Children's Home run by Lancashire County Council in Lancashire

Unique reference number SC035477 Inspector Jackie Line Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Lancashire County Council Registered person address PO Box 78 County Hall Fishergate Preston PR1 8XJ Responsible individual Brendan Francis Lee Registered manager Jacqueline Laura Bumford Date of last inspection 19/03/2014 2 of 10 Inspection date 02/07/2014

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Previous inspection good progress Enforcement action since last inspection none

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Overall effectiveness adequate

Outcomes for children and young people good Quality of care adequate Keeping children and young people safe adequate Leadership and management adequate

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Overall effectiveness

This service provides good outcomes for young people in a home where they say they feel safe. Based on their starting points young people are making good progress, particularly in education and preparation for independence. However, the health needs of some young people are not fully promoted and this is an area for development.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people enjoy positive relationships with a stable and committed staff team. Placing authorities and families report positively about communication with the home and this collaborative working safeguards young people’s welfare.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people respond well to positive reinforcement and this encourages appropriate behaviour and improved levels of participation. Some approaches to managing young people's behaviour are not agreed by placing authorities and as a result, do not take account of the individual needs of young people living in the home.

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Overall effectiveness

The home generally provides a pleasant environment for young people to live in. However, some areas in the home would benefit from redecoration.

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Overall effectiveness

The manager has addressed the one recommendation made at the last inspection. 3 of 10 Quality assurance monitoring takes place regularly but does not always identify shortfalls in the service. This limits the progress the home has made between inspections.

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Overall effectiveness

There are two requirements and six recommendations made as a result of this inspection. 4 of 10

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Information about this children’s home

This children's residential unit is operated by a local authority and provides care for up to six young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The unit takes emergency placements. Services have also been developed to support young people in need who are registered as refugees.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/03/2014 Interim good progress 07/10/2013 Full adequate 11/03/2013 Interim satisfactory progress 13/12/2012 Full adequate

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Reg. Requirement Due date

12A (2001) ensure that there is co-operation with the child's placing authority in agreeing and signing the plan for the child's placement prepared in accordance with the provisions in regulation 9 of the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010 (Regulation 12A (1)) 15/08/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that the registered person shall notify, without delay, the persons indicated, in respect of the events listed in Schedule 5 (Regulation 30(1)). 15/08/2014 5 of 10

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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 that children's safety and welfare is promoted in the home; in particula the frequency of checks on the home's fire alarm system increase in line with home's procedures and are recorded appropriately (NMS 4.1)  ensure children have prompt access to doctors and other health professionals when the need arises and health records stored in the home are reviewed and updated accordingly (NMS 6.4)  ensure the home provides a comfortable and homely environment and is well maintained and decorated (NMS 10.3)  ensure physical restrictions on normal movement within the home are not use unless this is necessary to safeguard children and promote their welfare and development. Such measures are only used where agreed with the responsibl authority and, if appropriate, the parents. Such restrictions for one child do no impose similar restrictions on other children; in relation to the locking of intern doors to communal areas within the home (NMS 10.4)

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Recommendations

 ensure there are clear and effective procedures for monitoring the activities o the home; in relation to the arrangements for visits by an independent person (NMS 21.1)  ensure the registered manager takes action to address any issues of concern they identify or which is raised with them (NMS 21.9). 6 of 10

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people living in the home are making good progress. One young person said: ‘Everything’s improved for me since I have been here’. Prior to living at the home some young people have experienced significant disruption in their lives and worry they will have another change of placement. Their behaviour sometimes reflects this uncertainty. Staff make it clear they are committed to helping them and as a result young people begin to feel more secure and make progress.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people’s attendance at school and participation in alternative education programmes is excellent. Young people are making good progress with their education and are developing skills that will increase their chances of obtaining employment in the future. One parent said: ‘I am pleased with the fact my daughter attends school without fail, has done extremely well, worked hard and got lots of certificates’.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people living in the home are helped to prepare for independence. Young people work through a programme of skills and tasks, which has been developed to help equip them with the basic skills they will require. As a result young people have successfully made the transition to independent living.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people’s behaviour and presentation improves as a result of living in the home. A youth offending worker said one young person ‘has improved in his attitude and has seemed to come out of himself’. Young people have matured since living at the home and this has a positive impact on their lives. One social worker said: ‘She has improved mental health and relationships have developed with family’.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people maintain contact with people that are important to them and significant in their lives. Young people exercise choice in terms of who they wish to see and arrangements are provided in line with their individual plans.

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Quality of care adequate

Staff demonstrate a commitment to the young people and say that team morale is good. Young people generally enjoy good relationships with staff and they develop particularly positive relationships with their key workers. Young people said, ‘I love my key worker’ and ‘My key worker is the best’. Consequently, young people develop and maintain trusting relationships with staff.

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Quality of care adequate

Staff seek the views of young people through house meetings and informal consultation. As a result, young people have some influence over the running of the 7 of 10 home. Most young people say they feel listened to and their wishes are acted upon. Young people know how to complain and have access to external advocates. There has only been one complaint made by a young person since the last inspection. This was investigated and concluded to the satisfaction of the young person involved.

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Quality of care adequate

Staff ensure that all young people are registered with appropriate health care services on admission to the home. Staff have had success in encouraging some young people to attend for appointments, when in the past they have been reluctant to do so. Health plans are in place for most young people. However, they are not regularly reviewed and updated. As a result, the health needs of some young people are not fully promoted.

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Quality of care adequate

Placement plans clearly outline the individual needs of young people. Young people routinely attend review meetings giving them input into progress and planning. There is a lack of evidence that placement plans are signed and dated by all parties. Consequently, it is not always clear what responsibilities and decisions are delegated to staff and where further consent needs to be obtained.

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Quality of care adequate

Staff employ incentives for young people to encourage participation. This is effective and has resulted in improved attendance in education. Young people benefit from structure and routine and enjoy a range of leisure activities.

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Quality of care adequate

The home has developed sound relationships with partner agencies. Professionals and families report good communication with staff at the home and say they are regularly kept up to date with young people’s progress and achievements. This collaboration demonstrates that people are working together to safeguard and promote young people’s well-being.

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Quality of care adequate

The home is a large domestic property. Young people have the opportunity to personalise their rooms and one young person said, ‘we can put our own things in our room and make it our own’. Most communal rooms are homely and comfortable. However, not all areas of the property are well maintained. There is a proposed plan for refurbishment to be completed later in the year. However, at the time of inspection, some fabric and furnishings in parts of the house did not encourage young people to use all rooms in the home for leisure activities and relaxation.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Young people say they feel safe living in the home. Young people are aware of the dangers and vulnerabilities that they face. Regular key worker sessions enable young people to express themselves and reflect on areas of difficulty or progress. Young people access external services to help with some aspects of their behaviour where necessary. As a result, risky behaviours have reduced and young people’s welfare is safeguarded. 8 of 10 Young people do not often go missing from the home and the number of missing episodes has reduced since the last inspection. One social worker said: ‘Missing from home incidents have reduced and therefore risks associated with child sexual exploitation have decreased’. When young people do go missing, records demonstrate that staff take prompt action, to secure their safe return.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Staff have worked hard to address problems within the immediate area, which previously had a negative impact on young people living in the home. Systems are now in place to address issues promptly and effectively. Neighbours report ‘significant improvements in the immediate area’ following actions taken by the home. Consequently, young people benefit from living in a safer environment.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Staff ensure that all visitors to the home are checked and monitored. All staff are trained in safeguarding and fully understand their own role and that of other agencies in keeping young people safe.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Young people are positively praised and rewarded for appropriate behaviour by staff in the home. This is good practice because it builds upon young people's self-esteem and ensures that negative behaviour does not become the only focus of attention. However, staff lock communal rooms in the home in order to manage behaviour at particular times of the day. There is no recorded evidence indicating this has been agreed by placing authorities, or that this practice is evaluated and reviewed. This approach does not enable young people to develop skills and coping strategies to help them modify and improve their behaviour. Furthermore, the individual needs and progress of young people living in the home are not accounted for.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

A range of health and safety checks are completed in the home. However, the frequency and recording of some checks are not in line with the home’s procedures. This means that problems are not identified and responded to quickly and this places children at risk. Young people are supported to understand what to do in the event of a fire in the home and participate with staff in regular fire evacuation drills. This ensures young people know the action to take in the event of an emergency.

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Leadership and management adequate

The registered manager has been in post since 2001 and she is appropriately qualified. Staff confirm the manager is approachable, listens to their ideas and is supportive. The home has benefitted from the recent appointment of two experienced assistant managers. This ensures the home employs a sufficient number of staff to meet the needs of young people. They also provide additional support and guidance to the team and to the care of young people.

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Leadership and management adequate

Significant events are not always reviewed by the manager and as a result, incidents have not been reported consistently to the appropriate authorities in line with regulation. This compromises the safety of young people. 9 of 10 The recommendation made at the last inspection has been met. Internal and external monitoring of the home takes place regularly. However, this process has failed to highlight shortfalls identified during this inspection for example, young people needing access to medical treatment. Where issues are raised these are not addressed quickly. As a result, monitoring is not robust to provide a sufficient review of the quality of care. This limits the progress that the home has been able to achieve since the last inspection.

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Leadership and management adequate

Staff receive regular supervision and describe this as ‘helpful’, assisting them in their work with young people. Appraisals take place annually and include the views of young people. Staff have access to a range of training and this demonstrates a commitment to the professional development of staff working in the home. Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Leadership and management adequate

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Judgement Description

Outstanding A service of exceptional quality that significantly exceeds minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Good A service of high quality that exceeds minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Adequate A service that only meets minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Inadequate A service that does not meet minimum requirements.

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Information 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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Information 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 framework of inspection for children's homes.

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