Children's Home run by New Start in Knowsley

Inspection report children's home: SC471289 1 SC471289 Registered provider: New Start Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is managed by a private company. The home provides care for up to four children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2023.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: SC471289 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/06/2022 Full Good 22/03/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 14/07/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 18/06/2019 Full Good Inspection report children's home: SC471289 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress in relation to their starting points. They benefit from positive relationships with staff, who provide them with consistency and stability in their lives. Staff provide children with well-planned, highly personalised care that promotes their needs effectively. A child said, ‘It’s the best place I have ever lived. The activities are boss. The staff are nice, and they look after us.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A child that recently moved into the home is being supported by staff to settle in. A social worker said, ‘The staff have been brilliant and so understanding of her experiences. They have been very empathetic.’ However, the child does not have a pathway plan which is required to ensure that they are prepared to live independently.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work closely with social workers, schools and other professional agencies to ensure that children benefit from the best possible help and all-round support. Staff promote family time to ensure that children sustain their close relationships with the people who are most important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff consistently have high aspirations for children and encourage them to attend school regularly. They work in collaboration with the providers of their education to promote their educational achievement. A teacher reported, ‘From the interactions we have had both as a school and personally, I believe that the best thing about the home is that they are fully invested in bettering the lives of the children.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote the health needs of children effectively and ensure that they have access to the services they need to be healthy. They work constructively with the home’s therapist to support children’s emotional and psychological well-being. A child said, ‘Were looked after well. Staff are the best thing about living here. They have given me a purpose.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide children with enjoyable activities. As a result, children’s interests and hobbies are promoted. Children have enjoyed drone flying, nature walks and water boarding.

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

Staff promote the safety of children and prioritise their well-being effectively. Children are kept safe and feel safe. They develop a strong sense of personal safety.

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

Staff have a good understanding of the specific needs and emerging vulnerabilities of children and take appropriate action to address them. They implement clear risk management plans to guide them to reduce risks to children to keep them safe from harm. Inspection report children's home: SC471289 4 Staff manage the behaviours of children safely and effectively. Physical intervention is only ever used, as a last resort, to protect children from harm. Staff use de- escalation techniques effectively, to prevent unwanted and unsafe behaviours from escalating. A child said, ‘Staff know how to deal with behaviours, and they help you calm down. Staff are good at calming down situations.’

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

Staff are trained in child protection and are familiar with their safeguarding roles and responsibilities. They have recently received training on managing allegations from the Local Authorities Designated Officer (LADO). This ensures that they are familiar with the procedures for managing allegations and reporting concerns to the appropriate authorities. Staff demonstrate professional curiosity and are always alert to the risk of harm.

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

It is a rare occurrence for children to go missing from the home. When missing from home incidents have occurred, staff actively look for children and on occasions have persuaded children to return. Staff follow the home’s missing-from-home protocols effectively. They work closely with the police to secure the children’s safety and safe return.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection, a new manager has been recruited and registered. Staff find the manager approachable and supportive. The manager demonstrates effective leadership of the day-to-day operations. They are a visible and strong presence in the children’s lives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The training needs of staff are identified and met. Staff benefit from good quality training that enables them to meet the specific needs of children. They benefit from regular practice related supervision and child focused team meetings to monitor and improve children’s the progress and experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are committed to meeting the aims and objectives, as set out, in the home’s statement of purpose. They strive to provide a good quality service for children that contributes to change and improvement in their lives. Staff provide children with a physically safe, appropriately secure, warm, comfortable and homely living environment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is a spacious property with extensive grounds and gardens for children to relax and socialise together. Children’s bedrooms are suitably furnished in accordance with their wishes. The home is maintained to a high standard by staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager uses monitoring activities effectively to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the care provided. This enables them to quickly address any identified shortfalls to secure continuing improvement. The manager has met and addressed the requirement and recommendations from the last inspection. Inspection report children's home: SC471289 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that a pathway plan is obtained for an eligible care leaver. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, paragraph 3.27, page 17)

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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 children's home: SC471289 6

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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

Anthony Kyem, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: SC471289 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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