Children's home run by Exceptional Care Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2630446 1 Registered provider: Exceptional Care Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private organisation. It is registered to provide care for up to two children who may have social or emotional needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has recently applied to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

One child was living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account requires improvement to be good

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Overall experiences and progress of

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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Overall experiences and progress of

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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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.

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Overall experiences and progress of

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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Overall experiences and progress of

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2630446 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/04/2024 Full Inadequate 11/04/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2630446 3

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improvement to be good

There is one child living in this home, who has remained settled. The manager and staff ensured that a child who moved out was supported in a planned way. They spoke with the new staff team to share all the information about the child’s needs and risks. This helped minimise the impact of moving for the child and helped them settle in their new home.

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improvement to be good

Staff understand the importance of education and have high aspirations for the child. The child has recently completed their GCSE exams and has remained in part-time employment. The child is currently being supported to explore options for college, dependent on their GCSE results.

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improvement to be good

The child is encouraged to lead a healthy lifestyle. They are registered with doctor’s dentist and opticians and have attended recent appointments. Staff educate the child about a wide range of health issues. As result, the child is happy to receive specialist support for their health needs.

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improvement to be good

Staff support the child to develop their independence skills. The staff have put together an independence pack which provides guidance to the child. This guide will be helpful to the child when they move to live more independently.

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improvement to be good

The child is supported to spend time with their family and friends. Family and friends are welcomed into the home, and the child has friends to sleep over. This means the child maintains their sense of identity and continues to see people who are important to them.

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improvement to be good

There has only been one incident where the child was missing from the home and staff were unable to locate the child. Staff followed the missing from home risk assessment and were proactive in trying to locate the child. Staff worked collaboratively with other professionals. When the child returned home, they were welcomed back and offered a return home interview.

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improvement to be good

Risk assessments are regularly reviewed. The manager effectively challenges information they hold about the child to ensure that risks are factually correct. However, this information is not always reflected in risk assessments. As a result, staff do not always have clear guidance on the action they need to take.

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improvement to be good

Staff and managers make sure allegations and concerns about adults are referred to the relevant agencies, including the local authority designated officer, in a timely manner, and they take appropriate action to ensure children are safe. This means children feel Inspection report for children’s home: 2630446 4 able to talk to staff if they do not feel safe about the people caring for them, and they know they are listened too.

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improvement to be good

The manager ensures the home environment is well maintained, homely and safe for children. The home is currently undergoing some decorative renovations. If there are any repairs or damage in the home, these are fixed promptly to ensure the home is well maintained. The fire risk assessment is completed annually. However, the manager has not ensured that actions identified within the fire risk assessment are addressed in a timely manner.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

A new manager has been recently appointed and they have applied to register with Ofsted. They are currently undertaking their level five diploma.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The new manager is child focused and has a clear vision for developing the home and improving practice. Changes have already been put in place and a member of staff has said [name of the manager] is more approachable and understanding.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

There have been some staff changes. However, the team is becoming more settled. Leaders and managers have recruited more permanent staff. Any gaps in rotas are covered by two bank staff, who are known to the child, and only used if necessary.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The staff are receiving regular supervision that they say is helpful to them. Team meetings are regular, well attended and detailed. The meetings are opportunities to discuss the children alongside development opportunities for the staff. However, there is a lack of reflective discussion and evidence of learning.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Training, development and induction activities are effective. They are focused on ensuring that staff can meet the specific needs of the children who they are responsible for. Leaders, managers and staff are up to date with current practice in their specialist area.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Managers and leaders have put in place more robust audit systems, which have enabled them to identify any gaps in practice. Inspection report for children’s home: 2630446 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

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

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(i)(ii)(iii)(v))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this refers to the registered person ensuring that risk assessments are clear so as to enable staff to understand the risk and what steps to take to reduce and manage risk.

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Requirement Due date

The manager must ensure that oversight of incidents recognises any gaps in practice and that they are clear about what actions staff need to take to manage risks. 3 October 2024

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Requirement Due date

After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

take adequate precautions against the risk of fire, including the provision of suitable fire equipment in the children’s home. (Regulation 25 (1)(a)) 3 October 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2630446 6 In particular, the registered person must ensure that any actions identified within the fire risk assessment are completed within a timely manner.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff have access to a range of resources to support their professional development, including external agencies and research to begin embedding staff learning and development. Staff should be provided opportunities to have reflective discussions to develop their learning at the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)

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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: 2630446 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Exceptional Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Exceptional Care Ltd, Malthouse Business Centre, 48 Southport Road, Ormskirk L39 1QR

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Inspector

Sarah Probert, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2630446 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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