Children's Home run by Exceptional Care Limited in St Helens

Inspection report for children’s home: 1247212 1 Registered provider: Exceptional Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is run by a private provider. It provides care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties. Three children can live in the main part of the house and one child can live in the attached apartment.

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Information about this children’s home

Four children were living in this home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager resigned in July 2023. A new manager is now in post and has applied to register with Ofsted.

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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: 28 February 2023

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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: 1247212 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/02/2023 Full Good 19/01/2022 Full Good 18/02/2020 Interim Declined in effectiveness 04/09/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 1247212 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have positive relationships with the staff who care for them. Children said that the staff are the best thing about the home. One child said, ‘I can go to anyone if I am worried or upset. They listen and try to help.’ Another child said, ‘We have fun.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have encouraged and supported the children to return to education and improve their outcomes significantly. When children leave school, staff continue to support children to engage with further education, training or employment. Staff are aware of the children’s attainment levels and their educational targets. This knowledge supports children to achieve their full potential. Children have ambitions for their future, such as being an electrician or a lawyer.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are cared for by non-judgemental staff. This approach enables children to explore their identities in a safe and secure environment. As a result of this practice, children’s self-esteem is growing, and they are more confident with their sense of self.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Generally, staff educate children about topics relating to their lives and current issues in society. This helps children to develop resilience and healthy coping strategies. However, some children use electronic cigarettes (vapes) and although educating the children has brought some success with children reducing using them, it is not the case for all. Staff have not continued to educate some children on the health implications of using an electronic cigarette.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to spend time with people who are important to them. Staff do not see distance as a barrier and are always willing to take children to see their family and friends.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s plans are detailed and support staff to understand who each child is and the individualised care that they require. Children’s plans are written in a way that helps children to understand their goals and what progress they are making.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has a separate annex that is attached to the main building. When children are nearly ready for semi-independence or independence, they can move into this part of the home. This allows them to continue to build their independence skills, such as cooking for themselves. However, they are still supported by a member of staff and have access to the main house.

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

Staff are aware of the difficulties in children’s lives and are clear about the steps to follow to keep them safe. Staff educate children on keeping themselves safe. Several social workers commented on how this has made a difference to the children’s lives. Inspection report for children’s home: 1247212 4 One social worker said, ‘[Name of child] has made starling progress and I do not have any concerns now. They are becoming a mature adult. This is down to their relationship with staff.’ Another social worker said, ‘I cannot fault the staff team. They are fantastic and go the extra mile.’

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

Children are supported with a clear safety plan when there are risks in their lives. Child protection procedures are followed to ensure that there is good oversight of the safety plans from all relevant agencies.

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

Children have lived at this home for a significant period. They are settled and say that they enjoy living here. As a result, children have not been reported missing from home, they have not been restrained and have not received any consequences for unacceptable behaviour. A member of staff said, ‘We pride ourselves on using positive reinforcement and education rather than punishment. This works well.’

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

There are good procedures for storing and administering medication to children. However, on one occasion, a member of staff did not store their personal medication in line with company policy. This has not impacted on children but had the potential to do so.

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

Staff make sure that the children understand their rights and entitlements. Children know what to do if they are unhappy or wish to make a complaint. They have several adults independent of the home who they can talk to if they have concerns.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The acting manager is experienced and working towards a recognised qualification in leadership and management. She is supported by a deputy manager and team leaders. They aspire for children to be safe, happy and reach their full potential. This ethos and culture are shared by the capable and enthusiastic staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say that they feel fully supported by their leaders and managers. Staff have regular supervision and focus on the children’s needs and progress. Supervision also enables staff to discuss their practice, development and any safeguarding concerns with their manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are suitably trained. Strong teamwork and good management support ensure that all staff are suitably equipped with the knowledge, skills and expertise to care for children. However, some members of staff have exceeded the time frame in which to achieve a childcare qualification.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Monthly team meetings for staff help them to provide consistent levels of care for children. The meetings also help them to share good practice and support one another.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The acting manager uses monitoring and review systems to have a detailed understanding of the effect that the quality of care is having on the children’s Inspection report for children’s home: 1247212 5 progress and experiences. The acting manager uses this understanding to inform practice and find new and better ways to support the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The management team challenges other agencies when it believes that their response is not adequate or child focused. Inspection report for children’s home: 1247212 6

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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

employ an individual to work at the children’s home if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform.

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (“the Level 3 Diploma”); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home. (Regulation 32 (2)(a) (3)(b) (4)(a)(b) (5)(a))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, all staff employed in a care role should complete the relevant qualification for that role within the specified time frame. 31 December

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met; 31 December Inspection report for children’s home: 1247212 7 children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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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

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well- being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, children should be continually educated on the health risks of vaping and be supported to stop vaping.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff follow the company’s policy on securing their own personal medication safely. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.15)

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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: 1247212 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Exceptional Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Exceptional Care Limited, Malthouse Business Centre, Southport Road, Ormskirk L39 1QR

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Inspector

Pam Nuckley, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1247212 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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