Children's home run by Carehome Limited in Liverpool

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC044276 1 SC044276

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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 run. It is registered to provide care for up to four children. It provides care for children who may experience social and emotional difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of inspection, there were two children living in this home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2023.

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Inspection date: 25 March 2024

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 25 March 2024

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, 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. 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: SC044276 2

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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.

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Findings from the inspection

Planning for the children’s care within the home has improved because the manager has good oversight of the children’s records. The plans provide staff with clear direction about how to meet the children’s needs and to keep them safe. Further to this, the plans are now written in a child-friendly way and staff avoid using stigmatising language. This means that children understand their records and can contribute to them.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s participation and attendance at school is excellent. As a result, they are making good progress across all subjects. Likewise, children are in good health because staff encourage them to attend health appointments and receive the treatment that they need, such as having dental treatment.

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Findings from the inspection

Children enjoy a range of activities outside of school. Children have fun and are supported to build positive relationships with the adults looking after them.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s bedrooms are personalised to reflect their individual tastes and children have a say in how the home is decorated. They proudly display their artwork throughout the home. Internal locks have been removed from internal doors. This means that children can access all areas of the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Safeguarding incidents are well managed. Staff appropriately notify Ofsted of safeguarding concerns. This gives the regulator’s a good oversight of the actions taken by staff to keep children safe. Staff understand their role and responsibilities in safeguarding children. They receive a wealth of training in safeguarding topics and these are refreshed regularly.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are rarely physically held in this home. Staff understand that this should be used only as a last resort to keep children safe. However, the records of such incidents do not contain all the information required by regulation. For example, the record does not describe the events leading up to the intervention, what de- escalation was used to avoid holding the child, there is not a description of the hold used and the manager has not discussed whether the intervention was effective or not. This does not ensure that the manager can use the information provided, to look for trends and patterns or have clear oversight of the incident.

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Findings from the inspection

There has only been one occasion of a child being reported missing from the home. When children do go missing from the home, staff act swiftly and rigorously, following agreed protocols. Additionally, the manager ensures that independent return interviews are completed. These interviews provide the child with the opportunity to discuss the reasons behind their behaviour, which helps to prevent reoccurrence. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC044276 3 There is a suitably qualified manager leading this home. He has addressed the requirements and recommendations made at the last inspection. The manager now has effective systems of oversight to improve the quality of care for children and to assess staff’s practice and development.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff communicate well with other professionals. They make sure that professionals in health, social care and education all have the information they need to meet children’s needs.

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Findings from the inspection

Children receive care from an established team. This allows them to form lasting relationships with the adults looking after them. Children feel a sense of stability and consistency.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff access a variety of training, including online training. This enables staff to understand the children’s needs, and any new developments or changes in practice or legislation. This is now further supported through regular supervision and appraisals of their practice. Staff meetings are regular. The manager makes good use of team meetings and uses a range of resources and topics to help ensure that staff have up-to-date knowledge of current research and practice issues. As a result, staff understand their role and responsibilities in caring for the children well.

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Findings from the inspection

External monitoring of the home is good. The independent visitor regularly consults with the children and professionals to gain their views about the quality of care at the home. This means that the manager can improve and develop the home. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC044276 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/06/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 08/03/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 25/03/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 01/12/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC044276 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

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and 31 May 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC044276 6 within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)(iv)) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC044276 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Hanover Buildings, 11-13 Hanover street, Liverpool, Merseyside L1 3DN United Kingdom

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Christopher Minogue

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Inspector

Pam Nuckley, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC044276 8 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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