Children's Home run by Garway Young People Limited in Knowsley

Inspection report for children’s home: 2729537 1 Registered provider: Garway Young People 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 registered to provide care for up to two children who experience social and emotional and/or have learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is privately owned and managed.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since the home opened in August 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children were living in the home at the time of the inspection. One child was present and was spoken to by the inspector.

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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 December 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: 2729537 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/12/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2729537 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are provided with a warm and nurturing environment. There are personal touches throughout the house which reflect the personalities of each child, including their own pets. As children return from school, they are pleased to see the staff and keen to talk to them about their day. Children are relaxed and comfortable in their surroundings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have confidence in the adults who care for them. Children trust that staff will always act in their best interests. Children know they can talk to staff about their concerns and receive appropriate emotional support when needed. Children have positive and trusting relationships with the adults caring for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive well-planned care which meets their individual needs. Staff work effectively with external professionals and family members to provide a consistent level of care. However, delegated authority arrangements are not consistently recorded in each child’s placement plan. This may cause decisions to be delayed when considering each child’s day-to-day care needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children are engaged in education. Staff provide consistent encouragement, supporting children to work towards their aspirations and develop long-term goals. Despite recent challenges in one child’s education, staff have successfully supported them to complete their exams, which is a significant achievement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s complex health needs are well managed. Staff communicate effectively with medical professionals and other agencies to ensure that children receive the care and support they require. Staff advocate strongly on behalf of children, ensuring that their rights and entitlements are respected.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to develop essential life skills in preparation for independence. Staff work through structured independence plans that are tailored to each child’s needs. This is supporting children to be well prepared for the next stage in their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Family members have confidence in the care that their children receive. One parent said, ‘If [the child] cannot be at home with me, they are in the best possible place.’

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

Staff know each child well and understand how to support them to stay safe. There is a strong culture of safeguarding in the team. Children’s welfare is the highest priority in all care decisions. Inspection report for children’s home: 2729537 4 Behaviour support plans provide staff with detailed guidance on how to respond to children who may experience distress or a crisis. Staff respond sensitively, prioritising children’s emotional well-being rather than focusing solely on behaviours. As a result, children receive a nurturing and empathetic response from the adults who care for them.

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

Incidents of children going missing from the home are rare. When incidents do arise, staff respond swiftly and appropriately, following clear protocols to ensure that children return home safely.

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

Staff only physically hold children as a last resort. There has been one recorded incident of restraint, which was appropriately carried out to ensure that the child’s immediate safety was prioritised. Detailed records are kept that provide an account of the incident and staff actions. Management oversight of the event is robust. This approach helps to protect children’s relationships with staff.

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

There has been one recent allegation against a staff member. The registered manager completed a rigorous investigation, keeping the child informed throughout.

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

The registered manager completes safer recruitment checks before any adults come to work in this home. However, information has not always been gathered in relation to applicants who have lived overseas. This could expose children to care from unsafe adults.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a qualified and experienced manager leading this home. Her strong leadership ensures that staff receive the guidance and encouragement needed to provide a good quality of care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers provide effective oversight of the care that children receive. Managers and staff have a good understanding of each child's needs, progress, and goals. This enables them to deliver personalised support that promotes children's well- being and development. Children are making good progress from their starting points.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers advocate on behalf of children to ensure that they receive the best possible opportunities. Staff actively support children to set meaningful goals for the future. Staff are aspirational for the children in their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers promote an open and transparent culture. Children are comfortable approaching managers and are encouraged to raise any concerns directly. Children are fully involved in decisions about their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children benefit from a stable and consistent staff team. High staff morale and strong teamwork contributes to a low staff turnover, ensuring that children receive continuity of care. As a result, children can build secure and positive relationships with the adults supporting them. Inspection report for children’s home: 2729537 5 Staff do not receive formal supervision and appraisal regularly. Although staff say that they are supported in their role and enjoy working at the home, this limits the effectiveness of management oversight of their practice. Inspection report for children’s home: 2729537 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, 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 registered person must ensure that all employees— undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)(c)) 30 April 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1)(2)(a)(b)(3)(a)(b)(c)(d)) 30 April 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2729537 7 In particular, the registered person must make sure that robust checks are completed regarding potential employees who have lived overseas.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should make sure that each child’s placement plan sets out the permissions that their placing authority has delegated to the registered person. (‘Guide to The Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 30, paragraph 6.2)

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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: 2729537 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Garway Young People Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 23 Immingham Drive, Liverpool L19 2HB

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Inspector

Nicola Shaw, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2729537 9 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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