Children's Home run by Lifetime Opportunities Limited in Lancashire

Unique reference number SC411046 Inspection date 26/03/2012 Inspector Angela Whiteley Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 17/10/2011 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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About this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

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About this inspection

The report details the progress made by the provider since the last full inspection, identifies any further strengths, any areas for improvement and makes judgements as outlined in the Inspection of children’s homes – framework for inspection (March 2011).

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Good progress The children’s home has demonstrated continued improvement in quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the large majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Satisfactory progress The children’s home has maintained quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Inadequate progress The children’s home has failed to address one or more requirements and/or has not met the majority of recommendations and/or the quality of care and outcomes for children and young people have declined since the last full inspection.

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Brief description of the service

The home is operated by a private company and is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three young people who have learning disabilities.

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Progress

Since their previous inspection the service is judged to be making good progress.

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Progress

At the last full inspection in October 2011, the overall judgement for this home was satisfactory. Two requirements and seven recommendations were made at the last inspection and the home has made good progress in meeting these. There are no shortfalls at this inspection.

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Progress

Young people can display challenging behaviours where sanctions and physical interventions become necessary. An appropriate recording system is now in place which details the methods used to avoid the need to use such measures. The manager has established a system for monitoring matters within the home. Regulation 34 reports have been received by Ofsted, ensuring young people’s needs are central to the running of the home and that improvements are made to the quality of care young people receive.

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Progress

Staff fully understand and apply the thresholds for managing young people’s behaviour. Positive handling and behaviour policies are in place and young people have individual behaviour plans that staff review every few months, ensuring young people receive a consistent approach. Young people actively engage with their education programmes and school attendance is excellent. Young people’s certificates of achievement are displayed within the home, which improves their self- confidence. Staff handovers are managed through a communication book or are discussed directly with staff at the on-site office when day staff leave the home as young people are at school. At weekends and school holidays, formal handovers take place within the home. High staffing ratios allow young people to spend individual time with staff and this ensures their safety.

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Progress

Young people are settling in and making good progress relative to the time they have lived at the home. As a result, they are achieving positive outcomes in many aspects of their lives including emotional resilience, education, health, family contact and behaviour management. Individual differences are accepted and valued by everyone living and working at the home.

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Progress

The home has undergone some changes since the last inspection. A number of experienced staff have moved across from different homes to accommodate an increase in the number of young people now living at the home. These appointments have further strengthened the existing staff group and ensure there is more than one staff on duty. Ensuring the staff team receive appropriate training to further develop knowledge and skills is a priority at this home. This ensures they can continue to meet the emerging needs of young people with complex needs. Staff have recently attended training courses for safeguarding, risk assessments, autism, and epilepsy and behaviour management. Staff have developed strong links with other agencies particularly in education, health and social care promoting partnership working and enabling them to make positive contributions to the care planning for young people.

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Progress

Young people’s views about the home’s operation and future direction are gathered using a range of systems and communication . Staff have listened to young people and considered their views in respect of choices they make to personalise their bedrooms, menu planning and trying new activities. Staff research group activities to enable young people to participate in different activities which help them to integrate into the community. There is a strong emphasis on young people developing socially and emotionally at this home. Staff manage contact arrangements well. They have developed strong relationships with family members to ensure young people remain safe.

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Progress

The manager is taking a more organised and proactive approach to managing the home with dedicated management time now in place. As a result, staff are given the right support they need to deliver a strong, child-focused service that is conducive to developing young people’s potential. A half-yearly analysis of the quality of care at the home has begun. The manager is further developing the quality assurance systems to capture the views of young people, parents and placing authorities for a more robust evaluation of the operation and management of the home, the quality of care, young people’s progress and the homes’ records. The development plan is in place and regularly reviewed. The Statement of Purpose is a working document that is reviewed by the organisation to ensure it meets the aims and objectives of the home. These effective measures ensure the standards within the home continue to improve.

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