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

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1250035 1 Registered provider: Building Bridges Care Homes Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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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.

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Information about this children’s home

There is an interim manager in post, although they have not submitted an application to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At these inspections, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1250035 2

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Outcome from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Outcome from the inspection

Children said that they like living in their home. They feel safe in the home and like the staff team. One child said, ‘They really could not have done any more for me.’

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Outcome from the inspection

Children now have routines and boundaries. They have daily timetables to help structure their day, and staff support them with their education. As a result, children’s education attendance is improving.

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Outcome from the inspection

Staff develop positive relationships with children. They engage children in activities and discussions. This helps children to understand their vulnerabilities and regulate their behaviour.

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Outcome from the inspection

Children live in a clean and homely environment. They decorate their rooms and cook evening meals. This helps children to develop independent living skills and take pride in their home.

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Outcome from the inspection

There have been several serious safeguarding incidents in recent months. Staff respond appropriately to manage incidents and safeguard children. However, the manager has not notified Ofsted of all the incidents, and some have been submitted following a delay. This means that the regulator does not have immediate oversight of all serious incidents. This has not impacted on children’s safety.

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Outcome from the inspection

The register manager post has been vacant for several months. An interim manager has now been appointed. However, they have not applied for registration with Ofsted.

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Outcome from the inspection

Staff said that they felt supported by their manager and attend regular supervision meetings. Staff also attend training to develop their skills to meet the needs of each child.

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Outcome from the inspection

The manager is making improvements to the monitoring and evaluation systems to help them to identify shortfalls in practice and develop the staff team’s learning from incidents. This is in progress and is not embedded into staff practice. However, some records include jargon, which is unhelpful to children.

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Outcome from the inspection

Staff have a good understanding of children’s needs and follow strategies to keep them safe. They work closely with statutory agencies as part of a joined-up approach and share information effectively.

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Outcome from the inspection

The manager recently completed their quality of care review report. However, this was not completed within the required time frame and did not evaluate the quality of care for all children living in the home over the period. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1250035 3 All of the requirements from the previous inspection were met.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/08/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 23/05/2023 Full Inadequate 14/02/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 09/11/2021 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1250035 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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if there is no registered manager in respect of the home. (Regulation 27 (1))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the manager applying for registration with Ofsted. 14 February 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child—

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)) 28 February 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating— 28 February 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1250035 5 the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review ("the quality of care review report").

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed; and

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Requirement Due date

make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a) (3) (4)(a)(b))

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff record information relating to children’s physical interventions carefully and clearly, avoiding the use of jargon. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1250035 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Building Bridges Care Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Mark Woodbridge, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1250035 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 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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Inspector

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