Children's home run by Young Foundations Limited in Wirral

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1183911 1 Registered provider: Young Foundations Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned. It offers care for up to 12 children with learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, eight children were living in the home. Seven children were present during the inspection and the inspectors spent time with them all.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2024.

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Inspection date: 10 July 2024

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspectors evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1183911 2

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Findings from the inspection

We identified the following serious and widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection:

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Findings from the inspection

 There are significant shortfalls in the safety and protection of children, and the children’s welfare is not being promoted.  Leaders and managers have failed to make effective arrangements to safeguard children.

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Findings from the inspection

The purpose of this inspection was to review the provider’s practice in response to a serious incident that had been notified to Ofsted.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are not offered consistency of care as staff have not always responded to their needs. Incidents have escalated when children have felt neglected. One child sustained a significant injury during an incident, and this behavioural response was a result of the child feeling ‘angry’ because of insufficient staffing.

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Findings from the inspection

Some children have limited verbal communication, and one child has not routinely had access to their communication aids. This means that the child has not had the opportunity to share their views and feelings.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have not ensured that suitably trained staff are readily available to administer ‘when required’ medication to children. On one occasion, this meant a child was left in pain. The manager has amended the staff rota to address this shortfall. However, staff do not have clear procedural guidance about the administration of the children’s ‘when required’ medication, and records identify that one child’s protocol would allow staff to administer a higher than prescribed dosage.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have not supported children in line with their individual risk assessments and support plans. Staff responses have not been effective in helping children who are in crisis and at risk of harming themselves. One child was redirected into a bathroom during an emotionally difficult time. This decision was not safe for the child at that time, and they suffered an injury. The staff and children do not always have the opportunity to discuss how the restraint has affected them, especially when injuries have occurred.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have used physical intervention techniques that they are not trained to use. The management oversight of physical intervention is insufficient to ensure that practice is safe and that the views of the children and staff are heard and acted on. The inspectors found that a child had reported to have been injured during a physical intervention and there was insufficient evidence of the manager’s investigation and review of this concern and injury.

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Findings from the inspection

A lack of sufficient staffing means that children are not receiving the consistent care that they need. This has the greatest impact when staff are responding to incidents. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1183911 3 Staff have reported that children are unintentionally neglected. Children speak about not feeling cared for and say that they have feelings of ‘anger’ and ‘frustration’ when staff leave their roles as they have to form new relationships and receive personal care from unfamiliar staff.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have failed to identify that staff practice has compromised the welfare and safety of children. The oversight of the recordings of incidents, including physical interventions, is ineffective. The shortfalls in staff practice, including the skills and competency of staff, have not been identified and addressed. This does not offer assurances that children are safeguarded effectively.

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Findings from the inspection

As a result of this inspection, Ofsted has issued two compliance notices. The notices will be reviewed in line with Ofsted’s enforcement policy.

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Findings from the inspection

This was a focused inspection. Therefore, the requirements from the last full inspection have not been reviewed and are restated. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1183911 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/05/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 09/05/2023 Full Good 21/11/2022 Full Good 04/05/2021 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1183911 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered persons 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 persons 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

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

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;

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(b)(e)) 1 September 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 1 September 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1183911 6 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 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)(c)(d)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager must ensure that: there is clear oversight of significant incidents; staff are able to meet children’s health and emotional well-being needs; children have consistent access to communication aids.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, the registered manager must ensure that staff have access to clear medication administration procedures and that there are sufficient skilled staff to administer medication.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the behaviour management policy”) which sets out—

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Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must keep the behaviour management policy under review and, where appropriate, revise it.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that— 30 August 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1183911 7 within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (1)(b) (2) (3)(a)(iv)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager must ensure that staff only use holds that are in line with the home’s policies and that actions are taken when children have injuries. In addition, the registered manager must ensure that staff understand the risks associated with any restraint technique used in the home and assess the risk of administering medication during an incident of physical restraint.

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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; 30 August 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1183911 8 help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(v)(b))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)(e))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement has been restated. 30 August 2024

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5 (a)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the contact details of professionals are kept up to date on children’s records and that any court paperwork is also kept on children’s records.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement has been restated. 30 August 2024

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1183911 9

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that repairs and maintenance works are carried out in a timely manner so that the home remains comfortable and welcoming. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1183911 10

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Children’s home details

Provision sub-type: Residential special school

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Young Foundations Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Alexander House, Highfield Park, Llandrynog, Denbighshire, Wales LL16 4LU

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Inspectors

Gina Lightfoot, Social Care Inspector Claire Webster, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1183911 11 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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Inspectors

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