Children's home run by Liv Children Care LTD

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2715823 1 Registered provider: Liv Children Care LTD

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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 privately owned and provides care for up to four children with learning disabilities. There was one child living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children's home

The post of registered manager and responsible individual were vacant at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children's home

Date of last inspection: 12 September 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 these inspections, the inspector 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: 2715823 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

Leaders and managers have worked hard to secure additional educational hours and funding for one child. The home’s manager is thinking creatively about learning resources and how best to maximise learning opportunities for the child, in and outside of the home. The request of tuition reports and the regular attendance of education meetings mean that staff have a better understanding of the child’s needs and outcomes. An education professional said, ‘The child is making steady progress in reading, spelling, vocabulary and reasoning.’ As a result, the educational requirement made at the last full inspection has been met.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have made positive progress in capturing and recording the voice of the child. Additional resources have been provided to help staff explore different feelings, choices and opportunities with the child. As a result, the child has started to verbally communicate with staff more and has been actively involved in choosing different coloured walls in the home. However, staff have still not received training in the child’s preferred communication method. Leaders recognise this delay and plan for staff to receive this training soon.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last full inspection, there has been a significant reduction in staff needing to hold the child to keep them safe. When this has been needed, staff records reflect a child-focused approach. The manager’s review is curious and seeks to understand the reasons for staff using such interventions. This is a vast improvement from previous inspections. However, there is a missed opportunity to circulate this critical learning back into the child’s relevant plans. The manager is reflective of this and understands the importance of this joined up work.

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Findings from the inspection

The training matrix evidences a broad range of staff training, including training that is specific in meeting the needs of the child. All staff, including new staff, are offered and attend this training, in line with the company’s policies.

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Findings from the inspection

The home’s manager is working hard to understand the child’s cultural identity and needs with the allocated social worker. She had requested their genogram and photographs of their birth family to help the child feel a sense of belonging and individuality. In the interim, staff are helping the child to explore what they do know, providing sensitive representation in the form of books and comforting aids. They have also supported the child to enjoy cultural experiences, including new foods and music. This proactive approach means that children are supported to understand their identities and have opportunities to submerge themselves in their culture and heritage.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last full inspection, the manager submitted her application to register; however, has recently withdrawn it. Senior leaders recognise the need to recruit a Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2715823 3 skilled and permanent manager and have advertised the role. However, due to there not being a registered manager in the home since April 2023, Ofsted has issued a compliance notice.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last full inspection, there has been a change in the proposed responsible individual. This request was formally received by Ofsted, prior to this assurance visit, and is currently under inspection review. The newly proposed responsible individual is the regional manager for the home, and has been providing the manager with supervision, support and managerial oversight. He has implemented good auditing systems and is passionate about upskilling staff and providing development opportunities for managers. Although in its infancy, plans appear to be appropriately targeted and supportive.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders have not completed a quality of care review for a significant period. This is a missed opportunity to continually demonstrate the child’s progress since living in the home, leadership oversight and professional developments in the home. This is a repeat requirement. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2715823 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/09/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 03/10/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2715823 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 care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children's home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the full last inspection and is restated due to no new children moving in or out of the home. 1 June 2025

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Requirement Due date

*The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children's home if there is no registered manager in respect of the home. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)) 31 March 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify, without delay, the local authority for the area in which the children's home is located of every admission of a child into the home and every discharge of a child from the home. (Regulation 41 (1))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the full last inspection and is restated due to no new children moving in or out of the home. 1 June 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 1 June 2025 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2715823 6 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

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review ("the quality of care review report"). (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3))

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Requirement Due date

*This requirement is subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs, and should understand the key role they play in the training and development of staff. In particular, staff should receive child-focused training to further promote their skills and abilities in effective communication methods. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 53, paragraph 10.11)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff encourage an enthusiasm for positive behaviour through the use of positive behaviour strategies in line with the child's relevant plans. In particular, the use of visual aids should be added to the child's positive behaviour support plan. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 39, paragraph 8.13) Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2715823 7

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Liv Children Care LTD

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: 128 City Road, London EC1V 2NX

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Inspector

Kelly Monniot, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2715823 8 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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