Children's home run by Independent Living Services (North West) Limited in St. Helens

Inspection report for children’s home: SC431192 1 SC431192 Registered provider: Independent Living Services (North West) Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private company. It provides care for up to four children who have social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

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

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account inadequate

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

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.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC431192 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/06/2023 Full Good 26/04/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 04/08/2021 Full Good 26/02/2020 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC431192 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

There have been changes to the staff team. As a result, children have been cared for by unfamiliar adults. For example, a member of staff who had not met a child before was appointed to monitor them in their bedroom throughout the night. This raised the child’s anxieties and caused them distress.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children say that boundaries are unclear, and that staff are inconsistent in their approaches with them. This leads to confusion for children and the adults caring for them. Managers confirm that staff practice in respect to the use of incentives and rewards has been inconsistent. This does not help children understand what is expected of them.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Ineffective handover arrangements mean that staff do not always have the information that they need before they work in the home. Some handover records are incomplete and important information is missed. For example, due to information not being handed over, staff failed to take a child to a planned careers appointment.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children’s views about the care they receive are routinely sought. This enables some children to contribute to decisions made about their care. However, children do not always understand how their views have been acted on. This does not help children to feel listened to.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children know how to make a complaint and can access advocacy services. However, one child said that they did not complain as ‘there is no point, nothing happens.’

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Despite the shortfalls in the quality of care, children’s attendance and attainment in education have improved since moving into the home. Children who do not attend full- time education benefit from established routines of educational activity. This improves children’s life opportunities.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children are in good health. Staff work with health professionals to ensure that children’s health needs are met. Staff support children to attend routine health appointments. Children benefit from a range of activities that enable children to pursue their own interests and hobbies.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff support children to learn life skills. This includes supporting children to develop independence in line with their age and ability. Staff nurture children’s relationships with their family and connected persons. This helps children to maintain important relationships and build their support networks for the future.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children experience planned moves into the home. Children who have moved out of the home choose to maintain contact with staff. This shows that staff have successfully built positive relationships with children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC431192 4 How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Safeguarding practice in this home is inconsistent. Some children’s risk of serious harm has increased because of staff misconduct. Staff do not adhere to children’s plans. This has left children at risk of harm. For example, staff did not seek medical assistance for a child who banged their head. This left the child at risk of injury.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Some parts of children’s care plans are prepopulated from other children’s plans. As a result, children’s plans do not always capture children’s individual needs or provide staff with clarity on the steps they should take to keep each child safe.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff are in the home overnight. However, staff silence the ringer on the house phone. As a result, one child who was trapped and distressed inside their bedroom overnight contacted staff for help on the phone. This was not responded to until the following day. Managers have acted since this incident to ensure that the house phone is not silenced overnight.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Fire risks in the home are not assessed to include all know information. Staff do not adhere to the home’s fire risk assessment. For example, staff prop open internal fire doors, and a fire exit is padlocked. Records of fire evacuations do not accurately reflect who was present. Management oversight of fire evacuations is poor. As a result, delays in children leaving the home in fire evacuations are not understood or acted on. This does not provide assurance that staff and children know how to leave the home safely in the event of a fire. The provider acted to rectify the immediate fire safety concerns.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Managers have not identified errors in the administration of prescribed medication. As a result, some children have not taken their prescribed medication. Staff do not adhere to the medication policy and do not seek advice when children refuse to take prescribed medication. This was a requirement given in the previous inspection which has not been met.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Managers have recruited staff to reduce the amount of times agency staff are used. However, managers have not assured themselves that a full employment history and proof of address are in place before they allow staff to work in the home. This does not show that safer recruitment practice is always adhered to.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Some children’s risks reduce because of the care that they receive from staff. For example, children who previously went missing from home no longer do this. Staff complete work with children to help them understand risks and how to manage difficult feelings safely. As a result, some children’s risk-taking behaviour reduces.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Allegations made about staff are investigated thoroughly and shared with relevant professionals. This ensures that appropriate action is taken in a timely way. Inspection report for children’s home: SC431192 5

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The home has been without a registered manager since September 2023. A manager has recently been appointed to the home. There has been a lack of consistent management in the home. This has impacted on the quality of care provided to children.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Management oversight in the home is poor. Leaders and managers’ monitoring, and review systems, are not effective. As a result, leaders and managers have not identified shortfalls in staff practice. Leaders and managers do not always take decisive action to address shortfalls in the care that children receive. This has allowed unsafe staff practice to continue.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Managers do not have a clear understanding of staff training. This does not provide assurance that all staff have the knowledge, skills, and experience to meet the needs of children.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Some supervision responsibilities are delegated to senior members of staff. However, managers cannot access the records of these supervisions. This does not ensure that managers understand the quality of supervision that all staff receive. In addition, the quality of supervision is variable, and managers do not encourage reflective practice. This does not support staff to learn and develop.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Arrangements to understand feedback from children, families and professionals are not effective. Managers do not use feedback to inform an evaluation of the care that children receive, or the actions that should be taken to improve children’s experiences.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Managers have built positive working relationships with professionals. Managers share information about children which contributes to care planning decisions. Managers appropriately challenge most professionals when children’s needs are not met. Inspection report for children’s home: SC431192 6

p.5

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

* The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.6

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;

p.6

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

p.6

Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

p.6

Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

p.6

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;

p.6

Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are located so that children are effectively safeguarded;

p.6

Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished, and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(c)(d) 19 August 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC431192 7 In particular, the registered provider must review all children’s risk assessments and ensure that all known risks are identified and have clear actions for staff to follow. The registered provider must ensure that all staff understand children’s plans.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered provider must ensure that all staff understand the risks and their responsibilities for children in their care. This must include following risk assessments.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered provider must review the fire risk assessment and undertake a review of the home, ensuring that all identified shortfalls are actioned.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered provider must ensure that staff comply with the fire risk assessment.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered provider must ensure that staff and children can leave the home safely in the event of a fire.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered provider must ensure that processes for safer recruitment are reviewed.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered provider must ensure that there is a full employment history and proof of address before a person starts working in the home.

p.7

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—

p.7

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.7

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;

p.7

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications, and skills to meet the needs of each child;

p.7

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child; 19 August 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC431192 8 ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

p.7

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;

p.8

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)(c)(d)(e)(f)(h))

p.8

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered provider must ensure that interim management arrangements are reviewed and be satisfied that the managers identified have the skills, knowledge, and experience to undertake the role.

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered provider must review their monitoring and auditing processes to ensure that they can identify any shortfalls in staff practice.

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered provider must review staffing arrangements, ensuring that there are sufficient staff on shift at all times to meet the children’s needs.

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered provider must ensure that all staff understand the children’s specific needs and how to respond to these.

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered provider must ensure that all staff have the skills, knowledge, and experience to care for the children. The registered person must ensure that—

p.8

Requirement Due date

the privacy of children is appropriately protected;

p.8

Requirement Due date

any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises—

p.8

Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home;

p.8

Requirement Due date

is kept under review and, if necessary, revised. (Regulation 21 (a)(c)(i)(ii)) This specifically relates to the registered provider ensuring that there is always a member of staff whom the child knows available for them. 19 August 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC431192 9 This also relates to the registered person ensuring that any restriction on children’s access to any area of the home is only used when necessary to safeguard them.

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

p.9

Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

p.9

Requirement Due date

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

p.9

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered provider ensuring that children’s records are an accurate account of their needs, and the steps staff should take to care for them. 19 August 2024

p.9

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.

p.9

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—

p.9

Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

p.9

Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities, and the quality of care they receive in it; and

p.9

Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

p.9

Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (5))

p.9

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered provider using feedback from children, families, and professionals to inform an evaluation of the care that children receive. 19 August 2024

p.9

Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Inspection report for children’s home: SC431192 10

p.9

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: SC431192 11

p.10

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Independent Living Services (North West) Limited

p.11

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Suite 4 Ena Works, Volunteer Street, St. Helens, Merseyside WA10 2AY

p.11

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Catherine Chandler

p.11

Inspector

Sally Griffiths, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC431192 12 and inspects 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.

p.11

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.12

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.12

Inspector

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

p.12