Children's Home run by Good Foundations Limited in Wirral

Inspection report for children’s home: 2724902 1 Registered provider: Good 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 is a privately run children’s home. The home provides care for up to four children who may have emotional and/or social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and manager were registered with Ofsted in June 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

Four children were 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

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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 good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2724902 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/03/2024 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: 2724902 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one child has moved into the home. Staff support children to move into the home in a sensitive and planned way.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s plans are individualised and include some information about children’s histories and their current needs. This helps staff to understand children’s previous experiences. However, some plans do not always have the most up-to-date information for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children said they are happy living in the home. Staff spend time with children to help them build positive and trusted relationships. The children said they would not change anything about living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making progress. The manager and staff have high expectations for them. Children are supported to attend educational provisions. The manager and staff support children to sit exams.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Professionals are positive about the support that staff provide for children to attend education. One child’s social worker said that when there are challenges or barriers, the manager and staff are proactive and identify solutions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children with their individual health needs. They ensure children attend routine health appointments. The manager and staff arrange specialist support for children when this is required. As a result, one child’s emotional well-being has improved.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are provided with opportunities to enjoy a range of activities. One child has started violin lessons and another child plays rugby. This supports children’s self-esteem and confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy spending time with their family and friends. Staff help children to maintain relationships with people who are important to them. One child’s parent said, ‘They have supported [name of child] and also our family to help rebuild relationships and to work towards moving back home.’

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

Staff understand how to keep children safe. They identify children’s risks and vulnerabilities well.

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

Children’s risk assessments do not always include clear strategies for staff to follow in practice, for example, in relation to substance misuse and the use of e-cigarettes. Inspection report for children’s home: 2724902 4 There is a stable staff team in place that provides continuity of care for children. This supports children to develop and maintain strong relationships with staff. This also helps staff to manage situations well when children are in crisis. Effective behaviour management plans are in place. This negates the need for staff to physically hold children.

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

Children are provided with clear and consistent boundaries. They understand the rules in place.

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

Children have not made any complaints since the last inspection.

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

When children are missing from home, staff know what to do, and communicate with the relevant professionals. However, staff do not always consistently search for children. This could impact on children returning home as quickly as possible. When children return home, staff talk to them to try and understand any triggers to these incidents. The manager ensures that children can talk to a safeguarding professional who does not work in the home.

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

The manager and staff identify specialist services to help reduce risk to children, for example, in relation to substance misuse.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has high expectations for children. She is child-focused and knows the children well. The manager has developed a positive staff culture which provides children with a nurturing environment. The manager has a good understanding of children’s needs and the progress they are making.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has effective monitoring and review systems in place. These systems help her to continually improve the quality of care she provides for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home development plan does not include specific information in relation to the development of the home and staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff work in partnership with children’s families and external professionals, for example, police, social workers and education providers. This helps to ensure that there is multi-agency support in place for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is good communication between external professionals and staff. Professionals comment positively on the manager’s communication skills and ability to work together to improve children’s care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive training to meet children’s specific needs. The manager provides staff with the opportunity to develop their practice through workshops.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are positive about the manager. They say they are supported by the manager and there is good staff morale. Inspection report for children’s home: 2724902 5 Staff receive supervision. They say that supervision is reflective and helps them develop their practice. There are regular team meetings, which are well attended by staff. Staff share information and discuss children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff are proud of their home. The home is well decorated and is a safe environment for children to live in. Inspection report for children’s home: 2724902 6

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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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that children’s records include clear guidance and strategies for staff to follow. In addition, they must ensure that staff take suitable action to look for children when they are missing. 6 January 2025

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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

are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that plans are updated following any changes to the children’s circumstances or arrangements. 6 January 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should identify in plans how children will be supported when moving into the home, and any potential impact on the children already living in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.2) Inspection report for children’s home: 2724902 7  The registered person should make best use of information from internal monitoring to ensure continuous improvement. Specifically, they should ensure that development plans evaluate the care provided and identify further areas for improvement. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.24)

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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: 2724902 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Good Foundations Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 6 Tower Quays, Tower Road, Birkenhead, Merseyside CH41 1BP

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Inspector

Sally Croft, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2724902 9 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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