Children's Home run by PIC Children’s Services in Sefton

Inspection report for children’s home: SC040785 1 SC040785 Registered provider: PIC Children’s Services

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and operated by a private provider. It is registered to provide care for up to two children who may experience social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

There is an experienced manager. The manager registered with Ofsted in June 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

Date of last inspection: 19 December 2023

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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: SC040785 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/12/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 06/09/2023 Full Inadequate 26/10/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 15/03/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC040785 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is one child living in the home. They have lived in the home for a significant period of time. Managers, and staff know the child well and respond to their individual needs. One professional said, ‘They know [name of child] so well; they know the little intricacies that a good parent would know.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are positive and trusting relationships between the child and staff. The child said, ‘All staff are great; they help me to be safe’. The child understands how to make a complaint and is supported to share their feelings and wishes. They are consistently consulted about the quality of care that they receive. Direct sessions are meaningful, and the child’s voice is thoroughly captured. This means that the child feels valued and listened to.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is encouraged to enjoy an array of activities to reflect their individual hobbies and interests. The child is supported to attend police cadets, and pictures of them in their uniform are proudly displayed in the home. The child has enjoyed lots of holidays and said, ‘They took me on holiday to Spain and we chilled in the sun.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is effectively promoted by managers and staff. The child is attending college full time and is making progress from their starting point. They have achieved 100% attendance. Informal learning is embedded into daily practice to support the child to develop their independence skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff help the child to attend routine health appointments and annual health assessments. Furthermore, the child is supported to access specialist health services in line with their individual needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is enabled to maintain relationships with family and friends. Staff understand the importance of time with family and are proactive in making safe and appropriate arrangements for the child to spend time with those people who are important to them.

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

Risk management plans are detailed and contain clear actions and strategies for staff to follow in practice. Staff understand the child’s individual risks and take effective action to reduce the risk of harm. Staff spoken with were clear about their safeguarding responsibilities.

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

The risks associated with children going missing are appropriately considered. There have been no incidents. However, there is a clear protocol in place that is individualised and identifies the child’s specific needs to support them to return as soon as possible. Inspection report for children’s home: SC040785 4 Positive behaviour is promoted in the home and staff effectively use de-escalation techniques to support the child. However, there have been occasions in which the child has not been supported to understand their own behaviours. For example, sanctions were disproportionate and not evaluated by the manager as to their effectiveness.

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

The child is enabled to take risks in line with their age and understanding. The child is encouraged to spend time with friends, join local clubs and utilise public transport independently. This supports them to develop their independence skills and participate in the wider community in line with their relevant plans.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is child centred and has high aspirations for children. The manager has developed a consistent and caring staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel supported by leaders and managers. Supervisions and team meetings are regular and support staff to reflect on their practice and the quality of care being provided. Staff benefit from annual appraisals that contain input from the child. This supports staff morale and their ongoing development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff attend training that meets the needs of the child in their care. This means that the child is cared for by a skilled and knowledgeable staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are safely recruited in line with the homes own policies and procedures. However, there is limited oversight of recruitment checks by the manager. This means that the manager cannot demonstrate that she is satisfied that all staff are safe to work in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has taken action to address the requirements identified at the last inspection. They have implemented monitoring and review systems, including a review of the premises.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers and staff understand the plans for children. The manager takes action to request all relevant plans. However, this is not consistently escalated. In addition, when local authority plans do not accurately identify the child’s needs, there is ineffective challenge from the manager. Inspection report for children’s home: SC040785 5

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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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

No measure of control or discipline which is excessive, unreasonable or contrary to paragraph (2) may be used in relation to any child.

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Requirement Due date

The following measures may not be used to discipline any child—

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Requirement Due date

imposing a financial penalty, other than a requirement for the payment of a reasonable sum (which may be by instalments) by way of reparation. (Regulation 19 (1) (2)(f)).

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that any sanctions imposed are recorded, proportionate and evaluated as to their effectiveness. 24/09/2024

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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

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5(c)). 24/09/2024

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Recommendations

 As set out in regulations 31-33, the registered person is responsible for maintaining good employment practice. They must ensure that recruitment, supervision and performance management of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1). Inspection report for children’s home: SC040785 6

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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: SC040785 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: PIC Children’s Services

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: PIC Children’s Services Ltd, 2 North Street, Haydock, St. Helens WA11 0TW

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Inspector

Nichola Croft, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC040785 8 regulates 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 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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