Children's Home run by New Start in Liverpool

Inspection report for children’s home: SC444411 1 SC444411 Registered provider: New Start Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private provider. It provides care for one child who is unable to live at home due to emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in February 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home and spoke to the inspector about their experiences living there.

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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 requires improvement to be good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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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: SC444411 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/10/2022 Full Good 14/09/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 25/04/2019 Full Good 24/04/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC444411 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child likes living in the home and says that they are happy. They are helped by staff to make good progress in all areas of their life. The progress they make is underpinned by the positive and trusting relationships that they have been supported to develop with staff, who care about them. Staff know the child well and have a good understanding of their interests, likes and dislikes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child benefits from clear routines and boundaries and is being supported to develop their understanding of expectations in the home and how to treat others with respect. However, at times, language used by the manager and staff is not reflective of trauma-informed care and has the potential to give the child mixed messages about how they are viewed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is supported to spend time with their family and other people who are important to them, to enable them to benefit from these relationships when they move on from the home. One parent was pleased about the progress their child is making and said, ‘They are a different child from the one who moved into the home.’ Arrangements were made to help the child restart family time with another parent after a long absence. This was done in a sensitive manner and at the right pace for the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is now attending school, whereas before they had a tutor in the home. Their attendance at school is extremely high. Staff have developed a close working relationship and clear lines of communication with school staff to ensure they are always given the most relevant information to care for the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has access to a range of activities. They have developed an interest in theme parks and can earn incentives to put towards trips to different parks. They have also joined a local St John Ambulance cadet service, which has enabled them to gain credits towards an award. The child aspires to become a paramedic and staff are helping them to work towards their goal.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is warm and welcoming. The child has been involved in choosing the decor and furnishings for their home. Their photos and certificates of achievement are proudly on display around the home.

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

The child says that they feel safe living in the home and that staff help them to work through different issues. Staff are responsive to the child’s needs and work proactively to ensure that they are kept safe from harm. Staff communicate effectively to ensure that relevant information is shared appropriately, in the child’s best interests. Inspection report for children’s home: SC444411 4 Risks for the child are understood well by staff. Risk plans are detailed and are completed with the child to ensure that they are supported to understand their vulnerabilities and risks in the home, in the community and online.

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

Staff are vigilant and able to identify potential triggers for the child. They use strategies to help the child when they become anxious, worried or upset. Staff rarely need to hold the child to keep them safe. When incidents do occur, the child and staff are spoken to by the manager, and they are able to reflect and learn from the incident.

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

Regular key-work sessions take place with the child to help them to understand issues that are affecting them. These cover a range of issues, such as relationships, online safety and healthy living. These sessions help the child to make informed choices.

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

One new member of staff has been recruited since the last inspection. The recruitment processes in place are robust and effective. This means that the child is looked after by suitable people.

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good

The home is led by a suitably qualified and experienced manager. The manager is supported by an experienced deputy manager. However, both managers are in the process of leaving the home and the provider is implementing plans to support the home during this transition period.

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good

The quality of staff supervision sessions is variable and records do not demonstrate that staff are being supported to reflect on their practice. The frequency of supervision is not indicated in the workforce development plan and there are long gaps between sessions being held. This does not consistently support staff to develop in their roles.

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good

Team meetings take place regularly and provide staff with opportunities to reflect on the child’s progress and to develop practice in the home. However, meetings do not follow the therapeutic agenda as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. Minutes from team meetings do not reflect discussions that have taken place. This is a missed opportunity to ensure that all staff know what has been discussed and agreed.

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good

Staff are provided with a wide range of mandatory and bespoke training to enable them to meet the child’s needs. They also benefit from the support of the organisation’s clinical psychologist. As a result, staff have the necessary knowledge and skills to promote the child’s safety and welfare. However, the therapeutic ethos implemented in the home is not reflected in children’s records, team meeting minutes or supervision. In addition, the clinical supervision details for the home’s therapist are not included in the home’s workforce development plan. Inspection report for children’s home: SC444411 5 The manager uses monitoring and review systems to understand what is working well and the areas for improvement in the home. This means that managers and staff can identify and act on shortfalls to improve the quality of care that the child receives. However, a requirement identified by the fire service in the home’s fire risk

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good

assessment in relation to a fire door has not been acted on. This leaves children and staff vulnerable and compromises the provider’s compliance with fire regulations. Inspection report for children’s home: SC444411 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

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

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Requirement Due date

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 (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered person ensuring that issues identified in the home’s fire risk assessment are acted on. 25 April 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff receive good-quality and regular supervision that enables them to reflect on their practice. 25 April 2024

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must ensure that the home is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose. (Regulation 16 (5))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to team meetings not having a therapeutic focus as outlined in the home’s statement of purpose. 25 April 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC444411 7

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home’s workforce plan clearly reflects the clinical supervision details of health professionals commissioned to work with children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)  The registered person should ensure that staff and managers use language that is reflective of nurturing, trauma-informed care when speaking to children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.10)

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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: SC444411 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: New Start Ltd, 179 Townsend Lane, Clubmoor, Liverpool L13 9DY

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Inspector

Colin Jones, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC444411 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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