Children's Home run by Liverpool City Council in Liverpool

Inspection report for children's home: SC035969 1 SC035969 Registered provider: Liverpool City Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

This local authority children’s home provides short breaks for up to seven children with physical and/or learning disabilities at any one time.

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Information about this children's home

There were three children staying overnight at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children's home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since April 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 for children's home: SC035969 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/03/2023 Full Good 14/03/2022 Full Good 05/12/2019 Full Good 09/08/2018 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children's home: SC035969 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have positive and trusting relationships with the staff. Children are supported by a staff team who treat them with dignity and respect. Staff speak fondly and passionately about the children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children's health needs are met. Parents take responsibility for routine appointments, but staff offer support to parents if they want it. Health updates are shared before a child stays at the home to ensure that there are appropriate arrangements in place for the safe administration and storage of medication.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children can express their views and contribute to their day-to day decisions during their stay. They have a choice in their meals and activities and are supported to understand key information through their preferred communication method. Staff use their established relationships with each child to help them share their views.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that they provide children with a wide range of stimulating and age- appropriate activities. Children have the opportunity to access experiences which they may not otherwise be able to access and they benefit greatly from spending time at the home on a short break.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The managers and staff have regular communication with parents and social workers and work together to promote positive outcomes for the children. Staff arrange regular family days including coffee mornings and Christmas celebrations. This helps family members to feel involved in the home and is a helpful opportunity for family and staff to build positive relationships with each other.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children are new to the service, they are made to feel welcome. This is done with the best possible planning, taking into account the children’s individual circumstances and the staff skills and training. There is a child-centred approach to deciding if the home and the staff team are able to meet the child's needs before they start their stays. However, on one occasion two children stayed at the home for longer than the agreed limit for short break arrangements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to leave the service in a planned way, particularly when children reach adulthood or require long term care. Staff work in partnership with other involved professionals to make sure that transitions are as smooth as possible. For two children who moved into a new home, the manager and staff ensured that their health and wellbeing needs were promoted and advocated for prior to them moving on.

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

The staff know the children who access the short breaks provision very well. Each child’s individual risks and needs are detailed in their plans. These are robust Inspection report for children's home: SC035969 4 documents which are frequently reviewed and updated and give clear information, guidance and strategies to staff to ensure that there is a consistent response to children. These plans link to targets and goals identified through children’s reviews and meetings.

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

One plan viewed during the inspection detailed the use of a walking belt for a child to keep them safe whilst in the community, however this is no longer an approved measure. Plans need updating to reflect this. When devices are used to restrict movement of a child, there needs to be clear guidance within plans to ensure staff know how, when, and why these devices are used.

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

There are a low number of occasions when children have been physically held. This demonstrates the effectiveness of the strategies within plans to support de- escalation and the positive relationships between children and staff. When it has been necessary to hold a child to keep them safe, it has been reasonable and proportionate. Reports include all necessary information, and the manager has oversight of these reports.

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

There have been no concerns, allegations or disclosures. However, staff have attended safeguarding training and staff spoken to during the inspection were able to explain the processes they would follow should there be a concern raised.

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

The physical environment for children is safe and secure and protects them from harm. In addition to this the home is warm and welcoming with photos of the children throughout. There is a sensory light room which provides children with a safe place to relax and unwind.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a suitably qualified manager who is supported by an experienced deputy manager. Together they have worked hard to create a culture in which staff place the needs of children at the heart of their practice and aspire to improve the lives of the children who access the service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff spoken to describe the management team as, ‘being approachable and having an open-door policy and always available to offer guidance, support and advice.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are effective systems in place for the monitoring and review of the home. These ensure that the leaders and managers have oversight and can identify strengths and areas for development to improve the service and care delivered by the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervisions are detailed and take place regularly. There is an emphasis on coaching and mentoring to support staff development. However, the records do not show how staff have reflected on their practice during the supervision sessions. In addition to this, sessional workers do not have supervision regularly. Inspection report for children's home: SC035969 5 There is a consistent and stable staff team who are suitably qualified. Staff are trained in mandatory subjects and subjects to meet the children's specific needs. However, managers should make sure that staff can access appropriate resources to support their training needs. For example, managers should seek out additional information about relevant conditions such as Pica, to enhance staff knowledge and understanding.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings are held regularly and are well attended. They are an opportunity for staff to get together and share information and good practice. Staff have clear roles and responsibilities and have a shared sense of ownership and accountability; they work well as a team and managers lead by example. Inspection report for children's home: SC035969 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, 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

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;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(v))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that plans clearly identify when devices are used to restrict movement of a child and there are clear instructions to staff of how and when to use these. 19 April 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children's home a statement ("the statement of purpose") which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

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 (1)(5))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, that the registered manager must ensure that no single placement is intended to last for more than 17 days and that the short breaks do not exceed 75 days in total in any twelve month period. 24 March 2024

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate resources to support their training needs. For example, managers should seek out additional Inspection report for children's home: SC035969 7 information about Pica to enhance staff knowledge and understanding. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 53, paragraph 10.11)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they have systems in place so that all staff, including sessional staff, receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional, which allows them to reflect on their practice. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 61, paragraph 13.2)

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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: SC035969 8

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Director of Children and Young Persons Services, 5th Floor, Cunard Building, Water Street, Liverpool L3 1AH

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Inspector(s)

Katie Tomlinson, social care inspector Cheryl Field, social care inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC035969 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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