Children's home run by Elevated Futures Limited

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2754240 1 Registered provider: Alternative Approach Care limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in September 2023 and is owned by a private provider. It offers care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children were living in the home at the time of the visit.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 18 and 19 June 2024. Inspectors identified serious concerns about safeguarding practices in the home and ineffective leadership and management arrangements.

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This monitoring visit

Following the inspection two compliance notices were issued under Section 22A of the Care Standards Act. Compliance notices were issued under regulation 12, the protection of children standard, and regulation 13, the leadership and management standard. Due to the concerns identified Ofsted issued a notice restricting accommodation to prevent any further children moving into the home.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the actions taken by the provider in meeting the steps in the compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

Progress has been made since the last inspection.

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This monitoring visit

Work has been undertaken on improving the physical environment of the home. Children’s bedrooms are furnished in line with the child’s age and preferences. The home is now maintained to a good standard. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2754240 2 Shortfalls in staff knowledge and skills of safeguarding practice have been addressed through a robust training package, individual supervision sessions and team meetings. Staff’s knowledge and understanding of safeguarding has improved through completion of online training, internal workshops and revisiting of internal processes and policies. The completion of quizzes and learning outcome reports are completed by staff following each training session. This allows for leaders and managers to review staff’s understanding of training and how this has been embedded into practice.

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This monitoring visit

Risk assessments for the child have been reviewed and updated. They include guidance for staff to follow to support the child in respect of all known risks. Flow charts are in place for staff to consult. These are clear and easy to follow. Staff have been provided with opportunities to reflect on practice and the effectiveness of strategies. As a result, changes have been made to staffing arrangements and the daily plans for the children. This has led to a reduction of incidents in the home.

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This monitoring visit

Responses to allegations made by children against staff members are appropriate. Action is taken to safeguard children. However, records do not consistently reflect details of the concerns raised and that leaders and managers have identified what action is needed. A requirement has been made in respect of this.

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This monitoring visit

The process for the induction of new staff to the home has been reviewed. As a re- sult, staff are provided with time to review children’s records and the policies in place. This means that they have a good understanding of the children’s needs and vulnerabilities at the point of starting in the home.

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This monitoring visit

The introduction of an electronic system as a monitoring tool allows leaders and managers to oversee all activity in the home. There is strong leadership in the home daily. A new manager has been appointed. Leaders and managers have identified the shortfalls in the care being provided to children and have taken action to address these on an individual and team basis.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers promote an open culture in the home and have high expecta- tions of the staff team. These high expectations are shared with the staff in a sup- portive manner. Staff are provided with clear training and development plans mov- ing forward to enhance their skills and knowledge.

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This monitoring visit

A case review was held following this monitoring visit. It was the decision of the case review that the provider had taken sufficient action to meet the compliance no- tices. Due to the nature of the concerns identified at the previous inspection the no- tice restricting accommodation to prevent any further children moving into the home remains in place.

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This monitoring visit

The requirements made at the last inspection are outside of the scope of this visit. These will be reviewed at the next inspection. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2754240 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/06/2024 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2754240 4

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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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which— include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child; are kept up to date; and are signed and dated by the author of each entry.

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that records in relation to allegations include all details of the allegation made, clear managerial oversight and identify the actions to take to safeguard children. 5 September 2024

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Requirement Due date

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

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure; the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure ("the user"), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and 30 July 2024 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2754240 5 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.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 35(3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)).

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that an accurate record is made of all restraints. Records must include debriefs with children and staff to support them to reflect on the measure used. The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there; (d) a child protection enquiry involving a child —

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

must include details of— 30 July 2024 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2754240 6 the matter;

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Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)i)(ii)(e)(5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b)).

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that notifications are made without delay and provide the regulator with an accurate overview of an incident as well as any outcome established. 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

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 30 July 2024 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2754240 7 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.

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Requirement Due date

(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 is promoted within the home, this should include informal learning. Children must be encouraged to access meaningful education and provided with appropriate resources and equipment to support them to learn In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

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Requirement Due date

provide to children personal items that are appropriate for their age and understanding; and

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home;

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 6(2)(a)(b)(i)(vi)(viii)(c)(i)(ii)).

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that children’s bedrooms are appropriately furnished and maintained. 30 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 30 July 2024 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2754240 8 have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered provider must ensure that staff receive practice related supervisions and appraisals in line with their own policies and procedures. Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are kept up to date;

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered provider must ensure that there is an accurate record of the staff working in the home and the proposed and actual hours worked. 30 July 2024

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2754240 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Alternative Approach Care ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 2, Inward Way, Rossmore Business Village, Ellesmere Port CH65 3EY

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Inspector

Claire Hobbs, social care inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2754240 10 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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