Children's Home run by Frances House Ltd in Lancashire

Unique reference number SC403462 Inspection date 20/02/2014 Inspector Graham Robinson Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 20/08/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

The home is operated by a private organisation and is registered to care for up to five young people, of both genders, between the ages of 11 and 17 years. The home cares for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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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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Progress

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

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Progress

The overall rating given following the previous inspection was outstanding. Since then the home has continued to move forward and has made good progress. For example, with the agreement and co-operation of young people, the manager has set up a system agreed by all parties, to monitor social networking. This is another layer of safety added to those systems already in place, that are designed to keep young people safe. Other developments have taken place, one of which is the creation of an administrative post. This is improving the overall administrative and human resources systems in the home. As a result, young people are benefitting with the manager being freed from some tasks that are office based, allowing for more contact and inter-action.

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Progress

Young people are at different points of their journey through the home, with a majority in settled, long-term placements. All young people view the structure and boundaries, which have been tightened since the previous inspection, as fair. This is contributing effectively towards young people leading a more ordered and socially accepted lifestyle. As a result, young people are less likely to place themselves at risk through their own actions. The home has maintained its excellent working partnerships with external services charged with keeping young people safe. This provides young people with a co- ordinated, multi-agency response to any safeguarding issue, which includes missing from home. These arrangements have contributed effectively to minimising the number of incidents that do occur.

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Progress

Young people are well settled, with their individual needs clearly identified. Those who have resided for a prolonged period, consider it as their home. Placements are stable and serious behaviour management incidents occurring in the home are rare.

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Progress

Difficulties, challenges and unrest are worked through sensitively and supportively. Young people recognise and appreciate this, speaking well about their experience of living in the home and the staff who care for them. The strong and trusting relationships developed between young people and staff reflect the ethos and culture of the home where young are supported to navigate through times of difficulty, in a non-judgemental way. This has resulted in young people enjoying improved social, emotional and educational outcomes.

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Progress

Young people are well informed and consulted about their future plans, giving them a feeling of worth, a sense of direction and personal goals to aim for. They confirm their views and opinions are regularly sought and taken account of regarding life in the home and when planning for their own future. For example, one young person described how staff have stuck by them through a difficult time. This has led the young person towards a change of attitude, with a greater depth of thought now being put into planning for their own future.

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Progress

The home is well organised and managed. On entry, visitors are welcomed into a homely, cosy and relaxed environment. Staff and young people actively enjoy each other's company and collectively create a positive, lively, energetic atmosphere. Young people confirm they can bring issues and concerns to the attention of staff in the knowledge and expectation they will be taken seriously and addressed positively.

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Progress

At the previous inspection, no requirements or recommendations were made. Since then the home has made good progress and the standard of care noted then, continues to improve. Feedback received from all young people was consistently good. The home is settled and young people are experiencing positive outcomes in all areas of their lives. No new recommendations have been made.

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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.

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