Children's home run by New Start

Inspection report for children’s home: 2718780 1 Registered provider: New Start

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private provider. It provides care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties. At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2023.

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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 outstanding

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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: 18 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: 2718780 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/12/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2718780 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has been living in the home for over 18 months and has formed positive relationships with staff and the manager. They know the child well and the care provided to them is of a high standard. The child said: ‘I like it here; the staff are nice. There is nothing I would want to change.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is safe and well maintained. It is a welcoming environment, having recently been redecorated. The child has been able to choose colours and furnishings, which has given them a sense of ownership and pride in their home. The child has personalised their room with collectibles and memorabilia on display.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is supported to spend time with their family in a safe and well-managed way. When family time plans are not progressing effectively, the manager advocates for the child to ensure that they are able to form meaningful relationships with those close to them. Staff and the manager support family members to be involved in the child’s care planning and visits to the home by family members are encouraged.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child’s individual health needs. Referrals are made to specialist services when required. Staff ensure that the child attends appointments with professionals as part of their care plan.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has not attended formal education provision for several years. However, the child is supported to maintain their confidence in education by working with a tutor and being provided with other creative activities by staff. The child is in a good routine and their daily schedule mirrors that of a school day. The manager and responsible individual work with the local authority to attempt to identify a suitable provision.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is able to express their wishes and feelings. They are supported to attend their care planning meetings and give their views. The child has access to a range of leisure activities and staff drive the child a long distance to take part in their hobby. The child has been encouraged to engage with the local community by making food hampers and donating items to a local charity. The child has been involved in planning an upcoming holiday. The child is encouraged to develop independence skills by cooking, shopping, and budgeting.

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

The child is kept safe by staff who really know and understand the child’s needs. The child is at the centre of all decision-making and their well-being is paramount. Staff, the manager and the responsible individual are all highly attuned to the child and show a high level of emotional warmth towards them. The child’s social worker said: ‘They have got [name of child] through a very difficult time. It is clear they are committed, and I have the impression staff know them inside and out.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 2718780 4 There are clear and effective plans in place that support staff to manage risks and vulnerabilities. Plans are reviewed regularly to reflect any changes in the child’s circumstances. Recording by staff is clear and personalised, using child-friendly language.

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

The child has been supported effectively by all involved in their care, including local authority partners. Staff and the manager ensure that the child is involved in their care plan. The child has been extremely well supported to prepare for proposed changes to their plan and any upcoming events.

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

When incidents happen, they are managed effectively. The child is supported to manage their emotions by staff who are skilled in de-escalation techniques. Leaders and managers are responsive to the child’s needs and have been dynamic in making changes to how care is delivered when necessary. At this time, the child is subject to a high level of supervision and restriction regarding the use of technology and free time. However, staff and the manager are working with other professionals with a view to reducing restrictions in a safe and managed way.

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

Positive behaviour is encouraged by using rewards and incentives. Negative consequences are rare and take the form of natural consequences rather than punitive measures. They are reviewed by the manager, which ensures that they are effective in managing unwanted behaviours.

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

Recruitment of new members of staff has been done safely. Staff are trained in safeguarding matters, and they know how to escalate safeguarding concerns, including to external agencies. The child knows how to make a complaint and there is a clear procedure in place.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is registered with Ofsted and is enrolled on the relevant qualification. She has management responsibility for another home operated by the company. The manager is supported by an experienced responsible individual and a strong deputy manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a large multi-agency team working with the child, and the manager has formed good working relationships with all concerned. Staff and the manager have worked in a collaborative way in order to get the best outcomes for the child. The manager and responsible individual challenge other professionals when necessary. One local authority professional said: ‘I have been very impressed with the manager and deputy. They communicate well. The team is very invested in the child and are strong advocates for them.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from a comprehensive training and development scheme. Some staff are qualified and experienced in childcare. New staff complete an induction before being registered to complete a recognised childcare qualification. The provider has a Inspection report for children’s home: 2718780 5 programme in place to support staff to develop their career and progress to management. This aids staff retention, which provides consistency for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a stable staff team whose members are committed to the child. When there have been gaps in the staff rota, they have been covered by consistent members of staff from other homes, who also know the child well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from regular supervision sessions and team meetings, which are used as an opportunity for staff to reflect and put forward ideas. The organisation’s therapist also attends meetings to provide additional support for staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager uses a range of systems to monitor the effectiveness of care provided and she has good oversight of the home. However, the independent person who visits the home does not always gather enough feedback from a range of external sources. This reduces independent scrutiny of the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2718780 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that any individual appointed to carry out visits to the home as an independent person makes a rigorous and impartial assessment of the home’s arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children in the home’s care. This includes regularly seeking external feedback, such as from family members and other professionals working with the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 65, paragraph 15.5)

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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: 2718780 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: New Start Limited, 179 Townsend Lane, Clubmoor, Liverpool L13 9DY

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Inspector

Eve Ostridge, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2718780 8 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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