Children's Home run by Lancashire County Council in Lancashire

Unique reference number SC064735 Inspection date 10/01/2013 Inspector Stephen Trainor Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 13/03/2012 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

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Brief description of the service

This children's residential unit is operated by a local authority and provides care for up to six young people of either sex aged from 12 to 17 years. The home cares for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The unit can take emergency placements.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding : a service of exceptional quality that significantly exceeds minimum requirements Good : a service of high quality that exceeds minimum requirements Adequate : a service that only meets minimum requirements Inadequate : a service that does not meet minimum requirements

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be outstanding .

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Overall effectiveness

All the young people receive a high standard of care and this means they commit to their placements, work hard, and learn how to take full responsibility for their behaviour. Most of the young people have lived at the home for a number of years and have become extremely settled during this time. Individuals are very clear about their placement arrangements, show excellent commitment, and provide their best cooperation allowing each of them to make excellent progress, both socially and educationally. Young people have embraced their learning and development opportunities. Young people continuously achieve and develop from the consistent support and approaches they receive from a highly experienced and fully qualified staff team. Partnership arrangements work efficiently but the final date for leaving the service and supporting young people's transition to adult services is not as clear as it should be.

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Overall effectiveness

Keyworker systems are particularly effective. Young people build their self- knowledge, self-awareness and emotional resilience to the challenges they face throughout the time that they live at the home. All have opportunities to gain certificates of personal effectiveness alongside their academic achievements. Relationships between young people and with staff are excellent and each young person shows that they value difference.

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Overall effectiveness

All the young people state that they feel safe while living at the home. There is excellent safeguarding for residents through clear and agreed strategies, protocols, risk assessments and placement plans. Young people make better lifestyle choices. A wide range of professionals, agencies and parents provided extremely positive comments and these unanimously agreed that the service provides a high quality of care and this was keeping young people safe.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people’s efforts are rewarded and clear incentives help to change behaviours. Young people are cared for by an experienced, competent, and highly motivated team of staff. The promotion of young people's health and well-being is excellent. Recreational interests are also supported very well. Young people's behaviours were rewarded during the October half term break with a well earned visit to Euro Disney.

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Overall effectiveness

The young people are extremely relaxed within their home. The home's environment is very supportive and underpinned by defined boundaries. Young people’s views are consistently gathered and these influence the home's operation and future direction. Young people are involved in decision making that impacts on all aspects of their lives. Young people are in a position to fulfil their potential from their engagement in well-focused high quality placement plans. There are very few behaviour management problems. The home reports serious concerns transparently but the outcomes of notifications are not always communicated to Ofsted.

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Overall effectiveness

The home's aims and objectives are clearly being fulfilled. This service has a clear impact on the lives of each young person and improves their future prospects. The views of partners are being gathered and these are used to shape future services. Monitoring reports carried out under the requirements of Regulation 33 and 34 provide clear analysis and evaluation of all events. Quality assurance checks by the local authority demonstrate the capacity to plan continuous improvements.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 ensure final outcome statements are recorded and communicated to partners including Ofsted following a notifiable event (NMS 24.2)  ensure the home supports the young person's transition to adult services; specifically, by establishing a clear timeline to work towards when implementing plans. (NMS 12.2)

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are outstanding .

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people experience stable placements and make significant progress in many areas, including their social presentation, self-awareness and taking responsibility for their behaviour. As a result, young people develop and mature. An ex-resident who frequently visits her friends and staff at the home commented, 'My overall stay at the home was very positive and one of the happiest times of my life.' The present residents confirm that they are all very happy living at the home and consider themselves to have made significant progress. This is particularly clear when young people talk about their future prospects. All young people have tremendous confidence and collectively state that the experience of living at the home, 'Changes lives'. A parent commenting on one young person's journey stated, 'He has made excellent progress in relationships, behaviour and social development and continues to make on going progress.'

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people have a clear understanding of their plans and arrangements and all are capable of making responsible decisions. They extend their full or best cooperation resulting in them being in a very good position to fulfil their potential. Young people achieve personal goals and this helps them to develop a better understanding and appreciation of their personal circumstances. Young people can motivate themselves, especially to attend meetings, where they express their views with some confidence. Each young person has clear aspirations and believe that they have secured a better future from the time they have spent at the home.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people living at the home are treated fairly and staff practice supports their individual needs. There is a genuine affection and mutual respect between young people and staff. The young people gain tremendous benefits from the high levels of emotional support they receive from staff with the skills, motivation and abilities to sustain very positive working relationships. This is particularly evident in maintaining relationships with family and friends and reducing risk-taking behaviours.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people remain enthusiastic about their education and college placements. All work hard to complete their secondary school education, further education or secure meaningful employment. Young people's willingness to participate has resulted in high attendance and attainment. Each young person has grown in confidence through their range of learning experiences. Young people's progress and personal effectiveness is clear to be seen through the accredited certificates they gain.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people enjoy good health and choose healthy lifestyles. They take responsibility for their health and make clear links between diet and exercise. Regular activities ensure they remain physically active. All young people are familiar with their health arrangements, are aware of the contents of their health plans and attend their appointments with health professionals. Staff skilfully encourage engagement with mental health professionals. Young people understand key health risks associated with risk taking behaviours such as smoking, drug and alcohol use as well as sexual health risks.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people gain many competencies and life skills through good quality experiences provided by in-house independence and social skills training programmes. Young people engage very well with key workers and start to build social resilience and life skills straight from the start of their placements from the high quality care they receive. Specific placement arrangements are introduced for older residents in line with their after care, pathway and transition plans. These plans remain of high quality but do not always show the timelines for all partners to be working towards to ensure placements remain fully focussed. Young people conduct themselves well at the home and the surrounding community. All are very well prepared for the world of work and adult life.

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding .

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Quality of care

Young people enjoy excellent relationships with staff which enable them to engage positively and make good choices, for example, keeping themselves safe and getting the best from their placement. Staff are skilled and show great insight and understanding of young people’s needs. As a result, young people appreciate and value the efforts of staff and work closely with them to plan their futures. Young people like the attitude of the staff towards them and they confirm that they like living there. All agree that the rules are fair. A parent confirmed that staff practice is, 'Genuinely caring with the best interests of the children at heart.'

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Quality of care

High quality assessment and planning takes place, resulting in specific needs being met, reflecting young people’s needs and charting their progress. Social workers receive frequent progress updates. All achievements are celebrated and this continuously builds young people's self-esteem. Young people’s personalities prosper at this home and their records of achievement and awards are proudly displayed.

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Quality of care

Impact risk assessments have been used successfully to maintain a compatible peer group dynamic. Young people make big improvements in their behaviour and all are relaxed and confident in their placements. Equality and diversity are well established within the culture and ethos of the home and this means there are many opportunities to develop self-knowledge and self-help skills. Young people learn how to contribute to the wider community through participation programmes and some charity work.

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Quality of care

Staff work extremely well in partnership with many different professionals and agencies to implement plans. Communication between staff, young people and their parents, social workers and other professionals is highly effective. The overall response being taken to support young people’s needs is excellent. All work is at the pace ideally suited to the individual child. Consistent practice eliminates any potential confusion with the arrangements in place for each young person. A parent commented, 'I can ring anytime, to any staff member, and they know what has been going on.'

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Quality of care

Each young person's educational potential is supported by proactive staff practice. The home’s philosophy of care promotes the development of educational potential. Care staff continuously emphasise the importance of young people gaining the best education. Each young person has an education plan that works in practice. Virtually all the young people show that they are fully committed to their education and have impressive attendance records. Learning and development remains central to the home's 24 hour curriculum of care and education. Learning methods ensure young people develop key skills suited for adult life and the world of work. Young people understand how to make a complaint. They confirm that complaints, if made, are responded to in full. A written guide covers complaints, with information, guidance and contact details of agencies such as Ofsted, children's rights and the Children's Rights Director. Young people can differentiate between grumbles and

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Quality of care

serious complaints. Young people have skills to sort out minor matters positively between themselves. This includes discussion or by raising matters during in-house meetings.

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Quality of care

Healthy lifestyles are promoted. The key worker role is well developed to deliver health promotion work. Medication is stored safely, and records are maintained on the administration of medication, including prescribed and non-prescription medication. There are clear policies and procedural guidance and these are followed in practice. All staff receive suitable training to support health and well-being and this maintains the high quality of care being provided. The children looked after nurse visits regularly and this allows support to be targeted to the times young people are most in need.

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Quality of care

Staff engage young people in a range of activities to develop individual potential. Young people's aspirations are supported and a suitable budget enables them to pursue their hobbies and interests. The young people's sustained efforts were recently rewarded with the opportunity to plan a trip abroad. Each young person gained from the massive range of learning opportunities they experienced. A good balance between organised activities and young people's free time supports their future independence. Young people have excellent resources within the home to keep them occupied.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The service is outstanding at keeping children and young people safe and feeling safe.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people confirm that they feel safe living at the home. They learn to accept responsibility for their behaviour, show initiative and understand how they contribute to the home's operation. Young people develop skills that enable them to differentiate their behaviour according to the different settings and situations they find themselves in.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people say that bullying is not an issue of concern to them and confirm that staff do not tolerate any form of bullying. They have confidence that staff will respond to any bullying that may occur. There is very good interaction and sensible discussion around difference, allowing members of the peer group to maintain a positive self-view. All young people understand the many forms that bullying can take and are equally clear about what to do if they have any concerns.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Well-coordinated safeguarding work supports children in making choices on how to lead their lives. Staff receive regular training to update their knowledge and have a good understanding of safeguarding policies, procedures and actions they should take when an incident arises and this allows young people to live in a safe and friendly environment. Young people have suitable safeguarding information. Policy and procedural guidance is consistent with that of the local safeguarding team's protocols. Good relationships are established with the safeguarding Local Area Designated Officer (LADO). The home's Registered Manager provided a clear audit on all safeguarding matters from the home's records. This provided a comprehensive correlation against reported safeguarding matters.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Systems for dealing with young people who go missing from home are well established and a protocol is set out. Risk assessments take account of a young person's potential to go missing. Reports made to local police are in line with the established protocol. Strategies have been successful in reducing the number of times young people go missing without permission. Young people show that they can make positive lifestyle choices. The home's management attend meetings with the local police missing from home coordinator to review matters affecting the home. Management review all incidents. Young people have the opportunity to reflect on incidents they are involved in and this helps them to change behaviours. The local police confirm that effective safeguarding practice is consistently demonstrated.

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Safeguarding children and young people

There are no concerns relating to how the home manages the young people’s behaviour. Young people respond very well to praise and rewards and this lessens the need for disciplinary measures. Very few sanctions are applied for misdemeanours. Staff are clear that physical intervention is very much a last resort. All staff receive regular and refresher training in positive handling techniques. Comprehensive records are held on all interventions.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people benefit from a permanent, experienced and stable staff team. There had been no changes to the staff team between inspections. Recruitment practice is robust, ensuring only suitable people work with young people. Equally good practice ensures the vetting of visitors to safeguard young people.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Health and safety issues are managed well, ensuring young people and staff remain safe. Regular servicing of equipment and routine safety checks maintain a safe environment. Young people know what to do in the case of an emergency and can exit the home safely. Staff implement a range of risk assessments to identify and minimise hazards. There is a comprehensive audit of health and safety matters carried out on an annual basis.

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Leadership and management

The leadership and management of the children's home are outstanding .

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Leadership and management

Further enhancements have been made to the outstanding practice that was demonstrated at the last three full inspections. There is a clear vision for how the home should operate and achieving positive outcomes remains central to all practice. Training covering Ofsted inspection framework, evaluation schedule & grade descriptors helps to keep staff at the forefront of practice. Management at the home frequently visit the Ofsted website to ensure all relevant documentation is up to date. Young people develop meaningful and lasting attachments because of the supportive management culture and the hard work of the staff. Young people are gaining tremendous benefits from experiences provided by a highly competent staff team. It is a strong, child-focused service that is conducive to young people developing and maximising their potential. Clear partnership arrangements underpin all practice and there is tremendous satisfaction with the high quality services provided. Staff are

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Leadership and management

responsive to the specific needs and specific circumstances affecting both young people and their families.

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Leadership and management

This service is managed by a vastly experienced and fully qualified manager. All partners confirm communication is highly effective. Staff morale is excellent and energy levels high. Staff clearly 'go that extra mile' to provide the best possible experiences. Young people gain optimum benefits from a highly capable staff team who collectively possess nearly 150 years of relevant experience.

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Leadership and management

Practice is developed by a management team that is perceptive in identifying the home's strengths and the areas where it could perform better. A comprehensive written and verbal self-assessment of the service was provided. The home's service history shows the assessment to be accurate. All levels of staff influence and shape the service with their ideas and initiatives. Some very creative key working practice was outlined.

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Leadership and management

The home's management team continually reflect on their practice and the home's operation. The views of the young people, staff, parents, social workers and independent reviewing officers are being captured by different methods including visits made to the home under the requirements of Regulations 33 and 34. A range of evaluative documents was provided. Reports produced make sense of the available data. The full impact and value that living at this home has had on young people’s lives is represented within Regulation 34 reports. Some realistic and challenging targets are outlined within the home’s development plan. The local authority closely monitors the home's practice, operation and management using defined quality assurance measures.

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Leadership and management

Young people's individual needs, including their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, are met. The young people have full confidence in the staff and know who is responsible for them at all times of the day and night. Staffing levels are maintained. Shift patterns ensure excellent continuity with routines and procedures. The staff team is consistently supportive, attentive and sensitive to the care they provide for young people.

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Leadership and management

Records at this home show good clarity in how staff are managed. Staff confirm that supervision is taking place. All staff hold relevant qualifications. There is access to higher level training. Systems for staff personal development and appraisal are well established and this helps staff to further enhance their skills sets. Some challenging objectives are being set for staff as part of the management response when valuing individual performance. Young people’s placements are stable and the home's service history shows an excellent record in compliance. No recommendations were set at the last two inspections. There is an effective system in place to notify persons and appropriate authorities of the occurrence of significant events; however, final outcome statements are not always being communicated to Ofsted following a notifiable event. No complaints were investigated by Ofsted between inspections. Three

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Leadership and management

notifications linked to safeguarding matters were reported transparently. Investigations carried out in line with local safeguarding procedures revealed no concerns.

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Leadership and management

Staff practice is supported by comprehensive written guidance, policies and procedures. These documents are also accessible through the responsible authority intranet. Information is written in plain English. The home's Statement of Purpose provides information in accordance with regulations. The excellent ethos and culture established clearly fulfils the service aims and objectives and allows young people to build a great deal of resilience against the many challenges they face as they work towards securing a brighter future.

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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 main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the Inspections of children’s homes – framework for inspection and the evaluation schedule for children's homes.

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