Children's Home run by Liv Children Care LTD in Milton Keynes

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2695213 1 Registered provider: Liv Children Care LTD

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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 owned and provides care for up to two children. The aim of the home is to support children who experience social and emotional difficulties due to their early childhood experiences. At the time of this inspection, there was one child living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in October 2022. The registered manager’s post has been vacant since April 2023. A new manager has been identified and is awaiting final recruitment checks before starting in the role.

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This monitoring visit

The home’s first full inspection in May 2023 resulted in a judgement of requires improvement to be good. An assurance inspection was carried out on 31 October 2023 and no serious or widespread concerns were identified. A monitoring visit was completed in December 2023, following concerns raised regarding the quality of care provided by staff and the safeguarding of children in the home. A further monitoring visit was completed on 12 February due to concerns relating to the safeguarding of, and quality of care provided to, a child living at the home. A notice of restriction was issued on 21 February 2024. This was due to concerns found at the monitoring visit on 12 February and further concerns that arose after the visit.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the restriction notice.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has adhered to the notice of restriction and no children have moved into the home. One child moved out of the home on 27 February 2024. The provider has continued to provide on-going support to the child in their new home. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2695213 2 Staff have completed training in safeguarding children, therapeutic parenting and behaviour management, to help improve their knowledge and skills. Staff have been working in the providers other home to gain more experience in their role. There has been a focus on supporting staff to complete the residential childcare qualification within the required time frames. While staff have completed additional training to support them in their role, the effectiveness of this has not been tested and remains unknown due to no children living in the home.

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This monitoring visit

The home’s clinician has completed work with staff to reflect on the previous shortfalls and the impact that these had on children. The responsible individual has met with the local police to promote better partnership working and reflect on the staff’s use of police during previous incidents. This approach has allowed the provided to reflect and identify lessons learned to improve future practice.

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This monitoring visit

The responsible individual has implemented improved monitoring systems to ensure that there is oversight of staff training, supervision and the quality of care. They recognise that the frequency of supervision is an area of development. Each member of staff now has an individual support plan. This is a new process and not yet embedded in practice.

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This monitoring visit

The home is well maintained and previous concerns about the condition of the home have been rectified.

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This monitoring visit

The home has sufficient staff to admit one child. There is a manager identified and should there be any delay with the manager starting in their role, there is an alternative plan in place. The responsible individual does not intend to admit children until a planned acquisition by another company has taken place. This is due to take place at the end of May.

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This monitoring visit

Following this monitoring visit, the restriction notice will not be reissued. The remaining requirements and recommendations will be re stated and reviewed at the next inspection. These were not reviewed as part of this visit. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2695213 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/05/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2695213 4

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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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child’s respect and trust. (Regulation 11(1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(ii)(iv)(viii)

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 1 July 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 39 (3))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 1 July 2024

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff follow- up with the responsible local authority regarding independent return home interviews being carried out for children following their return to the home, after being missing from care or away from the home without permission. Homes They should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2695213 5 arrangements in place to protect each child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)  The registered person should ensure that records of restraint are kept and should enable the registered person and staff to review the use of control, discipline, and restraint to identify effective practice and respond promptly where when any issues or trends of concern emerge. The review should provide the opportunity for

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Recommendations

amending practice to ensure it meets the needs of each child. Records should be kept of discussions with staff about the use of the measure and discussions with the child. (‘Guide to the Children’ s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.59)  The registered person should ensure that records demonstrate that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs and that the registered manager understands their key role in the training and development of staff in the home. Staff are to complete training when due. ( Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53 paragraph 10.11)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2695213 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Liv Children Care LTD

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 128 City Road, London EC1V 2NX

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Inspector

Lisa O’Donovan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2695213 7 and inspects 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

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Inspector

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Inspector

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