Children's home run by Carehome Limited in Liverpool

Inspection report for children’s home: SC044276 1 SC044276 Registered provider: Carehome Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately run. It provides care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties and/or have learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, three children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2023.

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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: SC044276 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/06/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 08/03/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 25/03/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 01/12/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: SC044276 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a home that is warm and welcoming. Laughter and fun are a standard part of everyday life in the home. Children return from school enthusiastic to share their daily achievements and plan their evenings. Even in difficult situations, staff find a way to ease any tension. Staff give children time and attention so that they know they are loved and cared for. One professional said, ‘[Name of child] is happy there, he has said he wants to stay there forever. Staff have been really good at supporting him with understanding his family situation and experiences.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are child focused and understand how their practice impacts on the children. They are committed to offering the best quality of care to the children. Nurturing and therapeutic approaches are embedded in staff practice. Staff have a clear understanding of the children’s individual and emerging needs from their starting points. This enables children to thrive and develop.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views and wishes are a clear thread through all care planning documents. Various approaches are used to help staff understand what children want and need. Staff record daily observations of children’s behaviour, which are used to inform care planning, risk assessment and clinical input/assessment. This is helpful for children who due to age and emotional needs may express their wishes and feelings through behaviours.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand how to promote a healthy lifestyle for each child. When children move into the home, staff ensure that they are quickly registered with local health services and are supported to attend appointments. When children need specialist health services, staff make sure that the right expert help is made available.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Teachers say that staff work well to support children to thrive in school. Learning at home is prioritised, and the children engage positively. Information is shared with education colleagues to make sure that children are receiving a consistent approach to rules and boundaries. Staff set clear, achievable goals for children and review these targets regularly. This helps staff to celebrate even the little wins for children and will help to build children’s confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

External professionals speak highly of children’s experiences in the home. Social workers say they feel confident that staff provide high-quality care and support for children. As a result, social workers want to place children in this home. One social worker said, ‘They have found a way that works for him. Previous foster carers couldn’t manage his behaviours in the community, so he wasn’t going out, he is getting those experiences now.’ This is a real strength and allows children to be children and feel valued and accepted for themselves. Inspection report for children’s home: SC044276 4

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

The children’s day-to-day needs are met to a good standard. Children’s safety is a priority for all the team. Relationships between staff and children are strong and nurturing. The warmth of this environment provides stability and security for the children.

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

The manager and staff have a good understanding of the children’s individual needs. Together, they identify and assess any new risks and ensure that plans are regularly reviewed to keep children safe.

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

Behaviour management assessments are comprehensive. Staff work in line with the framework for supporting children through emotional and behavioural challenges. Staff understand how to use these techniques and why they work with a therapeutic model. The staff provide incentives for positive behaviour. Therefore, consequences are rarely used to shape behaviours.

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

Staff understand the risks posed to children in the online world. This is balanced against a realistic view of how important technology is to children. Staff have taken reasonable steps to allow children to experience the internet and technology in a safe way.

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

Staff rarely use consequences. They use a strengths-based model, where children earn rewards, rather than using restrictions. Staff recognise children’s progress and celebrate with them when things go well. Progress is not always linear but staff are very proud of the children and tell them this. This builds the child’s esteem to develop.

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

Staff sometimes hold children to keep them safe. This is done as a last resort and for a minimal length of time. Interventions are in line with the home’s policies and procedures. Records are detailed with management oversight and reflection. After incidents, staff have child-focused talks with the children. This enables children to have an age- appropriate understanding of the incident and promotes trust in the adults caring for them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is aspirational for the children. He places the children’s overall safety and well-being at the centre of his vision. This is echoed by the team of staff, who have the same shared vision. One member of staff said:

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

‘Within the home I feel a sense of togetherness in wanting to help our children achieve and succeed. I am excited to see where the company goes at the moment as we continue to develop and progress.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that staff receive support through supervision and team meetings. Team meetings allow staff to discuss any challenges and barriers they may be experiencing. This allows for honest and reflective discussions. Inspection report for children’s home: SC044276 5 The clinical lead provides support to staff and ensures that staff can deliver the therapeutic model to a high standard. This means that children’s needs are met in a well-considered, empathetic and supportive manner that allows them to feel safe and secure.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has streamlined processes and structures in the home. The importance of completing paperwork to a good standard is balanced with meeting children’s individual needs. Children’s care is planned, and their progress is comprehensively tracked. Children’s progress is clearly recorded through their ‘supporting me’ plans and risk assessments. This enables staff learning to support children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team celebrates equality, diversity and inclusion. Day-to-day practice reflects these principles, with respectful and inclusive relationships between the children and staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff provide consistent care to the children. There have been some staff changes. However, the manager will use familiar bank staff rather than agency staff. This means that children are cared for by people who know them well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are some placing authority and education documents missing from children’s files. Staff have made attempts to attain these documents, without success. This means that staff do not have full access to children’s plans. The manager needs to escalate and pursue concerns when agencies fail to provide essential documents. Inspection report for children’s home: SC044276 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should make sure that they have all important documents from the placing authority for each child when they move in. The registered person should challenge the placing authority effectively to obtain this information when needed. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.5)

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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: SC044276 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Hanover Buildings, 11 to 13 Hanover Street, Liverpool, Merseyside L1 3DN

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Christopher Minogue

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Inspectors

Angeline Clarke, Social Care Inspector Nicola Shaw, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC044276 8 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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