Children's home run by Independent Living Services (North West) Limited

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1278022 1 Registered provider: Independent Living Services (North West) 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 is owned and managed by a private company. It provides care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There is currently no registered manager in post.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, there were no children were living in the home.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the provider since the last full inspection.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection that was carried out on 15 October 2024. At that inspection, serious concerns in relation to the care and protection of children were identified. Following a case review, a notice to restrict the accommodation of the home was issued. The notice was lifted following this monitoring visit.

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This monitoring visit

There is now a new responsible individual in post. Although there is no registered manager, an experienced manager has been appointed.

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This monitoring visit

The new responsible individual has undertaken a significant amount of work with the team to increase their knowledge on safeguarding and to ensure that they have the necessary skills to meet children’s needs. Workshops have been held with staff on risk management, key working, internet safety, care planning and incident reporting. The responsible individual has completed evaluations with staff following these workshops to check their learning.

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This monitoring visit

Team meetings have taken place regularly and are well attended. These have covered areas such as staff supervision, safeguarding roles and responsibilities, incident recording and reporting and lessons learned. Staff have all been re-inducted Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1278022 2 to their roles and have now all received training in behaviour management and restraint practice.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have ensured that there is now a full staff team in place, and that this team works solely in this home. There is a level of inexperience in the team, but this is mitigated by the home having an experienced deputy manager and more management oversight.

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This monitoring visit

One child has moved from the home since the last inspection. While the child’s move was unplanned, managers and the staff managed this move in a child-centred way. This meant that the child was prepared for the move properly and was able to say goodbye to staff and the home. Managers have completed a lessons learned review of the experience of the child when they moved into the home. They have taken learning from this for when they start to move children into the home again.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s risk management plans have been reviewed and updated. They are clear, comprehensive and contain up-to-date information on children’s known vulnerabilities. Staff have had one-to-one input on how to complete risk assessments and review risk.

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This monitoring visit

There has been a significant improvement in the organisation of documents since the last inspection. The new responsible individual has implemented paper files and staff say it is now much easier to find the information they need. Staff say new managers are very supportive and that they now receive regular supervision.

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This monitoring visit

The home is in the process of being redecorated and provides a warm and welcoming environment for children.

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This monitoring visit

The new responsible individual and manager have put monitoring systems in place and have good oversight of the day-to-day running of the home. The responsible individual has acknowledged the shortfalls identified at the last inspection and has been proactive in making the necessary improvements to ensure that the home and staff can meet children’s needs and keep them safe. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1278022 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/10/2024 Full Inadequate 21/11/2023 Full Good 22/08/2023 Full Inadequate 24/05/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1278022 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

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4. (Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must maintain an accurate record that includes the full names of all staff and the actual hours worked in the home, including by the manager. 31 January 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing, and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities, and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (5))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must use feedback from children, family members and professionals to improve the 31 January 2025 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1278022 5 evaluative content of the review of the quality of care report in order to drive improvement in the home.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1278022 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Independent Living Services (North West) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Suite 4 Ena Works, Volunteer Street, St Helens, Merseyside WA10 2AY

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Inspector

Sarah Billett, Regulatory Inspection Manager Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1278022 7 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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