Children's Home run by PIC Children’s Services in St Helens

Inspection report for children’s home: SC022442 1 SC022442 Registered provider: PIC Childrens Services Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and is registered to provide care for one child who experiences social and/or emotional difficulties. One child was living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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inadequate

There are serious and/or widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded and the care and experiences of children and young people are poor and they are not making progress.

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC022442 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/04/2023 Full Good 22/11/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 27/09/2022 Full Inadequate 17/03/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC022442 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The child’s overall progress and experiences have been negatively affected due to an unstable and inconsistent staff team.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

One child has remained living in the home since the previous inspection. The child says that they are happy living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Changes to the staff team and the leadership and management of the home mean that the child has not received a consistent level of care and support. This has had an adverse impact on the child’s overall progress and experiences. In some areas, outcomes for the child are poor.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff are not supporting the child in line with the therapeutic model of care as outlined in the statement of purpose. Induction processes for new staff in the home are not adequate. This means that they do not have the knowledge and understanding of how to support the child’s needs. Records do not demonstrate that staff help the child to manage risks or support their emotional needs and well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The child has developed a strong and trusting relationship with one member of staff, who supports the child well. This member of staff takes the child out to enjoy a variety of activities in the community and to engage in new and existing hobbies, including hiking and fishing. These activities promote an active and healthy lifestyle. This has helped the child’s emotional well-being. However, the child’s progress is reliant on the support they receive from this member of staff. The child does not receive a consistent level of support from other members of the team. This impacts on the child’s engagement with education and activities in the community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Outcomes for the child’s education are poor. Limited progress has been made since living in the home. Staff know the child’s barriers to education. However, they are not proactive in supporting the child to overcome these. Opportunities for the child to access suitable education provisions have been missed. As a result, the child is not achieving his full educational potential.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff support the child to spend time with family and friends in line with his wishes. Staff support children to manage relationships when difficulties arise.

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

Not all staff understand the child’s vulnerabilities and needs, for example in relation to substance misuse. Therefore, staff do not provide the child with consistent strategies to help manage and reduce risks. Inspection report for children’s home: SC022442 4 Risk assessments and behaviour support plans are of poor quality. Records are not complete and do not include all known and emerging risks for the child. Plans are not updated following incidents. Not all staff have read and understood the child’s support plans and risk assessments. This includes the responsible individual, who spends regular time in the home with the child. Records do not include managerial oversight or evaluation. This means that the manager does not have effective oversight of the care being provided to the child by the staff team.

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

Incentives are used to promote positive behaviour. The responsible individual offers the child opportunities to earn extra money by carrying out improvements in the home. However, details relating to this are not included in any of the child’s records. Therefore, this practice is not reviewed to ensure that it is appropriate and that incentives remain relevant.

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

There have been few incidents of challenging behaviour. However, staff do not demonstrate professional curiosity when incidents occur. Staff do not take action to support the child when they leave the home in heightened states. Staff do not recognise patterns in the child’s behaviour. Incidents that occur are considered in isolation.

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

Staff do not recognise the signs of exploitation. They do not take action to support the child following disclosures of witnessing traumatic events.

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

Incidents of the child being missing from the home and involved in criminal activity have reduced. However, incidents still occur, and staff do not have the skills to manage these well. Systems to share information among the staff team are poor. Therefore, there are gaps in staff’s knowledge. This impacts on staff’s daily practice to keep the child safe.

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

Recruitment of new staff, including agency staff, is safe. However, leaders and managers do not provide effective support to new and inexperienced staff in the home. New staff have not received any formal supervision from managers. They do not have the knowledge of key safeguarding professionals or processes to manage safeguarding concerns in the event of potential conflicts of interest.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The current management arrangements are poor and ineffective. This has had an adverse impact on the child’s overall safety, progress and experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There is no registered manager in post. The home is currently being overseen by another manager in the organisation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The child’s plans are not developed in line with local authority care plans. The manager has not taken sufficient action to ensure that up-to-date local authority care plans and documents are on file. This means that staff do not understand the child’s identified needs. Inspection report for children’s home: SC022442 5 Staff do not provide care to the child in line with the therapeutic approach as outlined in the home’s statement of purpose. This has not been addressed by leaders and managers to ensure that staff receive the required training. Furthermore, the statement of purpose does not reflect the information required in respect of staff’s qualifications and experience.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Changes to the staff team mean that several members of staff have left the home who had established relationships with the child. The child was not provided with opportunities to experience positive endings in these relationships. This had a detrimental impact on the child’s emotional well-being. The child is now cared for by a new staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There are shortfalls in the home’s rota system. Rotas do not include the hours that the manager works in the home. Furthermore, they do not consistently identify staff working in the home to cover absences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff do not receive regular or reflective supervision. Team meetings do not take place on a regular basis. Records of team meetings that have taken place do not demonstrate that staff have opportunities to reflect on their learning, developmental needs or to discuss care practices. They do not reflect the progress made to meet agreed actions. This means that staff are not provided with the level of support that they need.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

An independent person visits the home monthly. However, recommendations and actions identified in reports are not addressed promptly by leaders and managers. Workforce development plans do not reflect the new staff to the home. Quality of care reports are detailed and identify shortfalls and improvements that are needed in the home. However, reports are not shared with Ofsted within an appropriate time frame.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager has not notified Ofsted of serious incidents in the home. This means that the regulator does not have oversight of serious incidents to ensure that the manager takes the necessary action to keep the child safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Due to the serious concerns identified at this inspection, compliance notices were issued under Regulation 12 (the protection of children standard) and Regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard). Inspection report for children’s home: SC022442 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, 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 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

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that all staff read and understand the child’s plans and risks and take action to support the child when risks of substance misuse and exploitation are identified. 1 July 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC022442 7 *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;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home 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)(b)(c)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that there is regular managerial oversight of the daily practice in the home. Managers must provide supervision to all staff and ensure that new members of staff are provided with support and guidance during induction periods of employment. 1 July 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. 1 July 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC022442 8 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(iv)(v))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that staff are trained to deliver therapeutic care to the child in line with the home’s statement of purpose and that they know and understand the child’s risks and needs.

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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—

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Requirement Due date

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

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Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

raise any need for further assessment or specialist provision in relation to a child with the child’s education or training provider and the child’s placing authority;

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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 1 July 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC022442 9 educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(vii)(viii)(x))

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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 the understanding and skills to recognise or withdraw from a damaging, exploitative or harmful relationship;

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Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child’s respect and trust;

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Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children;

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Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (2)(a)(i)(vii)(viii)(ix)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that the staff team provides the child with focused work and sessions to address risks and needs. The registered person must ensure that the manager has oversight of the work carried out with the child and that records are maintained to reflect the support provided. 1 July 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy which—

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Requirement Due date

sets out the procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect.

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Requirement Due date

The procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect must, in particular— 1 July 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC022442 10 provide for the prompt referral of an allegation about current or ongoing abuse or neglect in relation to a child to the placing authority and, if different, the local authority in whose area the home is located;

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Requirement Due date

describe the measures which may be necessary to protect children following an allegation of abuse or neglect; and

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Requirement Due date

describe how and to whom staff are to report, without delay, any concern about abuse or neglect of a child. (Regulation 34 (1)(b) (2)(b)(e)(f))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered person ensuring that all staff are aware of and understand the whistle-blowing policy.

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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, the registered person must ensure that all staff receive supervision and that robust induction processes are followed when recruiting new members of staff. 1 July 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

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e)) 1 July 2024

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Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are kept up to date. (Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to the registered person ensuring that staff rotas reflect the staff on duty and the hours worked by the manager. 1 July 2024

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff— 1 July 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC022442 11 if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that all up-to- date local authority plans and documents are on file and that concerns are escalated when documents are not received within an appropriate time frame.

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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

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (1) (3)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that the statement of purpose includes details of all staff’s qualifications and experience. 1 July 2024

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meets children’s needs. In most cases, children’s homes will be homely, domestic environments. Specifically, ensure that the decor is maintained to a good standard throughout the home, any remedial works are carried out promptly and the bathroom is refurbished. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) Inspection report for children’s home: SC022442 12

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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: SC022442 13

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: PIC Childrens Services

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: PIC Childrens Services Limited, 2 North Street, Haydock, St Helens WA11 0TW

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Inspectors

Claire Hobbs, Social Care Inspector Genevieve O’Reilly, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC022442 14 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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