Children's home run by Idem Living Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2580890 1 Registered provider: Idem Living 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 provides care for up to two children who may have needs associated with social and emotional difficulties, or learning disabilities. There was one child living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered with Ofsted in April 2020 but closed temporarily by the provider in May 2021. At that time, Ofsted imposed a condition requiring the provider to give three months’ notice before admitting children into the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2023, the same time that the home commenced operating again.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

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

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

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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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none. Inspection report for children’s home: 2580890 2

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improvement to be good

At the time of the inspection, there was one child living in the home who has a learning disability and complex additional needs. An absence of joined-up working with multi- agency professionals has resulted in a lack of understanding of the child’s needs, and limited insight into his behaviours. This will have impacted on all areas of the child’s life and the progress which he has been able to make in the six months of living in the home.

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improvement to be good

The child who lives in the home has limited expressive communication. The child’s care plans and behaviour support plans refer to picture-based communication methods. However, these methods are not being consistently used by staff or by leaders and managers. Leaders and managers are clear that there is a need for specialist assessment in terms of communication, and while some efforts have been made to escalate this, these efforts have been insufficient and have resulted in the child’s progress with being able to express himself being stagnated.

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improvement to be good

The home lacks a welcoming and homely environment, and while some furniture and furnishings are of a good standard, the kitchen area is stark and uninviting. There is damage to the oven, and various fixtures and fittings. Numerous repairs throughout the home are necessary and remain outstanding at the time of the inspection.

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improvement to be good

Staff in the home have ensured that the child’s has had the opportunity to experience a variety of environments and activities, and that these have been implemented in a way which is sensitive to his need for routine. Through the summer holiday, there was a clear plan of activities for the child to engage with, and this included trips to the zoo, arcades, beach trips, etc. These trips have mirrored the hours of the school day in order to give the child a continued sense of routine.

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improvement to be good

The process of helping the child to transition into the home was well thought out and sensitively undertaken; staff undertook observations within the family home to allow them to replicate the child’s routine within his new home. Family and professionals speak highly of the close relationships the child has developed with the staff team.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers analysis of how staff support the child does not always identify learning, areas for development for staff, or the actions that need to be taken to ensure that staff have the necessary skills that they need. As a result, when behaviours take place and holds are used, situations have at times escalated unnecessarily. Inspection report for children’s home: 2580890 3 Restrictive practice is used within the home through door locks, locks on kitchen cupboard doors, and through staff using a harness on the child when out of the home. It is positive that the staff in the home are looking to reduce the use of the harness. However, the restrictions which are in place are not adequately reviewed or considered in a multi-disciplinary way.

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improvement to be good

Medication is stored safely, and there are clear methods of recording with which staff are familiar. Staff training on medication is recorded clearly within personnel files. Staff are aware of the various medications that the child takes, what these are for, how these are administered, and how to record administration. When medication errors take place, these are recorded and referred to the LADO. Follow-up discussions have also taken place within team meetings.

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improvement to be good

Recruitment of staff follows safer recruitment guidance. Leaders scrutinise staff references and undertake further exploration, where necessary, to assure themselves of an applicant’s suitability to work in the home. Staff know how to report incidents of concern, and how to respond to safeguarding incidents that may take place in the home.

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

Leaders and managers appear motivated and enthusiastic and have tried to advocate for the child in some areas. However, a lack of understanding of what is fundamentally needed for a child with extremely complex needs has meant that standards of care have not been good enough. Leaders and managers have been too accepting of the child moving into the home without the necessary provisions already being in place and have failed to effectively escalate concerns when wider professionals have not completed their own actions in a timely manner.

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

Leaders and managers have in some areas promoted the independence of the child, with staff encouraging the use of a sports bottle and reducing their use of the handling belt. Not enough emphasis has been placed on the child being provided with age-appropriate items within the home or reaching targets in other areas.

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

Leaders and managers have failed to ensure that necessary assessments are completed, and this means staff have not had the necessary knowledge to effectively care for a child with considerably complex needs. Vulnerabilities in staff knowledge will have impacted on their understanding of the child’s behaviours, their responses to incidents, and their ability to prevent incidents from taking place.

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

Staff speak highly of leaders and managers. Staff feel supported and autonomous in some decisions that they make for the child. Staff are committed, and enthusiastic about their roles, and what they achieve for children as a staff team. External professionals and family members speak highly of the staff team and the approach of leaders and managers. Family members feel well informed of what is happening in the home and report feeling welcomed by staff. Inspection report for children’s home: 2580890 4 The manager ensures that all staff have completed basic mandatory, and some specialist, training. Supervisions sessions are undertaken regularly, and staff attend regular team meetings. Inspection report for children’s home: 2580890 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, 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

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. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person should ensure that the home environment is well maintained and homely throughout. Small improvements and repairs need to be made throughout the home, such as repairing loose fixtures and fittings, repainting marked or damaged areas. 8/10/2024

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— 8/10/2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2580890 6 that staff help each child to—

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Requirement Due date

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs; and

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Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well-being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

The registered manager should ensure that all relevant professionals complete assessments and are involved, as appropriate, in care planning and review of services and provisions for the child. Additionally, the registered manager should escalate concerns when the work of external agencies falls below expectations and this impacts on services or care that can be provided for the child.

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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: 2580890 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 6 Stable Court Business Centre, Water Lane, Tarbock Green, Prescot L35 1RD

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Inspector

Min Sims, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2580890 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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