Children's Home run by Liv Children Care LTD in Milton Keynes

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2695213 1 Registered provider: Liv Children Care Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and provides care for up to two children. The aim of the home is to support children who experience social and emotional difficulties due to their early childhood experiences.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, there was one child living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in October 2022. The registered manager post has been vacant since April 2023. An acting manager has been in post since August 2023.

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This monitoring visit

The home’s first full inspection in May 2023 resulted in a judgement of requires improvement to be good. An assurance inspection was carried out on 31 October 2023. A monitoring visit was completed in December 2023, following concerns raised regarding the quality of care provided by staff and the safeguarding of children in the home. This monitoring visit was undertaken to address further concerns reported to Ofsted. These concerns relate to the safeguarding of, and quality of care provided to, a child living at the home.

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This monitoring visit

This visit found significant concerns regarding safeguarding practice and a lack of effective oversight by the manager. As a result of these shortfalls, a restriction of accommodation order has been issued. This means that no new children can be admitted to the home while this order is in place.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have not been able to manage a child’s complex behavioural and emotional needs. Staff do not have the skills, knowledge and experience to manage challenging situations effectively. Consequently, staff have called the police to assist them. However, some of these incidents did not warrant police involvement. This has resulted in the child’s arrest on a number of occasions. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2695213 2 Staff do not always take effective action to support and safeguard the child. Staff understand that the child has had difficult past experiences, and at times they attempt to use de-escalation techniques to support the child when incidents occur. However, actions taken by staff are not always effective in safeguarding the child. For example, an incident occurred in which the child was able to access alcohol while out shopping, despite being supported by two staff members. The staff were aware

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This monitoring visit

that the child had the alcohol. However, the child subsequently became intoxicated.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has completed some repairs in response to significant damage caused to the home. However, there remains a broken kitchen drawer, two broken windows and a broken toilet seat. One of the broken windows is boarded up while awaiting replacement.

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This monitoring visit

The kitchen door is bolted shut while awaiting repair. This has not been assessed for risk and poses a health and safety risk.

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This monitoring visit

Staff are supported and guided in caring for the child through reflective group discussions and sessions with the home’s clinical lead. Staff have been provided with relevant training. However, some training is overdue for several staff. Some staff feel overwhelmed by the challenges faced in caring for the child.

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This monitoring visit

Staff attempt to do meaningful work with the child. Staff physically intervene to keep the child and others safe. Staff have reflective conversations with the child following these incidents. The child is encouraged to think about the effect their behaviours have on themselves and others. The manager undertakes discussions with staff after each restraint. However, these conversations with children and staff do not take place consistently.

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This monitoring visit

The child has made some progress since living in the home. They are forming positive relationships with some staff and engaging with mental health services and the home’s clinical lead. They are also accessing tutoring.

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This monitoring visit

The current monitoring systems in place are not effective. Incidents involving the child are not always recorded. Some incidents have not had management oversight. These are missed opportunities to improve practice. Staff report that complaints have been received. However, records of complaints and how they were managed are not available.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, senior leaders have taken steps to provide the staff with additional training and clinical input. However, the staff remain unable to meet the child’s needs effectively. Staff have not been able to secure good outcomes for children or influence sustained progress. Since the home’s registration, there has been slow progress to address identified shortfalls and make improvement.

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This monitoring visit

The requirements and recommendations raised at the previous inspection have not been fully reviewed as part of this monitoring visit. Therefore, these requirements and recommendations are restated and have been updated as appropriate, in line Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2695213 3 with the findings from this visit. New requirements and recommendations have been added. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2695213 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/05/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2695213 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 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

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(vi)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff take prompt, effective action in responding to concerns about the child’s welfare and that staff are well supported to carry out their roles.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 1 April 2024

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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—

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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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; 1 April 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2695213 6 ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child’s respect and trust. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(ii)(iv)(viii))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 1 April 2024

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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

provide adequate means of escape from the home in the event of fire.

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Requirement Due date

If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(1) applies to the home—

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Requirement Due date

paragraph (1) does not apply; and 1 April 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2695213 7 the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home. (Regulation 25 (1)(b) (2)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 39 (3)) 1 April 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises used for the purposes of the children’s home at least once in each calendar year taking into account the requirement in regulation 12(2)(c) (the protection of children standard). (Regulation 46 (1))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 1 April 2024

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff follow up with the responsible local authority regarding independent return home interviews being carried out for children following their return to the home, after being missing from care or away from the home without permission. They should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)  The registered person should ensure that records of restraint are kept and enable the registered person and staff to review the use of control, discipline and restraint to identify effective practice and respond promptly when any issues or trends of concern emerge. The review should provide the opportunity for amending practice to ensure it meets the needs of each child. Records should be

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Recommendations

kept of discussions with staff about the use of the measure and discussions with the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.59)  The registered person should ensure that records demonstrate that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs and that the registered manager understands their key role in the training and development of staff in the home. Staff are to complete training when due. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11) Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2695213 8  The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing, well- maintained and supportive environment that meets the needs of the children. The home is to also comply with relevant health and safety legislation, as well as the

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Recommendations

home’s related practices. Repairs in the home are to be carried out in a timely manner. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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: 2695213 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Liv Children Care Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 128 City Road, London EC1V 2NX

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Inspector

Sasha Reid, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2695213 10 regulates and inspects 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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