Children's Home run by Quality Protects Children Ltd in Knowsley

Inspection report for children’s home: SC356929 1 SC356929 Registered provider: Quality Protects Children 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 is a privately owned children’s home.

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Information about this children’s home

It is registered to provide care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children were living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since May 2021.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 27 September 2023

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC356929 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/09/2023 Full Good 28/06/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 29/09/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 08/06/2021 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: SC356929 3

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, two children have remained living in the home. This has provided these children with continuity of care. Staff have positive relationships with the children. One child says that staff care about them. The child says that staff spend time with them and help them when needed.

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improvement to be good

Children living in the home are supported to achieve in education. One child is supported to attend the provider’s on-site educational provision. This has supported the child to progress both academically and socially. As a result, the child has ambitions of returning to mainstream education. Another child has not attended education. However, staff identify alternative options and have successfully managed to help the child begin to attend education.

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improvement to be good

Staff do not always manage one child’s needs in line with their age and understanding. This led to consequences for the child that did not have a positive impact on their behaviour.

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improvement to be good

Staff have meaningful conversations with children and demonstrate professional curiosity about what is happening in their lives. However, during times of distress for children, staff do not always have the skills to manage situations effectively.

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improvement to be good

The manager and staff have positive working relationships with children’s family members. Staff support the children to maintain relationships with people important to them. One parent said that staff work with them to reinforce positive choices for their child. Another parent said they feel the care their child receives is ‘second to none’.

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improvement to be good

The home environment provides children with adequate space to socialise and relax. However, some areas of the home need redecoration and modernisation. Staff do not support all children to maintain their bedrooms to an acceptable standard.

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improvement to be good

Children’s risk assessments do not offer clear guidance and strategies for staff to manage children’s individual behaviours and risks. Strategies to reduce risk are not clear for staff to follow in practice. This does not help staff safeguarding practices. Therefore, opportunities to reduce risks to children are missed.

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, there have been incidents of self-injurious behaviour. Staff do not take sufficient action to manage this because they do not understand their roles and responsibilities in relation to this risk. This has led to situations when children are in crisis. Inspection report for children’s home: SC356929 4 Staff do not take sufficient action to de-escalate incidents. This has resulted in staff contacting the police. This could lead to criminalising the children. Leaders and managers identified this as a shortfall and are taking action to improve this practice. As a result, incidents for children have reduced.

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improvement to be good

Incidents in relation to children missing from home have reduced. Children have individualised plans in place if they do go missing from home. Staff search for children and contact their family and friends. Staff regularly review these plans to ensure that they are updated and include children’s current circumstances.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

There is a suitably qualified and experienced manager in place. The manager and deputy manager are committed to meeting the children’s needs. Managers have positive relationships with the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Management oversight of incidents does not identify shortfalls in staff practice. However, senior managers are taking action and beginning to identify shortfalls. As a result, staff caring practices are improving.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff spoken to told inspectors that they are supported by managers. Staff benefit from regular supervision. Records demonstrate that supervision offers staff opportunities to reflect on their practice and discuss any concerns they may have.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Team meetings take place regularly and are used as an opportunity to share information and enhance staff knowledge. Children are invited to take part in team meetings. One child provided a quiz for staff about the home and the children living there. Staff attend group supervision sessions facilitated by the clinical lead. This offers staff the opportunity to reflect on their practice as a team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

There are gaps in some staff’s training. This does not support staff to develop their skills and knowledge to provide individualised care to meet children’s needs as outlined within their care plans. This could impact on the quality of care that staff provide for children. Management oversight did not identify these gaps.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The relationship between the manager and external professionals is good. Professionals comment positively on the care that staff provide for children. However, the manager does not always take efficient action when children’s local authority documents are out of date. This means that some of the children’s records do not include up-to-date and accurate information. Inspection report for children’s home: SC356929 5

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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, The 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(vi)(e))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that staff take action to safeguard children following incidents of self-injurious behaviour. That staff use strategies to de-escalate incidents prior to contacting police. Also, that children’s plans are reviewed to include clear guidance for staff to follow in practice. 15 May 2025

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

promotes their welfare. 15 May 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: SC356929 6 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that all staff are suitably trained to meet the needs of the children.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that there is effective management oversight of incidents, and that monitoring and review systems are improved to identify any shortfalls in staff practices.

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ix)) 15 May 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: SC356929 7 Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that staff support the children’s emotional needs, particularly when children are experiencing emotional distress.

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (2)(vii)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that the home environment is maintained to an acceptable standard. The registered manager must ensure that children are supported to maintain the cleanliness of their bedrooms. 15 May 2025

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that placing authorities are consistently challenged when there are delays in providing relevant plans for children to contribute to effective care planning. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 12, paragraph 2.8)

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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: SC356929 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Quality Protects Children Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Hill House, Archway Road, Huyton, Liverpool L36 9XB

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Inspectors

Hayley Smith, Social Care Inspector Claire Hobbs, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC356929 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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