Children's Home run by Teen-Works Care Limited in Sefton

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC423460 1 SC423460

p.1

Registered provider: Teen-Works Care Limited

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private company and cares for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The registered manager’s post has been vacant since May 2023. A manager has been appointed and has submitted their application to register with Ofsted.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

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

p.1

Inspection date: 29 January 2024

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Inspection date: 29 January 2024

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

p.1

Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has 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: SC423460 2

p.1

Findings 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.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Three children were living at the home at the time of the inspection. The children have lived at the home for some time and have meaningful relationships with the staff team.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Education is a key strength of the home and there is a strong focus on supporting children’s learning. One child has been supported to transition successfully to college, and the other children continue to achieve 100% attendance and meet their educational targets.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Incidents are managed effectively. There have been instances of bullying. The manager has taken appropriate action to address these incidents and ensure that the children are supported effectively. The manager has sourced external support to educate the children on bullying and about appropriate relationships. This has enabled the children to continue living together safely.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Allegations have been responded to without delay. The manager has ensured that concerns have been shared with relevant professionals and thoroughly investigated. This helps the children to feel confident that their concerns are taken seriously and that they are safeguarded.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Staff understand the risks for the children. The children’s plans are regularly updated to reflect changes in risks and behaviours. However, the plans do not provide staff with clear guidance to follow when concerns are identified.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Recording systems lack order, and not all plans are personalised for children. One child’s plans contained the incorrect pronoun. This is something that the manager has taken action to address.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Not all the children have up-to-date statutory plans. Prior to the inspection, leaders and managers had not identified that children did not have up-to-date personal education plans, looked after children’s health reports or statutory care plans in place. This limits opportunities to ensure that children are cared for in accordance with their statutory plans.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The manager does not always recognise her responsibility to advocate for children. One child does not yet have a pathway plan to support their transition into adulthood. The manager has not requested this plan from the placing authority or challenged professionals in their failure to meet statutory responsibilities.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The manager’s review of the quality of care does not contain feedback from parents, professionals and staff. It does not demonstrate if actions previously set have been Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC423460 3 achieved, and there is little evaluation of the impact of changes made. The actions are not set in a way that allows their success to be easily measured, and they lack clear timescales. This fundamentally limits the opportunity for leaders to learn and take action to improve the quality of care for children.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The manager is committed to ensuring that the children are supported by a qualified and knowledgeable staff team. Staff are provided with appropriate training, centred around the specific needs of the children living at the home, and are now being supported to complete relevant qualifications.

p.3

Findings from the inspection

Health and safety checks are carried out frequently, and regular fire drills take place with staff and children. The manager took swift action in addressing shortfalls identified with the fire doors that compromised compliance with fire safety regulations.

p.3

Findings from the inspection

The manager has taken sufficient action to meet one of the requirements made at the last inspection. She has not taken sufficient action to fully meet three of the requirements made at the last inspection and they have been restated. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC423460 4

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

31/05/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 08/03/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 02/02/2022 Full Good 29/10/2019 Full Outstanding Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC423460 5

p.4

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

p.5

Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs;

p.5

Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans.

p.5

Requirement Due date

seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5 (a)(b)(c)(d))

p.5

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that missing documents are escalated without delay and professionals challenged in the event that statutory responsibilities are not being fulfilled.

p.5

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 11 March 2024

p.5

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.5

Requirement Due date

that staff— 11 March 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC423460 6 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;

p.5

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

p.6

Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

p.6

Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi))

p.6

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that all risk plans contain clear steps for staff to follow should an incident arise.

p.6

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

p.6

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—

p.6

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.6

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; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(f)(h))

p.6

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that they use monitoring and review systems to make continuous 11 March 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC423460 7 improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.

p.6

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

p.7

Requirement Due date

After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must—

p.7

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)) 31 January 2024

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

p.7

Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

p.7

Requirement Due date

are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b))

p.7

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that each child’s records are personalised and up to date. 11 March 2024

p.7

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.

p.7

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—

p.7

Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

p.7

Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c))

p.7

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that the quality of care review: incorporates feedback from staff, families and professionals; is evaluative in nature; identifies learning from the past six months; and includes any actions to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. 11 March 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC423460 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Teen-Works Care Limited

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Lonsdale & Marsh Ltd, Cotton House, Old Hall Street, Liverpool L3 9TX

p.8

Inspector

Kelly McCurdy, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC423460 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.

p.8

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspector

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.9

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.9