Children's Home run by New Start in Knowsley

Inspection report for children’s home: SC471289 1 SC471289 Registered provider: New Start Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is managed by a private company. The home provides care for up to four children who may have social and emotional difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, there were four children living at the home. The inspector spoke with all of the children.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2024.

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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 outstanding

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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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: SC471289 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/03/2024 Full Good 14/06/2022 Full Good 22/03/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 14/07/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: SC471289 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, two children have moved into the home. Their moves into the home were well planned and managed in a child-centred way. Two children have moved out of the home and have been supported to return to their respective family homes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children have all been supported to form positive relationships with staff, who are attuned to their needs. Staff and the manager have worked to promote positive relationships between the children, and there is a real sense of a family environment in the home. One child spoke of feeling like they are living with their brothers and sisters and said that while there are ups and downs, they are resolved quickly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have various arrangements in place for spending time with their family and friends. Comprehensive plans help staff to manage this safely and effectively. When brothers and sisters are not living together, efforts are made to ensure that they are able to spend time together to maintain their familial bond. Staff and the manager have formed good working relationships with some family members, which further supports children to maintain relationships that are important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children’s individual health needs. Children are registered with the relevant health services and referrals are made to specialist services when required. Children’s emotional health needs are prioritised. Two children have suffered a bereavement. They are being supported to access counselling services and to remember their family member by planting a rose bush in the garden.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff and the manager are aspirational for the children. The children are all attending appropriate education settings. Children have also been able to access some learning courses for staff that are tailored to their level of understanding. Staff and the manager work alongside education professionals to help the children feel settled and secure at school so that they can do well and achieve. Successes at school are celebrated, and children’s certificates are displayed around the home. Two children have made significant progress in both their learning and social development at school.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have access to a range of leisure activities and are encouraged to develop new interests. The provider has other residential homes and has started to hold ‘Togetherness Days’, where children from the homes come together for various events. The most recent was a Valentine’s Ball, for which the provider hired a local hall. The children were able to dress up and were taken there in a limousine as a surprise. These events provide children with an opportunity to socialise with peers in a safe and well- managed way.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to express their feelings and wishes in a range of ways. As a result, they feel listened to. Staff support children to develop their independence skills in an age-appropriate way. Inspection report for children’s home: SC471289 4 The home is spacious and well maintained and is a safe environment. The home is welcoming, and there are photos of the children throughout. The children all have their own bedroom with an en-suite bathroom. Children have been supported to personalise their bedrooms with family photos and items that are special to them.

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

Children are kept safe by staff who are knowledgeable about their needs and vulnerabilities. One child’s social worker said, ‘My child has strong relationships with staff who go above and beyond to engage with them and provide a safe environment and nurture. They have clear positive relationships with their key worker, and a deputy manager, amongst others.’

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

Staff are skilled at managing children’s behaviours and can de-escalate situations effectively. The use of physical intervention has greatly reduced since the last inspection. When it has been used, it has been proportionate and necessary, and staff only hold children as a last resort. Recording is clear and detailed and the manager has a good level of oversight.

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

The manager is embedding therapeutic parenting techniques across the staff team. Negative consequences are used rarely and are fair and proportionate. Staff encourage positive behaviour through the use of incentives, and children have individual boxes of small treats they can choose from when they have done something well.

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

There has been a reduction in the number of missing-from-home episodes. When these have occurred, staff have followed procedures and have searched for children to ensure their safe return.

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

Recruitment of new members of staff has been done safely. Staff are trained in safeguarding matters and know how to escalate safeguarding concerns, including to external agencies. There have been a number of allegations made by children about staff. These have been investigated fully and the manager has notified all relevant safeguarding partners and the regulator. This has ensured that there has been transparency around the actions taken and that children have been protected.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is highly experienced and suitably qualified and her practice is child centred. The manager leads by example, and her approach filters down through the team. She is supported by an experienced responsible individual and deputy manager. The leadership team is inspirational and dedicated and has a clear vision to improve the service. There are a number of initiatives in place across the organisation to drive quality and improvement, and the manager has a high level of involvement in them. Inspection report for children’s home: SC471289 5 There is a stable and highly committed staff team. Any gaps in the rota are covered by a small pool of staff from other homes in the organisation, who know the children well. This ensures consistency for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff benefit from a comprehensive training and development scheme. Existing staff are qualified and experienced in childcare. New staff complete a thorough induction before being registered to complete a recognised childcare qualification. When new needs emerge for children, further training is sought. The provider has a management training 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: outstanding

Staff feel extremely well supported and have adapted well to changes implemented by the manager. They are provided with regular supervision sessions, where they are able to reflect on challenges and successes. Team meetings are held regularly and are used as a forum for discussion and learning.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager works alongside other professionals and parents, who hold the team in high regard. She is a strong advocate for children and provides appropriate challenge when necessary. One education professional said, ‘The manager is a great advocate for [name of child]. When they were excluded from school the manager challenged and provided a member of staff to attend school with them. They will provide staff to support when we are struggling and have helped us to build trusting relationships.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has comprehensive plans and documentation in place, which are personalised to the children. There is a focus on the quality of recording in the home, and child-friendly language is used in all recordings. The manager has excellent oversight of the home and uses effective tools and systems to monitor staff performance and the care provided. This ensures that the care children receive is of consistently good quality.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There have been no requirements or recommendations made at this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: SC471289 6

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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: SC471289 7

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Eve Ostridge, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC471289 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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