Children's home run by New Roots Children’s Services Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2699772 1 Registered provider: New Roots Children’s Services 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 is a privately owned children’s home. It provides care for up to two children who may experience social or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

Two 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

Date of last inspection: 5 September 2023

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2699772 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/09/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2699772 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are two children living in the home, and both children have lived there since the last inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are living in a safe and happy home and are making good progress in most areas of their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

On the whole, children are healthy, enjoy a balanced diet and are encouraged by staff to eat a variety of foods as well as to take regular exercise. However, records do not always reflect the foods eaten by one child who can isolate themselves in their bedroom. Records also do not reflect the steps taken by staff to encourage the child to eat. This is particularly important for one child who can miss a number of meals and because staff are concerned about the amount of food that they eat.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When there are concerns about children’s health, staff help children to visit relevant professionals and encourage them to engage in the help that they need. While this is not always successful, staff continue to talk to children and encourage them to engage, using their relationships to inform children about the importance of good health as well as offering a range of incentives to encourage children’s engagement. Through regular engagement, discussions and staff support, one child has reduced their visits to the local accident and emergency department to share their health concerns.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is promoted for all children, but this is with mixed success. One child is enrolled with a local college but is not currently engaging, having decided that she would like to enrol on a different course. Staff listen to the concerns raised by the child and immediately took action to research courses that they thought would be suitable for the child. This demonstrates that staff understand the importance of education. Another child, who is enrolled with a local high school, has struggled since starting there last year. They have attended school for two days since September 2024. Staff use their positive relationships alongside a range of incentives to support the child to attend school. Staff are proactive in their approach and communicate with education professionals about this. In addition to education professionals, staff also sourced psychological support for the child to help them with their individual

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

challenges. One professional said that staff go ‘above and beyond’ for the child as well as ‘doing more than many parents would’. However, despite regular and prompt action being taken, the child remains out of education, and a requirement is therefore made to address this shortfall.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff continue to liaise with the virtual school and those who have a good relationship with the child to improve this situation. However, despite the positive work that staff are carrying out to seek a resolution to this issue, records do not Inspection report for children’s home: 2699772 4 always reflect their actions to encourage this child to engage in education or daily activities when she does not engage in education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to keep in touch with their family, where appropriate and safe. They talk to children about these relationships and children’s feelings, taking steps to safeguard children when necessary. Staff help children with the practicalities of visits to family and others and do their best to make sure that this time is positive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Engagement with hobbies and interests is mixed for children. Staff offer and promote activities with both children. When children are reluctant to engage in activities with staff, staff use different strategies to try and engage children, such as allowing children to take their friends out with them. This helps children to enjoy new experiences while spending time with children of their own age. Both children have enjoyed a holiday of their choice abroad with staff this year. It was lovely to see the photos and memories of these holidays that children will value in coming years as a reminder of the time that they spent at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Apart from education, children are making good progress in their lives and are developing their independence skills. Staff are helping them to shop and cook, budget and develop housekeeping skills in preparation for adult life. Staff also assist them with future housing applications, relationships in adult life and how to keep themselves safe as they become more independent.

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

Staff promote the safety of children by listening to what they have to say, showing an interest in their lives and educating them about how to keep themselves safe.

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

Phone usage for one child has been a concern. Staff use a variety of strategies, such as phone apps that enable them to monitor safe phone use. In addition, staff carry out regular checks of internet usage to ensure that children are safe. Should concerns continue, staff take action to involve relevant professionals and use their professional skills, knowledge and advice to help them to keep children safe.

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

At times, staff have to remove belongings from children. These were necessary actions, but staff do not record this as a consequence. This does not provide an accurate record of the event, nor does it provide an opportunity for the manager to evaluate the effectiveness of these actions and identify any learning.

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

When children are missing from home, staff take action to find them and talk to them about the reasons for them leaving the home. Clear missing-from-home protocols and chronologies outline the action that staff take to prevent children from leaving the home as well as the steps that staff take to find the children.

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

Risk assessments and behaviour management plans identify the known risks to children both past and present, alongside the strategies for staff to follow to Inspection report for children’s home: 2699772 5 minimise these risks. Plans are reviewed and updated regularly to ensure that they provide a current overview of risks to children.

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

Staff recruitment is strong. Concerns regarding staff conduct are addressed promptly, and the manager takes action to address these concerns with the individuals and keeps safeguarding professionals involved as necessary. Internal investigations are used to identify any learning that will improve future systems or staff practice.

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

On the whole, the premises are well maintained and provide a homely environment for children to live in. Children’s bedrooms are individualised and reflect the individual personalities of children. However, the stair carpet is worn and requires cleaning or replacement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a suitably qualified and experienced manager in post at the home. He also manages another home with the same company. He has systems and routines in place to oversee and manage both homes effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the home opened, there have been some staff changes. This was a positive decision intended to balance the strengths and experience of the two staff teams, which has been successful. Observations throughout the inspection reflected that staff have developed good working relationships. They know the children well and are able to share their thoughts and knowledge about the children that they care for.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a range of internal quality assurance systems that he uses to monitor the standard of records and quality of care at the home. In addition to this, senior staff use staff supervisions to address any shortfalls or areas for improvement as well as congratulating good practice and achievements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a range of training available to staff. The training matrix shows that mandatory staff training is up to date and that refresher training is planned when necessary. Staff said that they receive regular supervision from the deputy and manager and that they find this helpful in developing their learning and knowledge about their role. This is a mixture of online and face-to-face courses. Staff shared that they feel the training that they receive is of good quality and helps them to develop their knowledge. In addition, team meetings and individual supervisions are used to create additional opportunities for learning and reflection to improve practice. Inspection report for children’s home: 2699772 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 education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

that staff help children who are excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(viii)) 10 February

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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

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm;

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(b)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that records reflect the actions of staff in promoting the safety and well-being of children when they are spending extended periods of time in their rooms and that the stair carpet is cleaned or replaced. 10 February

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that— 10 February Inspection report for children’s home: 2699772 7 within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vii))

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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: 2699772 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: New Roots Children’s Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 139 Stoney Lane, Rainhill, Prescot L35 9JY

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Inspectors

Julia Toller, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2699772 9 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

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