Children's home run by Inspire Children’s Services Limited in St. Helens

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1241757 1 Registered provider: Inspire Children’s Services 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 by a private provider. The home provides care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties and/or learning difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Three children were living in the home at the time of the inspection, and they were spoken to.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in October 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 this inspection, 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. The inspector 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: 1241757 2

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, two children have moved out of the home and two children have moved in. One child struggled to live within a group environment. This led to some children experiencing incidents of bullying. The manager and staff responded proactively to address the behaviour, however incidents of bullying continued. The child has since moved out and there have been no further incidents of bullying.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff spend time with children, and they know them well. Children enjoy spending time with staff and have developed trusting and secure relationships with them. One child said, ‘I really like living here, I get along with the staff and I feel like I can talk to them’.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff listen to the child’s views, wishes and feelings. When children make complaints, they are taken seriously and are responded to with clear outcomes for children. The manager takes effective action to investigate all complaints and she supports children to understand how their complaint was dealt with.

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Findings from the inspection

Risks are well managed and understood by staff. The manager ensures children’s risk assessments include clear actions for staff to take to keep children safe. Risk assessments are regularly reviewed following incidents. Regular direct work is carried out with children to help them to understand risks and to support them in learning how to keep themselves safe.

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Findings from the inspection

There have been occasions when children have been missing from the home. When children are missing, staff do all they can to try to locate them. When children cannot be found, staff report them missing and continue to look for them.

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Findings from the inspection

Holding a child to keep them safe is used as a last resort in conjunction with the home’s policies and procedures. Following the use of physical intervention, the manager reviews all records and ensures that children are spoken to.

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Findings from the inspection

When significant incidents occur, records outline the steps staff take to support de- escalation and to help keep children safe. The manager ensures that records are reviewed with sufficient scrutiny and takes effective action to address any shortfalls.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager is dedicated, she leads by example and has high aspirations for the children living in the home. She has high expectations for the staff team, their development and the care that they provide to children. Staff and children speak highly of the manager and openly recognise improvements since she took over the management of the home.

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Findings from the inspection

The management oversight in the home has significantly improved since the last inspection. The manager has implemented new processes to support regular monitoring of the home, and the quality of care provided. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1241757 3 The manager ensures that staff supervisions take place regularly. Staff are provided with opportunities to reflect on their practice, development and the care provided to the children. Team meetings take place regularly. These are reflective and provide staff with opportunities to discuss practice and the individual needs of the children. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1241757 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/06/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 03/05/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/08/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 22/02/2022 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1241757 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Inspire Children’s Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 3, Craig Court, Standish Street, St Helens WA10 1GJ

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Michael Bradshaw

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Inspector

Kimmy Feeley, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1241757 6 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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