Children's home run by Exceptional Care Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2630446 1 Registered provider: Exceptional Care 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 owned by a private organisation. It is registered to provide care for up to two children with social or emotional needs.

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Information about this children’s home

There is one child living in the home, who spoke with the inspector during the inspection.

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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 requires improvement to be good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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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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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2630446 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/08/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 23/04/2024 Full Inadequate 11/04/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2630446 3

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, two children have moved in, and two children have moved out. One child moved out as a natural progression to live independently after living here for several years. The manager considers children’s needs and staff skills when planning for children to move into the home. Unfortunately, due to not all the information being shared with the manager, one child moved out in an emergency and within a short time period. Staff supported the child’s move to the new home and ensured that all relevant information was shared with professionals.

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improvement to be good

The home does not have a full permanent staff team. This has resulted in cover being provided by staff from other homes and bank staff. Leaders and managers have recognised this. New staff are being recruited. However, the child is not provided care by staff they are familiar with.

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improvement to be good

Staff understand the importance of education. Children who are not in education are supported to engage in home learning. The child has completed some home learning. Staff work with the child and other professionals to develop a plan for them to return to education.

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improvement to be good

Children are supported to maintain relationships with their family and friends. Staff welcome children’s family and friends into the home. Staff encourage the child and their family to celebrate special occasions, such as birthdays. This supports the child’s identity.

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improvement to be good

The home is well maintained. The manager has made improvements to the layout of the home. It is cosy and welcoming, and there are plans for further improvement. The child is involved in decisions about how the home is decorated. Their bedroom is personalised and decorated to their taste.

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improvement to be good

Staff understand children’s health needs. The child is encouraged and supported to access specialist health services. Staff are proactive at seeking medical help for the child when they are struggling emotionally. They challenge external professionals effectively to ensure that the child receives the support that they need from the most appropriate service.

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improvement to be good

Staff have struggled to help the child feel settled in the home. A high turnover of staff has impacted on their ability to build consistent relationships with the child. There has been a lack of progress in therapeutic support for the child. The local authority has given notice. Inspection report for children’s home: 2630446 4 When the child goes missing from home, staff follow the missing-from-home risk assessment. They search the local areas and liaise with professionals. The child is welcomed back into the home. Return home interviews are provided. Staff can identify reasons the child goes missing from home and take action to reduce future incidents.

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improvement to be good

When the child raises concerns about staff practice, this is addressed promptly. Managers refer to the relevant professionals, including the local authority designated officer. The manager ensures that they follow the procedures, and allegations are investigated in a timely manner.

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improvement to be good

When staff have used physical intervention, it has been used appropriately and proportionately. Physical interventions have only been used as a last resort and to keep children safe. The manager and staff ensure that there is a clear and detailed recording each time.

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improvement to be good

Following a recent fire risk, the manager has been proactive in updating the fire risk assessment. There is a fire action plan in place so that staff understand what actions to take to reduce the risk of fire. A referral was made to the fire service to support in educating the child about the risk of fire. All permanent staff have recently updated their fire safety training. There are additional fire extinguishers and fire blankets upstairs.

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good

The registered manager is currently not working in the home. The provider has implemented a plan in their absence. The home is being supported by other managers in the company. The responsible individual has recently applied with the regulator, suitability checks are being completed.

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good

Staff have regular supervision sessions. Staff can speak openly in supervision with the manager. The child, staff development and training are discussed. Staff can raise concerns in supervision sessions, and these are addressed by the manager.

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good

The manager and staff have team meetings. However, these are not held regularly. There is a lack of research and reflective practice discussed in the meetings that could be used to guide staff practice. In addition, incidents are not routinely discussed. This is a missed opportunity for learning and improving practice.

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good

Manager oversight of incidents is poor. When there are incidents in the home, these are recorded by staff and records have sufficient detail to help explain what has happened. However, staff are not always provided an opportunity to discuss incidents. The manager does not always record evaluations of incidents, and when they do, these are not always reflective. Inspection report for children’s home: 2630446 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

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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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

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; and

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that oversight of incidents recognises any gaps in practice and that they are clear about what actions staff need to take to manage risks. 23 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. 23 May 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2630446 6 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for 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; and

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(d)(f)(g)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that there is a stable and consistent staff team working in the home.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that they use a range of resources to inform practice for staff learning and development to improve the quality of care provided.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that children receive the emotional support they need as agreed in their plans.

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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: 2630446 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Exceptional Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Malthouse Business Centre, 48 Southport Road, Ormskirk L39 1QR

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Responsible individual:

Registered manager: Paula Swindells-Walsh, Leah Kelly

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Inspector

Sarah Probert, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2630446 8 and inspects 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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