Children's Home run by Quality Protects Children Ltd in Knowsley

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC405448 1 SC405448 Registered provider: Quality Protects Children Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is privately owned. The home provides care for up to four children who may experience social, emotional and learning difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this visit, there was one child living in the home.

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This monitoring visit

On 7 March 2024, an assurance inspection was carried out at the home. Serious shortfalls were found in safeguarding practice and in the leadership and management arrangements in the home.

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This monitoring visit

As a result, Ofsted made a decision to restrict accommodation under section 22B of the Care Standards Act 2000. Compliance notices under regulation 12, the protection of children standard, and regulation 13, the leadership and management standard, were also issued.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the restriction notice and any action taken by the provider to meet the steps identified in the compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection there has been changes to management arrangements. The acting manager left following the last inspection. The registered manager who was acting as the service manager has returned to the home as the interim manager. The interim manager is child-centred and has a clear vision for the home. He has taken immediate action to carry out a critical overview and draw up a detailed action plan for the home. This identifies the shortfalls highlighted at the inspection and gives actions with realistic timescales. This is being reviewed and updated daily and Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC405448 2 already demonstrates significant improvements in care practices. The manager is supported by another registered manager in the company, who shares the same ethos and vision.

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This monitoring visit

The child who remained in the home has settled down and is making progress. They recently had an opportunity to go to London to a West End show and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The child said, ‘Things are ok here now.’

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, there have been four safeguarding incidents and a complaint. These have been well managed, with clear management oversight and an analysis of each incident. Any learning opportunities have been shared with staff and when required have been followed up and recorded in individual supervision sessions. This has improved care practice.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has reviewed the last physical intervention and identified key points of learning to improve practice.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have received additional training. This has focused on key areas including safeguarding, report writing, whistle-blowing, managing complaints and the responsibilities of staff in supporting children who may have a court-directed order in place to restrict their liberties and keep them safe. Staff said the training has been extensive and valuable and they have welcomed the opportunity to revisit training and develop their knowledge and skills. Further training has been identified by the manager in therapeutic parenting and adverse childhood experiences. This will ensure that staff build a portfolio of skills and knowledge to support children’s needs effectively.

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This monitoring visit

Staff were highly complimentary about the management support that is now in place. All staff have had individual supervision and attended a team meeting. This has provided them with an opportunity to reflect on their practice and identify as a team any areas for development. Staff morale is high and the team is committed to making a difference to children’s lives.

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This monitoring visit

At the case review on 29 April 2024, it was concluded that the provider had taken appropriate action to address the shortfalls identified at the assurance inspection, and the restriction notice has been lifted. Furthermore, the provider has taken sufficient action to meet the steps identified in the compliance notices under regulation 12, the protection of children standard, and regulation 13, the leadership and management standard.

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This monitoring visit

The additional requirements issued at the assurance inspection were not considered as part of this monitoring visit and will be considered as part of the next full inspection. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC405448 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/10/2023 Full Good 12/04/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 15/02/2022 Full Inadequate 26/11/2019 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC405448 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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home;

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Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority;

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Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed;

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Requirement Due date

that the child’s placing authority is contacted, and a review of that child’s relevant plans is requested, if—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person considers that the child is at risk of harm or has concerns that the care provided for the child is inadequate to meet the child’s needs;

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Requirement Due date

the child is, or has been, persistently absent from the home without permission. 21 April 2024 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC405448 5 (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(c)(e)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager must ensure that children are supported to experience positive moves in and out of the home. Furthermore, leaders and managers must ensure that those caring for children are equipped with the necessary skills, experience and qualifications to meet children’s specific needs.

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Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

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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

ascertain and consider each child’s views, wishes and feelings, and balance these against what they judge to be in the child’s best interests when making decisions about the child’s care and welfare;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to express views, wishes and feelings;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how the child’s views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child;

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Requirement Due date

regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home’s care. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders, managers and staff must ensure children are supported to provide feedback about the quality of care they receive and are consulted about the decisions that affect their lives. 21 April 2024

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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— 21 April 2024 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC405448 6 mutual respect and trust;

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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

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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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

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that children are helped to understand the impact of their own behaviours. There must be a consistent approach to behaviour support, including identified boundaries, routines and expectations.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)) 21 April 2024 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC405448 7 Specifically, the registered person must ensure that children’s records are updated and reviewed, to include all accurate information.

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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: SC405448 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Quality Protects Children Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Hill House, Archway Road, Huyton, Liverpool L36 9XB

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Inspectors

Nichola Croft, Social Care Inspector Michelle Edge, Senior His Majesty’s Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC405448 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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