so that staff know what actions they need to take should there be any incidents of children going missing. Children feel safe living in the home. One child said: ‘I will be sad when I leave. I feel safe here and hope I can keep in touch with the staff.’

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

Risk assessments are individualised and completed with children, parents and professionals involved in their care. Staff understand their roles and responsibilities Inspection report for children’s home: SC052744 4 in protecting children. Staff are clear about, and follow, procedures for responding to concerns about the safety of a child. Risks for children have reduced significantly for children. When allegations have been made, they have been responded to quickly, so children are kept safe.

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

Managers and staff regularly review plans alongside the clinical team. Research is used to consider complex issues such as trauma, neglect, autism, and children with learning difficulties.

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

When children have needed to be held, this has been necessary and proportionate. Children are supported to understand the reason this has happened and are involved in considering alternative ways of managing their feelings safely. The use of physical intervention has significantly reduced for one child.

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

Positive behaviour is consistently rewarded. Children speak openly about what upsets them and they are supported to understand how to manage their feelings safely. Children have an independent advocate in place so that they have opportunities to discuss any concerns they may have about their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by a suitably experienced and qualified manager. Managers have high expectations of the staff team and clear aspirations for all children living in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers ensure that staff have the necessary skills and training in place prior to children moving into the home. Managers are committed to the continuous development of the staff team and use research and learning from practice to improve the experiences and care of children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have taken effective action to challenge placing authorities’ plans for children that are not in their best interests. One child has been supported to challenge legal decisions, which has resulted in a clear plan to support their return home to their family.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have good relationships with professionals involved in caring for children with complex needs. Managers ensure that children approaching adulthood have plans in place that include children and adult services to support their transitions to adulthood and independence.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Regular team meetings and effective supervision, which is focused on children’s needs, is used as a learning opportunity for all staff to develop their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager clearly identifies the strengths and weaknesses of the home. However, during the inspection, shortfalls were identified in the home environment. Leaders and managers have acknowledged this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The requirements and recommendations made at the last inspection have been met. Inspection report for children’s home: SC052744 5

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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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, work must be completed in the house to ensure that it is of an appropriate standard for the children to live in. This includes some redecoration, replacing of carpets and the modernisation of the downstairs toilet and upstairs bathrooms. 20 January 2024

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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: SC052744 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Quality Protects Children Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Hill House, Archway Road, Huyton, Liverpool L36 9XB

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Inspector

Nicola Forrester, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC052744 7 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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