Children's Home run by Holistic Care Service Nationwide Limited in Sefton

Inspection report for children’s home: 2739589 1 Registered provider: Holistic Care Service Nationwide 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 registered with Ofsted in April 2024 and is operated by a private company. It provides care for one child who may experience social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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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 requires improvement to be 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: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2739589 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has moved in since the home was registered. The child has developed positive relationships with staff, who know them well and are attuned to their needs. The move was planned and managed in a child-centred way.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child to have time with their family. The child is also able to spend time with their peers in a safe and well-managed way. This gives the child opportunities for social interaction and aids their development. However, more consideration should have been given to the suitability of the area for the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child takes part in a range of activities and enjoyed a holiday abroad in the summer. They are encouraged to build up their independence skills in an age-appropriate way, by helping with cooking and shopping, using public transport and tidying their bedroom. The child is encouraged to express their feelings and wishes, and these are acted on when appropriate. The child knows how to make a complaint.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child’s health needs and ensure that they have access to specialist services as required. The child is registered with all universal health services, and staff encourage them to attend appointments. The child has access to the in-house therapist and this supports their emotional health.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is promoted in the home. There have been difficulties in identifying a suitable education setting for the child. The manager has worked with other agencies and a suitable education provision has now been identified.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is a safe environment for the child. It is furnished and decorated to a high standard and is well maintained. The child has been encouraged to choose the decor for their bedroom and it is personalised to their taste. Door alarms are in use to safeguard the child. However, their use has not been rigorously assessed and reviewed. This prevents the manager from considering if continued use is proportionate and necessary.

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

The child receives safe and effective care from staff who know their needs well. There are clear boundaries and measures in place to identify risks to the child. The child’s mobile phone is checked when necessary, and staff educate the child on keeping safe on the internet and social media. Staff and the manager work closely with family members and the child’s social worker to manage risks and vulnerabilities.

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

There are clear plans in place that help the staff to understand how to meet the child’s needs. The child is making progress and there has been a reduction in substance misuse and missing-from-home incidents. However, the manager had not considered the safer area report when reviewing the risks before the child moved in. On the one occasion that Inspection report for children’s home: 2739589 3 the child has been reported missing from home, staff followed clear processes and the child returned home safely.

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

Incidents are generally well managed, and staff are trained and skilled in de-escalation techniques. This promotes a positive and non-confrontational culture. A social worker said, ‘Since moving into the home, [name of child] has made good progress. [Name of child] has displayed a reduction in risky behaviours.’

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

The child has developed trusting relationships with the staff. Staff take a therapeutic approach and positive behaviour is promoted through rewards and incentives. There is a praise book where positive behaviours and achievements are shared, which builds the child’s self-esteem. Negative consequences are rare. When they are given, they are proportionate and fair.

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

There is a stable staff team, which provides consistency of care for the child. Staff receive a broad range of good-quality training in safeguarding matters and know how to escalate safeguarding concerns.

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

The manager is experienced and is working towards the relevant management qualification. She has management responsibility for another home operated by the company. The manager is supported by an experienced responsible individual. The manager uses monitoring systems to ensure that she has oversight of the home. However, errors when recording medication had not been identified by the manager.

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

Staff say that they feel well supported by the manager and the responsible individual. Staff receive regular supervision, which allows them to reflect on their practice. Team meetings are used as a forum for discussion and are held regularly. When issues arise in staff practice, the manager challenges staff robustly. Allegations are dealt with effectively; the manager works with safeguarding partners and stringent processes are followed. However, on one occasion, safe recruitment practices were not followed and the manager did not obtain a full employment history for one member of staff.

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

Some staff are qualified and experienced in residential childcare. New members of staff complete an induction before being enrolled to work towards a recognised childcare qualification. Staff have access to a wide range of training. The manager ensures that staff have the skills and knowledge to meet the needs of the child.

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

Staff and the manager work with other agencies, professionals and family members. They ensure that they attend all relevant meetings and advocate for the child when necessary. Inspection report for children’s home: 2739589 4

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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 registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a) (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that a full employment history is obtained for all staff employed. Additionally, any gaps in employment must be fully explored and analysed. 31 December 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

In particular, the registered person must ensure that there are processes in place to monitor medication effectively in the home. 31 December 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2739589 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that alarms on any doors are only used to safeguard the child in the home. Furthermore, door alarms should only be in use after a rigorous assessment of that individual child’s needs, be properly recorded and be kept under regular review. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.10)  The registered person should ensure that the safer area report is used and considered when considering a new referral to the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 17, paragraph 3.23)

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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: 2739589 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Holistic Care Service Nationwide Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2a Tarleton Road, Southport, Merseyside PR9 7QW

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Inspector

Eve Ostridge, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2739589 7 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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