Children's home run by Inspire Children’s Services Limited in St. Helens

Inspection report for children’s home: 1240801 1 Registered provider: Inspire Children’s Services Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private company and provides care for up to three children who may experience social or emotional difficulties and who have learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

Three children were living in the home 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: 1240801 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/05/2023 Full Good 08/11/2022 Full Good 23/03/2022 Full Good 12/11/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1240801 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have warm and nurturing relationships with children, and there is a friendly and relaxed atmosphere in the home. Children say that they like living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children attend education and make progress. Staff understand the importance of education for children and have high aspirations for them. Staff work with education providers to support children’s learning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children views and wishes are sought. Children have opportunities to explore their hobbies and try a range of new experiences. Staff support children to take part in activities such as horse-riding, bowling and attending the local sports club. This provides them with an opportunity to develop their confidence and make new friends.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff respect children’s relationships with family and friends. They support children to develop and maintain relationships with those who are important to them. Staff support children to safely spend time with family and friends, who are welcome in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the children to maintain good physical health. The children are encouraged to be active, eat healthily and attend all health appointments. One child has made good progress in developing positive self-care routines.

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

The manager and staff know and understand children’s individual vulnerabilities. Staff understand how to keep children safe, and they work collaboratively with relevant professionals. One social worker said, ‘Staff are responding appropriately to keep [name of child] safe.’

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

Staff support children through engaging them in meaningful direct work. They treat children with dignity and respect. Staff address children’s risks and vulnerabilities and support them to make more positive choices. Children say that they can talk to staff if they have a problem.

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

Behaviour support plans help staff to understand children’s behaviour and support positive change. Children are praised and receive rewards for doing well. Consequences are proportionate and fair.

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

Missing-from-care protocols are understood and followed by staff. Records of incidents of children going missing are detailed and describe the action staff will take to support children to return home safely. Staff actively look for children when they are missing and liaise with external professionals to help to reduce risk. Inspection report for children’s home: 1240801 4 The manager ensures that safer recruitment practices are implemented when considering employing new staff to work at the home. This means that only the most suitable staff work at the home and that it is a safe place for children to live.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by an experienced and qualified manager. He is supported by a committed deputy manager. Leaders and managers are child-centred and keen to achieve positive outcomes for the children. They work together to ensure that children are provided with good-quality care in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is suitably staffed to meet children’s needs. There is a stable core staff team in place and agency staff are not used. This helps to promote continuity of care for the children so they can develop ongoing relationships with trusted adults.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager knows the children well and is a good role model for staff and children. He ensures that the children’s plans identify their individual needs and align with the local authority care plan for each child. However, some plans do not contain the most up-to- date information, to reflect the progress that children make.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive ongoing support, supervision and guidance from managers. Supervision records demonstrate that staff are provided with opportunities to reflect on their practice and development. Staff describe the manager as supportive and say they enjoy working in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers do not consistently report serious incidents to Ofsted within the required timescales. This means the regulator has no initial oversight of what action staff take to keep children safe. A requirement is made to address this shortfall. Inspection report for children’s home: 1240801 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 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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children’s care plans and risk management plans contain accurate and up- to-date information. 8 June 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child —

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or 8 June 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 1240801 6 there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e))

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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: 1240801 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Inspire Children’s Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Inspire Children’s Services, Unit 3, Craig Court, Standish Street, St Helens WA10 1GJ

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Michael Bradshaw

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Inspector

Cathy Trengove, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1240801 8 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

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Inspector

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Inspector

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