Children's Home run by Eastfield Group in Sefton

Inspection report for children’s home: SC064663 1 SC064663 Registered provider: Eastfield Group

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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 operated by a private organisation. It provides care for up to seven children who may experience social or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since May 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, there were six children living in the home. Four children spoke to the inspectors about their experiences living in the home.

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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: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC064663 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/03/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 02/08/2022 Full Good 15/03/2022 Full Good 26/10/2021 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: SC064663 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children say that they are happy and like living in the home. They make good progress in all areas of their lives and are supported to develop positive relationships with staff, who know them well. External professionals who work with the children are complimentary about the care provided by the team.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is large and well furnished. The children’s bedrooms are decorated nicely and reflect their individual personalities. The home is well maintained, with a large garden that provides children with a safe space where they can relax and spend time.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are well supported. All children are in good health and are registered with relevant health professionals. Staff ensure that children are up to date with immunisations. They also engage other professionals to ensure that they have the necessary support in place to meet a child’s health needs. Older children are supported to access specialist services, enabling them to develop their understanding and awareness around their sexual health.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s identities are well supported. Festivals related to the children’s different faiths are celebrated with sensitivity. During Ramadan, staff were available at specific times of the day and night to enable children to participate and actively celebrate. This demonstrates respect for different faiths and cultures and helps children to feel valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children are helped to attend education and are making progress. Some children are in school and others at college, with bespoke packages of education. Staff attend meetings with education staff and the headteacher of the virtual school and are clear about children’s plans. This enables children to feel supported and helps them to achieve their academic potential.

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

Children say that they feel safe living in the home. Staff spend quality time developing relationships with children, to help them feel safe and secure in the home. Consequently, children are able to talk to staff about things that are important to them.

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

Children benefit from key-work sessions delivered by staff that cover a range of subjects, including relationships, sexual and mental health and aspirations. Children understand these sessions well and say that they help them. Records of the sessions are translated into the children’s first languages, enabling them to read back what they have discussed. Inspection report for children’s home: SC064663 4 Since the last inspection, improvements to children’s risk management plans mean that plans now include children’s known and presenting risks and provide clear actions and strategies for staff to follow to reduce risks. When concerns arise, children’s plans are updated to ensure that all staff are informed of the current issues and how best to support children.

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

Staff are good advocates for children. They recently supported one child, who has moved to the UK, to understand why they had been stopped by the police. The team sensitively supported the child, educated them on the issues that were relevant and advocated for them with the police.

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

Changes to behaviour management strategies mean that they are child-centred and consistent. Work is being done with children to ensure that they understand the risks associated with charging mobile phones overnight. Children have responded well to this and are being helped to make safer choices.

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

Children rarely go missing from this home. When incidents do occur, staff know how to respond and proactively encourage children to return safely. Children’s missing- from-home plans are specific to them and staff understand the procedures well.

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

The home has enough staff to meet the needs of the children and casual staff are not used. New staff are introduced to the home well and given a full induction. However, leaders and managers have not completed robust reference checks for one member of staff. Although this has not directly impacted on children, it limits management oversight and reduces opportunities to ensure that only staff who are suitable to work with children are employed in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is suitably skilled and experienced. She is supported by a deputy manager and responsible individual. They work together to promote a positive, welcoming environment and are committed to delivering good-quality care to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from regular supervision sessions delivered by the manager, deputy or senior staff. These supervision sessions enable staff to reflect on their work with children and to receive feedback on their practice. Personal development is discussed and appraisals are clear. The registered manager also receives good- quality supervision and support from the responsible individual.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have access to mandatory and bespoke training to further develop their knowledge and understanding about children’s experiences and are able to meet their needs. Staff have benefited from completing training to meet the needs of children who are unaccompanied.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel well supported and are positive about the management team. They say that the manager is readily available to provide advice and guidance. The manager Inspection report for children’s home: SC064663 5 is making changes to ensure that she is able to balance the competing demands of her role effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have been proactive in taking action to address recording shortfalls identified at the last inspection. Each child’s journey and the progress they make is now clearly recorded in high-quality plans. Reports and plans are translated into the children’s first languages and interpreters are used when required to ensure that children are supported to understand their plans.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has completed the home’s quality of care report to review children’s experiences. However, this has not been sent to Ofsted in line with regulation. This limits the regulator’s oversight of the home. This was a requirement at the last inspection and is restated.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Six requirements and two recommendations made at the previous inspection have been met. One requirement has not been met and is restated. Inspection report for children’s home: SC064663 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 registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed; and

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Requirement Due date

make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home. (Regulation 45 (1) (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the report is sent to the regulator within 28 days of completion.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 9 July 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

The requirements are that— 9 July 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC064663 7 the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that references for new staff are taken up and if references are not obtained, the risk is assessed and recorded.

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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: SC064663 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 6d Ryeground House, 6b Ryeground Lane, Formby, Merseyside L37 7EQ

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Inspectors

Colin Jones, Social Care Inspector Zillah Brooks, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC064663 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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