Children's Home run by ECS CARE LIMITED in Lancashire

Inspection report for children's home: 2720875 1 Registered provider: ECS Care 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 privately owned and registered to provide care for one child who may experience emotional and/or social difficulties. One child was living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

This was the first inspection since the home was registered.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children's home: 2720875 2

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improvement to be good

There is one child living in the home. The child says that they are happy living in the home. The child values the time staff spend with them and says that they feel listened to. As a result, the child has developed strong and trusting relationships with the staff team since living here.

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improvement to be good

Staff spend time getting to know the child when they move into the home. Visits to the child before moving into the home helps the child to familiarise themselves with the staff team. Opportunities for the child to visit the home helps the child to alleviate any anxie- ties they may have before moving in. Consultations with professionals and previous car- ers means that staff have a good understanding of the child’s background and needs when they move into the home.

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improvement to be good

Staff support the child to lead an active and healthy lifestyle. The child is provided with opportunities to enjoy new and existing hobbies outside of the home. When the child has suffered with sport injuries staff help the child to recover. However, these injuries are not reflected within the child’s records. Therefore, the child’s health plan does not have relevant up to date information so staff can continue to support the child to recover from injuries and return to engaging in sports safely.

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improvement to be good

The manager is ambitious for the child to succeed in education. She is proactive in iden- tifying placements that will meet the child’s needs. She is a strong advocate for the child to be able to access education and will challenge professionals when decisions are made that may hinder the child in reaching their full potential. As a result, the child is now making good progress in their education.

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improvement to be good

Staff promote positive behaviour through the use of incentives. Staff support the child to reflect on negative behaviour through focused work. However, the quality of recording for this is poor. Records do not reflect who the child has spent time with in undertaking this work or include the child’s views. Furthermore, records do not reflect that the man- ager has oversight of the care being provided to the child. This limits the manager’s abil- ity to ensure that the child’s needs are being met.

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improvement to be good

Staff support the child to spend time with those important to them. Friends are wel- comed into the home and staff spend time getting to know them. Staff respect the child’s wishes regarding relationships with family members whom they have not seen for long periods of time and advocate on their behalf for this to progress. Inspection report for children's home: 2720875 3

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improvement to be good

The child is cared for by a stable and consistent staff team. Staff spend time with the child and know the child’s risks well. As a result, the child has developed relationships with the staff based on mutual trust and respect.

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improvement to be good

Staff understand the risks posed to the child from the internet and social media. Staff support the child to access the internet and social media safely. However, the child’s rec- ords do not identify when checks are undertaken on the child’s phone and the outcomes of any changes. This hinders the manager’s ability to identify escalating concerns and emerging risks for the child.

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improvement to be good

Staff support the child when they have suffered harm when out of the home. As a result, the child feels well cared for. Staff recognise the child’s vulnerabilities. However, staff do not identify signs that the child may be at further risk of harm in the community. Inci- dents of substance misuse, and criminal behaviour are managed in isolation. Staff do not recognise when the child’s behaviour could indicate signs of exploitation. Room searches are not undertaken following concerns of drug use or smoking in bedrooms.

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improvement to be good

Incidents of the child being missing from the home are rare. The child’s records provide clear and detailed guidance for staff to follow in the event of the child being missing. Ac- tion is taken following incidents of the child leaving the home without staff knowledge. However, incident records do not include managerial evaluation or oversight. As a result, records do not identify the shortfalls in staff practice or action that is taken to address this.

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improvement to be good

Risk assessment documents do not include all known risks for the child. This means that staff do not have clear guidance or strategies to follow to safeguard the child and man- age specific risks and vulnerabilities. The child’s records do not reflect the involvement from criminal justice agencies who are working with the child following incidents of crim- inal behaviour.

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improvement to be good

Behaviour management plans are written in a child friendly format. Plans reflect the child’s wishes and preferences on how to manage behaviour. However, these do not identify specific strategies for individual needs or behaviours.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The home is managed by an experienced manager. She is committed and passionate to provide quality care to the child living in the home. The manager has worked hard to create a warm and happy home environment. The manager has high aspirations for the child. She has high expectations of the staff team to share these aspirations. Inspection report for children's home: 2720875 4 The manager holds the staff team in high regard. She is committed to providing a caring and nurturing environment for both the child and that staff team. As a result, staff say they are happy working in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff say that they are supported in their roles. Systems are in place to ensure that inex- perienced staff are supported by experienced and qualified colleagues. Staff new to the home are provided with regular supervision and support. Staff benefit from regular team meetings. However, records do not demonstrate that these forums provide opportunities for staff to reflect on their practice. Actions are not identified or monitored.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The child is cared for in line with a therapeutic model of care. However, not all staff have undertaken training on this, and this model of care is not reflected within the home’s statement of purpose.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager knows the child well. However, child’s records do not reflect that the man- ager has oversight of the daily care provided to them. Records of direct work undertaken with the child are of poor quality and do not include any managerial oversight or evalua- tion. Furthermore, not all incident records have been overseen by the manager. This hin- ders the managers ability to ensure that the child’s needs are being met and identify fur- ther support that may be required. Inspection report for children's home: 2720875 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 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

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.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, that the registered person ensures that children’s records are up to date, include all known risks and work being undertaken by other agencies. The registered person must ensure that records reflect all actions taken to safeguard the child and record outcomes of device checks. 10 July 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

promotes their welfare. 10 July 2024 Inspection report for children's home: 2720875 6 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(c)(e)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, that the registered person has oversight of the work being undertaken with the child and evaluates staff practice including all incidents. The registered person must ensure that all staff undertake training to meet the child’s needs. The registered person must ensure that team meeting minutes reflect topics discussed and actions identified.

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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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

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans.

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, that the registered person ensures that all health needs for the child are reflected and recorded within the child’s plan. 10 July 2024

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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; and 10 July 2024 Inspection report for children's home: 2720875 7 are signed and dated by the author of each entry.

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Requirement Due date

This relates to the recording of direct work sessions that are undertaken with the child.

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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: 2720875 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 57 Sonning Avenue, Liverpool L21 9JG

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Inspectors

Claire Hobbs, Social Care Inspector Nicola Rutherford, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2720875 9 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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Inspectors

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