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

Inspection report for children's home: SC022438 1 SC022438 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

The home registered with Ofsted in July 2001 and is owned by a private provider. It offers care for one child who experiences social and/or emotional difficulties and/or has learning difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left on 17 April 2024.

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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/or >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: requires improvement to be good

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC022438 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/05/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 17/01/2023 Full Inadequate 20/04/2021 Full Good 17/07/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC022438 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The child’s safety, progress and experiences are compromised by ineffective management oversight and poor safeguarding practice. There is no registered manager, and day-to-day arrangements for management oversight are ad hoc.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The child’s individual needs are not clearly identified by leaders and managers. The child’s plans from their placing authority have not been reviewed or considered to inform day-to-day care planning in the home. The home’s care plans for the child do not correlate with placing authority documents. This significantly impacts on the quality of care provided.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Education is not supported effectively by leaders, managers and staff. The child is not provided with daily routine and structure to encourage them to attend education or engage in any informal learning. This impacts on the child’s progress and outcomes in education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The child is supported to spend time with family and those who are important to them. However, leaders and managers do not consider the risks or implement strategies effectively to support the child to safely enjoy time with their family.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The child is supported to attend routine health appointments. However, they are not supported to access specialist services to meet their individual health and well-being needs. Leaders, managers and staff are uncertain about the child’s individual health needs and specific diagnoses.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The child’s views, wishes and feelings are not gathered to support care planning. The child’s voice is not captured in their records. For example, the child has not been involved in their care planning meetings or consulted about the quality of care they receive.

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

The response to risk management in the home is inadequate. Leaders and managers do not provide the staff team with consistent or effective strategies to safeguard the child.

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

The child’s risk management plans are not consistently reviewed and updated or evaluated by managers and do not include all known risks for the child. For example, risks relating to substance misuse and aggression are not included. This reduces management oversight and leaves the child vulnerable and at risk of harm.

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

Leaders and managers have failed to ensure that staff understand their responsibilities to safeguard the child, including when the child goes missing from the home. Staff do Inspection report for children's home: SC022438 4 not demonstrate professional curiosity when the child has been missing. Staff do not carry out relevant checks or support the child to return home safely.

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

Leaders and managers do not have effective oversight of staff training and development. This means that the child is not consistently cared for by staff who have the skills, knowledge and qualifications to meet their individual needs.

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

Leaders and managers have failed to ensure that safer recruitment procedures are in place for all agency staff working in the home. This compromises children’s safety and does not ensure that only adults who are safe to work with children are working at the home.

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

Arrangements for administering medication are poor. Staff do not complete appropriate records when children have been given medication. Leaders and managers do not have effective oversight of staff practice in relation to the administration of medication. Errors in medication records have not been identified by leaders and managers before being raised by inspectors. This compromises the safety and well-being of the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The leadership and management arrangements in the home are inadequate. There is currently no registered manager. The day-to-day management arrangements do not ensure that staff are provided with effective or consistent leadership and guidance to implement clear boundaries to meet the needs of the child living in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers do not understand the home’s strengths and weaknesses. They have not taken sufficient action to meet the requirements raised at the last inspection. As a result, several requirements are restated.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers do not understand the impact that the quality of care has on the progress and experiences of the child. Leaders and managers do not have effective systems in place to oversee practice in the home and the care provided to the child. Monthly visits by the independent person take place. However, the recommended actions identified from these visits are not always considered by leaders and managers. This is a missed opportunity to address shortfalls in practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers have failed to ensure that staff understand their responsibilities to safeguard the child. The response to risk management in the home is poor. The child’s risk management plans do not contain relevant or clear strategies to help staff understand what actions they should take to keep the child safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The arrangements for the training and supervision of staff are weak. Leaders and managers have failed to review staff training to ensure that staff have the relevant skills, knowledge and qualifications to support the child in their care. Staff do not receive regular supervision sessions and appraisals in line with the company’s policies and procedures. Team meetings have taken place; however, staff attendance is poor. This Inspection report for children's home: SC022438 5 means that staff are not supported effectively to share and receive essential information or to develop their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There are shortfalls in the quality of records. The home’s statement of purpose has not been reviewed effectively and does not contain up-to-date details of the staffing arrangements. Furthermore, leaders and managers are unable to provide an accurate record of all staff who have worked in the home. Consequently, the regulator does not have accurate information about the staff working in the home. This does not promote consistent practice or ensure that the child is safeguarded effectively. Inspection report for children's home: SC022438 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

This requirement is restated. 7 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 7 July 2024 Inspection report for children's home: SC022438 7 promotes their welfare.

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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 has sufficient staff to provide care for 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)(d)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

*The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(c)) 7 July 2024

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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

that staff— 7 July 2024 Inspection report for children's home: SC022438 8 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

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

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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 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

that each child has access to appropriate equipment, facilities and resources to support the child’s learning. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(viii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that education, including informal learning, is promoted in the home. Children must be encouraged to access meaningful education and be provided with appropriate resources and equipment to support them to learn.

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles. (Regulation 10 (1)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that they seek specialist health services for children when required. 7 July 2024

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Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who— 7 July 2024 Inspection report for children's home: SC022438 9 engage with them; and

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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. (Regulation 7 (1)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that children have the opportunity to contribute to their support plans.

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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

that each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that they hold up-to-date placing authority plans and use these to inform care planning arrangements in the home. 7 July 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—

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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; 7 Jul 2024 Inspection report for children's home: SC022438 10 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. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that positive behaviour is promoted consistently in the home.

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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 signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that children’s files are in order, well maintained and contain details of all records for room searches, accidents and injuries.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 7 July 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (1) (4)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that staff receive practice-related supervision sessions and appraisals in line with the company’s policies and procedures. 7 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. 7 July 2024 Inspection report for children's home: SC022438 11 The registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4; ensure that the records are kept up to date. (Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that there is an accurate record of the proposed and actual hours worked by staff in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires; and

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Requirement Due date

to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home’s records (except for a child’s case records, unless the child and the child’s placing authority consent) as the independent person requires.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit (“the independent person’s report”) which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person’s report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to—

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Requirement Due date

HMCI. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a)(b) (4)(a)(b) (5) (7)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that reports from the independent person are shared with Ofsted. Visitors must be supported to gather consultation and their recommendations must be reviewed. 7 July 2024 Inspection report for children's home: SC022438 12 The registered person must—

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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 (3)(a)(b)) 7 July 2024

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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: SC022438 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

Nichola Croft, Social Care Inspector Sally Croft, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC022438 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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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