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

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

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Information about this children’s home

There is currently no registered manager. However, there is a manager in post who has submitted an application to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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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: 15 October 2024

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

Following the inadequate judgement on 15 October 2024, a notice of restriction was issued, which remained in place until 8 January 2025. Inspection report for children’s home: 1278022 2

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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: 1278022 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There were no children living in the home at the time of the inspection. One child had moved out since the last inspection and their experience and progress have been considered at this inspection. The child had started to develop positive relationships with staff who provided nurture and encouragement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child had an unplanned move from the home. This move was managed well by staff, who ensured that the child was well prepared and supported with the move. The child was given the opportunity to say goodbye to staff and take photos to take with them, which will form part of their life story going forward.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensured that the child’s health needs were met. They were tenacious in following up health concerns with the doctor. This resulted in the child having blood tests and receiving treatment for a health issue that was impacting on their energy levels. Staff helped the child access support for their emotional health.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child did not attend education. Staff did encourage the child to participate in online learning and actively advocated for them to be provided with education. Because of the child’s positive relationships with staff, the child did engage in activities with the staff outside the home, such as going out for dinner and bonfire night celebrations. Staff had also started to help the child personalise their room.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff spent time with the child discussing relevant issues, including education and keeping safe. Key-work records are recorded in a child-focused way that also demonstrate how hard staff tried to get the child to engage with education. The child’s views are evident in these records, and they also expressed their views to staff about wanting to stay in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff supported the child’s time spent with people who were important to them by taking the child and supporting them while they were there. This supported the child to maintain links with people who are important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has been decorated and refurnished and now provides a warm and welcoming home environment for children.

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

Staff ensured that the child had risk management plans in place. These were clear, comprehensive and contained up-to-date information in terms of the child’s known vulnerabilities.

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

Since the last inspection, the new management team has undertaken a significant amount of work with the staff team to increase staff’s knowledge on safeguarding and to Inspection report for children’s home: 1278022 4 ensure that they understand their roles and responsibilities in keeping children safe. Staff have taken part in workshops on risk assessment and safeguarding scenarios. Workshops have also been undertaken in key working, internet safety, care planning and incidents and incident reporting. These workshops have been evaluated by the manager with staff to check their learning and ensure that they all understand their roles and responsibilities in keeping children safe.

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

There has only been one safeguarding incident since the last inspection before the child moved out and this was managed well by staff.

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

The responsible individual has ensured that the home is safe for children by making sure that all health and safety checks, including fire checks, are completed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a new responsible individual and a new manager in post since the last inspection. They are child centred and committed to providing a nurturing home environment where children are valued and heard.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have done a significant amount of reflective practice since the last inspection. They understand the shortfalls that led to the inadequate judgement and have worked hard to upskill the staff team and make improvements to the home, so they can provide a better standard of care when children move in.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The responsible individual and manager have ensured that there is a full staff team in place, and that all staff have received training to meet the needs of children. All staff in the home have been re-inducted to ensure that they are clear about their roles and responsibilities in the care of children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are positive about the new management team and the changes it has put in place. Staff feel well supported in their roles and receive regular supervision and annual appraisals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

While managers have a clear record of staff training, they need to update the workforce development plan to ensure that their own training is recorded accurately.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Monitoring systems are now effective. Managers have good oversight of the staff team and staff practice and recording in the home is much improved.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The responsible individual has submitted a comprehensive six-monthly review of care, which is reflective of the failings that led to the inadequate judgement, and has identified where changes were required and has implemented these changes. Inspection report for children’s home: 1278022 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the workforce development plan is updated to include any new training and qualifications completed by staff while working at the home and used to record the ongoing training and continuing professional development needs of staff – including the home’s manager. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 53, paragraph 10.8)

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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: 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, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1278022 7 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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