Children's Home run by Union House (NW) Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children's home 2538285 1 Registered provider: Union House NW 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 owned and operated by a private provider.

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Information about this children’s home

It is registered to provide care for up to six children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Four children are currently being cared for in this home.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager was registered on 26 November 2019.

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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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home 2538285 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/08/2023 Full Good 06/09/2022 Full Good 24/03/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 11/08/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home 2538285 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have strong and positive relationships with staff. Staff remain in the home for a long time and know the children well. One child said, ‘I can’t wait to wake up because it’s brilliant here.’ Children feel happy and cared for.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is spacious and well maintained, and has been re-decorated since the last inspection. Staff support children to personalise their bedrooms in line with their tastes and interests. Children feel comfortable and relaxed in their home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children usually remain in the home a long time. One child moved in and out of the home within a relatively short period. However, the decision for the child to move out was made in the child’s best interests and was carried out in a planned way.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff regularly speak with children about their home and care. Children’s views are at the forefront of decision-making in relation to their own plans and the plans for the home; children feel listened to.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that they are aware of important events in the children’s lives, such as family birthdays and celebration events such as, proms. Staff ensure that children have additional funds to buy gifts, clothing and other items for their important events. As a result, children feel valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff have positive relationships with the families of the children they care for. Staff work closely with families to ensure that there is coordinated and consistent support for children. Children and their families are invested in making their time at the home a success.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Not all children have a suitable school or college place. Staff work hard with education professionals to identify provisions that can engage children in learning, including home tutoring, regional training groups and mainstream school. All children have made progress in their education from their individual starting points.

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

Risk management plans identify the key risks and contain clear strategies for staff to follow. They are updated regularly and following any incident. Staff manage incidents well and in line with children’s individual plans. Staff teach the children about their own risks and how to manage them. Children are learning to keep themselves safe.

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

Children generally have positive relationships with one another. The manager and staff take any incidents of bullying seriously, and act quickly to ensure children feel safe. Staff speak to children and facilitate meetings between them to help them repair their Inspection report for children's home 2538285 4 relationships after disagreements. Children are equipped and supported to resolve any issues that arise while living together.

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

Staff rarely hold children. On the one occasion a staff member did need to hold a child, it was used as a last resort. The measure was reasonable and proportionate. The manager reviewed the measure quickly and spoke to the staff and the child about its use. All staff are trained to hold children safely in the event it is necessary.

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

Children do not complain about the home. Children know how to complain and are confident that their views would be heard. On the one occasion, an allegation was made by a child, the manager responded promptly and investigated the matter thoroughly. The child was protected and kept informed throughout the process.

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

Children rarely go missing from the home. Staff know the individual plans for all children and make thorough recordings of any missing episode. Staff make every effort to locate children quickly and reduce the risk to children.

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

Consequences are rarely used in by staff. Staff offer children restorative ways to make amends, to teach them about the impact of their behaviour on themselves and others. The manager reviews the effectiveness of any consequences given to children and gains their views. Children feel that consequences are fair.

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

Staff search the rooms of children when there is a safeguarding reason to do so. When possible, staff inform children prior to the search and offer them the opportunity to be present. Children understand the reasons staff would search their room, and their dignity and privacy is protected.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has strong relationships with children. The manager has been in post since the home opened and knows the children well. The manager leads by example through prioritising her relationships with children. Children feel the manager is approachable and available to them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staffing is stable. No staff have left since the last inspection, and most have been in the setting for several years. The manager does not use agency staff. Children receive care from adults that know them well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have a thorough induction when they join the home. They spend time with other staff and children prior to assuming any responsibility. All staff complete the training required by the manager. Staff are well prepared for their role and to meet the needs of the children they care for. Most staff are qualified. However, there has been a significant delay in one staff gaining their diploma. A requirement has been made in relation to this. Inspection report for children's home 2538285 5 The manager has clear oversight of the home and seeks to understand the reasons for trends and patterns, taking action to make or maintain progress. The manager considers lessons learned after incidents and uses these to strengthen practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers and staff communicate well. Team meetings are regular and purposeful. Staff work well together and are committed to the home and children. Staff also have regular supervision. Staff have regular opportunities to think about their work and how to improve it.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager holds timely appraisals with staff. The manager and staff reflect on practice and give clear actions for the next period. However, they do not contain any feedback from children, other staff or external professionals. A recommendation has been made in relation to this. Inspection report for children's home 2538285 6

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Statutory requirement

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

employ an individual to work at the children’s home;

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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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

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (“the Level 3 Diploma”); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1st April 2014, 1st April 2016.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 32 (2)(a) (3)(b) (4)(a)(b) (5)(a)(b)) 2 October 2024 Inspection report for children's home 2538285 7

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Recommendation

 The registered person should take into account, where reasonable and practical, the views of other professionals who have worked with the staff member over the year and children in the home’s care, with annual staff appraisals. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.5)

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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 2538285 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Union House NW Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Williams & Co Accountants, 119C Eastbank Street, Southport PR8 1DQ

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Inspector

Sarah Huntbatch, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home 2538285 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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