Children's Home run by Tressell Homes Ltd in Wirral

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2702562 1 Registered provider: Tressell Homes Limited

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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 registered to provide care for up to three children who experience social and emotional difficulties and have learning difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The post for a registered manager is vacant.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, three children were living at the home.

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Inspection date: 13 March 2024

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 13 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: 2702562 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

Since the last inspection, one child has moved into the home. This was planned in consultation with staff and children already living at the home. Children continue to have positive relationships with staff and say they feel supported and listened to.

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Findings from the inspection

Education outcomes for children are varied. One child has made limited progress because they do not have a school place. There is a plan in place for staff to support the child’s education; however, there is no formal oversight of this from education professionals. Additionally, staff do not routinely follow the education plan, and managers have not put in place plans to support educational activities. Managers continue to challenge the placing authority and headteachers of the virtual school to address this lack of formal provision.

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Findings from the inspection

Behaviour management plans are clear and set out strategies staff must use that are individual to children. However, staff are not consistently following plans. This inconsistent response to behaviour means that children have not always been supported to manage their behaviour and feelings safely.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers and staff have researched the local offer for children. As a result, children now access local sports centres and libraries, and arrangements are in place for them to attend local youth provisions.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are supported to maintain positive relationships with individuals who are important to them, such as family members and friends. Managers and staff have developed positive relationships with those people to ensure that arrangements are safe. Children are supported to have family and friends visit the home and stay overnight.

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Findings from the inspection

There are clear risk assessments in place that identify children’s vulnerabilities. Staff understand the risks and what processes to follow should there be any safeguarding incidents. However, one child had access to television content that was unsuitable for their age. The acting manager identified and addressed this issue to prevent further use.

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Findings from the inspection

There is a consistent staff team in place. When the home has used agency staff, this has only been one individual. This has not impacted on the care of the children as they know the staff member well. This provides stability for the children.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, there have been changes to the management arrangements. The registered manager left in March 2024. An acting manager is in post, who is supported by the responsible individual. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2702562 3 Staff have not received regular practice-related supervision and are unable to discuss and share their concerns with managers and leaders. Staff said they do not feel that they could manage challenging situations and address unsafe behaviour effectively due to inconsistent practice across the team.

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Findings from the inspection

Monitoring systems are in place; however, they have not been used to identify and monitor the progress that children are making. This is a missed opportunity to review that quality of care and consider outcomes for children.

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Findings from the inspection

The acting manager has identified the shortfalls and put in place a clear plan that sets out actions to improve the care provided to all three children and strengthen practice.

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Findings from the inspection

There are shortfalls in the home environment, specifically in relation to children’s bedrooms. Holes and damage to the walls have not been repaired, and redecoration is required in the bedrooms and some communal areas. This does not support children to feel valued or experience a sense of permanence and belonging. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2702562 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/07/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2702562 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 education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

maintain regular contact with each child’s education and training provider, including engaging with the provider and the placing authority to support the child’s education and training and to maximise the child’s achievement;

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Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(vi)(viii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that children who are out of education engage in constructive activities during the school day. 26 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

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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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; 26 April 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2702562 6 ensure that the staff work have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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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)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the monitoring and auditing tools available in the home should be used to continuously monitor the quality of care to identify areas for improvement.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that supervision sessions for all staff, including the manager, are carried out in accordance with the provider’s internal supervision policy. 26 April 2024

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(b)(c) (2)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that damage to children’s bedrooms walls is repaired. In addition, ensure that the home is decorated to address wear and tear and that children are provided with furniture that is personalised to them and removed when damaged. 26 April 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2702562 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Tressell Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Tressell Homes Limited, Unit 41, Price Street Business Centre, Price Street, Birkenhead CH41 4JQ

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Inspector

Nicola Forrester, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2702562 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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