Children's home run by Young Foundations Limited in Wirral

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 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, seven children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2024. The manager was not present during the inspection. The inspection was supported by the responsible individual.

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This monitoring visit

On 14 May 2024, Ofsted carried out an assurance inspection and identified serious and widespread concerns regarding the care and protection of children and the leadership and management of the service. Compliance notices under regulation 12 and regulation 13 were raised, and a notice restricting accommodation was issued.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this monitoring visit was to assess the provider’s compliance with the restriction of accommodation notice and to review the progress that the provider has made against the regulatory shortfalls detailed within the compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

All children were present during the inspection, and the inspectors spent time with them all. Children appeared happy. The general atmosphere of the home was welcoming, and the children were relaxed around the staff.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have strengthened the protocol for the administration of ‘when required’ medication to children. This includes having sufficient trained staff and records and procedures that identify steps that staff should take when administering the ‘when required’ medication. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1183911 2 Children’s risk assessments and plans have been reviewed and updated. These provide staff with guidance about the actions to take when supporting children. Records of incidents demonstrate that this guidance has assisted staff to provide the children with appropriate support during emotionally difficult times. One child’s plan did not accurately record the child’s required ratio of staff; however, this was a recording error as sufficient staff were available to meet the child’s daily care needs.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have attended additional behaviour management training. This has assisted staff to offer the children a consistent and trained response when they are required to hold children with physical intervention techniques. Improvements in the manager’s monitoring and oversight have ensured that physical intervention records provide a clear account of the incident and the support that staff provide to the children. Staff and the children have been offered the opportunity to talk about incidents and the use of physical intervention techniques. This helps staff to understand if children require additional support or assistance in rebuilding relationships.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have strengthened their oversight and ensure that children’s risk assessments, plans and incidents are reviewed. Management oversight is reflective, and leaders take action to understand and gain clarity regarding staff practice. The improvements in monitoring and oversight are helping the managers to understand the quality of care being provided to children.

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This monitoring visit

Repairs to the home have been completed to improve standards. However, further maintenance work is needed in a child’s bedroom. Additionally, staff have not consistently supported some children to maintain their bedroom and bathroom, leaving them in an unhygienic condition.

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This monitoring visit

This was a focused inspection. Therefore, all the requirements from the last full inspection have not been reviewed and are restated. The compliance notices from the last inspection have been met by the provider. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1183911 3

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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 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1183911 4

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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 with 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

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

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(iii)(v)(e))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement has been restated. 15 November 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

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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; 15 November 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1183911 5 ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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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)(e)(h))

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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;

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Requirement Due date

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

This requirement has been restated. 15 November 2024

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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; 15 November 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1183911 6 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

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. 15 November 2024

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Recommendation

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

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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: 1183911 7

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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 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1183911 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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