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

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC431192 1 SC431192 Registered provider: Independent Living Services (North West) 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 is owned and managed by a private company. It provides care for up to four children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 3 and 4 July 2024. The inspector identified serious concerns in relation to the care and protection of children at the inspection. Following a case review, two compliance notices were served under regulation 12, the protection of children standard and regulation 13, the leadership and management standard.

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This monitoring visit

During this monitoring visit, the inspector found that the provider has acted to meet the steps in both compliance notices served under regulations 12 and 13.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s risk management plans have been reviewed by managers. Plans are now reflective of children’s individual needs. Children are now being supported by staff who have a good understanding of their needs and how best to care for them. Leaders and managers have supported staff to become familiar with the new plans, and have explored during team meetings and individual supervisions how best to support children.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have taken action to ensure that the fire risk assessment is adhered to. Fire exits are not blocked or left locked, and internal doors have been fitted with electromagnetic door closers. This means that doors can be safely held open, as they close in the event of the fire alarm sounding. Children and staff have had regular opportunities to practise leaving the home in the event of a fire emergency. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC431192 2 Children understand the risks associated with fire and take an active role in ensuring that visitors understand the fire evacuation procedure.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, staff recruitment files have been reviewed by leaders and managers. Staff files now hold all the relevant information, which supports safer recruitment practice.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have reviewed the medication policy and ensured that staff completed medication training. Further monitoring of medication has been implemented by managers. However, at the monitoring visit, one child’s prescribed medication was being stored and administered by staff, despite no record of the medication being received into the home. A requirement has been raised in relation to this shortfall.

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This monitoring visit

Although the registered manager’s post remains vacant, the responsible individual and one of the deputy managers have taken the lead in the management of the home. Managers have a clear presence in the home. This has resulted in stability for the children.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have recruited new staff to the team. However, pre-employment checks are still ongoing. Despite vacancies in the staff team, leaders and managers have ensured that children are cared for by staff who they know. Although agency staff are still being used, these are workers who know the children well and who the children have said that they enjoy spending time with.

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This monitoring visit

The responsible individual has started to develop additional monitoring systems in the home. This is not yet fully embedded into practice. However, there is now clearer oversight of records and children’s individual plans.

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This monitoring visit

The staff have benefited from revisiting a number of training courses. These have included safeguarding, reporting and recording, compliant and allegation management, and managing self-injurious behaviour, such as the risk of ligatures. This supports the team to have the skills and knowledge to care for children.

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This monitoring visit

The remaining areas of concern raised at the full inspection were not looked at during this visit. Therefore, they remain requirements until the home’s next inspection. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC431192 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/07/2024 Full Inadequate 26/06/2023 Full Good 26/04/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 04/08/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC431192 4

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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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

the privacy of children is appropriately protected;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home;

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Requirement Due date

is kept under review and, if necessary, revised. (Regulation 21 (a)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered provider ensuring that there is always a member of staff whom the child knows available for them.

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Requirement Due date

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. 19 August 2024

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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 that staff should take to care for them. 19 August 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC431192 5 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.

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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—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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))

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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

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered provider ensuring that there is a clear record of all prescribed medications received into and stored in the home, including any inhalers. 1 September 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC431192 6

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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: SC431192 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Independent Living Services (North West) Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Catherine Chandler

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Inspector

Louise Redfern, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC431192 8 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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