Children's home run by Potensial Limited

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC489820 1 SC489820

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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 operated by an independent national company. The home provides care for up to four children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities. There are currently three children living in the home. All three children were seen and spoken to during the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in March 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspectors evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC489820 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have a lovely manner with the children, who respond positively to their playful approaches. Staff demonstrate a good understanding of the children’s needs and celebrate their successes and progress.

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Findings from the inspection

One child has made demonstrable progress since the last inspection visit in June 2024. This child is now fully participating in life in the home as well as attending school full time.

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Findings from the inspection

Recently, one child’s behaviour has changed. This is a challenge for staff to manage, and notice has been given to the local authority regarding this child’s placement in recognition that the home is no longer the right setting for this child. The additional challenges required to care for the child have impacted on staff morale and have meant that, on occasion, another child has not been able to participate in activities outside of the home. This was addressed at the time of the inspection, and careful planning and consideration were given to the staff rota for the future.

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Findings from the inspection

There have been some improvements to the home environment, and there are further plans in place to continue with these improvements. However, while some of the window dressings have been replaced, these have not always been replaced with the most appropriate product for the child and their needs.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers recognise that management recording and oversight of incidents needs to be improved. Specifically, in relation to two recent concerns, leaders and managers did not consult with the local authority designated officer. Their rationale for this decision is not clearly recorded. Action was taken immediately when inspectors identified this.

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Findings from the inspection

Incident reports provide thorough detail about the events, who was involved and what they did. Following incidents, children receive a timely debrief. For children who use verbal communication, the debriefs are clear and well recorded. However, for children who do not rely on verbal communication, the recording of debriefs is weak and unlikely to be accessible to them. Additionally, they do not fully demonstrate how staff helped them to understand and discuss the incident or how they sought the child’s feelings about it.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s records are regularly reviewed and updated as required. There is good collaborative working with the wider professional network in the interests of children. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC489820 3 Staff supervision is not provided regularly. While it is reflective and there are clear recordings, it is not planned in advance or happening with enough regularity to be supportive.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff are now enrolled on training to complete their level 3 qualifications. There had been some lapse in timescales, but this has now been addressed. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC489820 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/06/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 02/01/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 06/09/2022 Full Good 04/08/2021 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC489820 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 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 work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for 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)(b)(c)(d)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the protocols in place for management oversight of incidents are tightened and there is a clear recording of the rationale for decisions made. 01 February 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC489820 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that conversations after incidents offer children the opportunity to talk about what has happened as well as why. Where children do not use verbal communication, the record of the debrief should be clear and made accessible to the child to whom it relates. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 50, paragraph 9.60)  The registered person should ensure the home environment is warm, welcoming and well maintained. They should address the rusty radiator as well as consider the most appropriate window dressings for the needs of the children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that staff are provided with regular supervision that is planned in advance and prioritised for staff to be able to prepare appropriately for the best use of this time. (‘Guide to the Children’s

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Recommendations

Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC489820 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Potens, 68 Grange Road West, Birkenhead, CH41 4DB

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Bettina Jeppesen

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Inspectors

Katie Ratcliffe, social care inspector Paula Lahey, social care inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC489820 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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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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