Children's Home run by Lifetime Opportunities Limited in Lancashire

Unique reference number SC411046 Inspector Ruth Loughridge Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered manager Emma Louise Thomas Date of last inspection 21/03/2014 2 of 10 Inspection date 22/10/2014

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Previous inspection good progress Enforcement action since last inspection none

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Overall effectiveness good

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

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Overall effectiveness

A clear ethos of care and inclusion, and a focus on young people’s abilities was apparent throughout this inspection. The home provides a loving, supportive and homely environment.

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Overall effectiveness

Care is taken to ensure the health, education, social and behavioural needs of young people at this home are met. As a result young people make excellent progress across all areas. The independent reviewing officer for one young person stated, ‘The placement meets his needs well. He is happy… He thrives there.’

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Overall effectiveness

Creative and innovative techniques are used to enhance young people’s communication skills. These are used to establish young people’s views about their care and the plans for their care. The nurturing environment contributes to young people’s sense of safety and security in the home.

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Overall effectiveness

Leaders and managers identify areas for development and are committed to driving improvement. Careful consideration is given to new referrals to ensure all young people’s needs can be equally well met.

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Overall effectiveness

One requirement and three recommendations have been made as a result of this inspection. These relate to the monitoring of the home, training and staff 3 of 10 supervision. Shortfalls identified had no immediate impact upon the young people. 4 of 10

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Information about this children’s home

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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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/03/2014 Interim good progress 29/11/2013 Full good 01/03/2013 Interim good progress 27/09/2012 Full good

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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

(2001) establish and maintain a system whereby the person carrying out visits in accordance with this regulation shall interview, with their consent and in private, such people as appears necessary in order to form an opinion, specifically with reference to parents, relatives and persons working at the home (Regulation 33 (8)(a)) 30/11/2014

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s): 5 of 10  ensure training in the use of physical restraint techniques is regularly refreshed (NMS 3.15)  ensure staff are provided with regular supervision by appropriately qualified and experienced staff (NMS 19.4)  ensure there is post-qualifying and in-service training to enhance individual skills and to keep staff up-to-date with professional and legal developments (NMS18.1). 6 of 10

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

Young people at this home are happy, settled and secure, The social worker for one young person commented ‘He is happy – he is always clapping and smiling and I know he is happy. He will show me his bedroom or new photos or new clothes – he leads me to stuff he wants me to see – he is happy and proud - he didn’t used to do this before. From first placed until now he has come on in leaps and bounds.’ A relative stated, ‘I am so chuffed with him being there I don’t want him to leave. If he moved it would set him back.’

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

Young people do well in education where both attendance and achievement are excellent. Young people make successful transitions between schools where, with co- ordinated support between the home, and schools, they settle and adapt quickly. Attendance at after-school and holiday clubs extends young people’s opportunity for social interaction with other young people with whom they are familiar. A range of activities in the home, in schools and in the community, provide social interaction, fun, enjoyment and exercise.

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

Through work with other professionals and close monitoring by staff, young people’s physical and emotional health improves. For example, one young person continues to flourish without a previously prescribed medication. This indicates they feel relaxed and safe at the home.

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

Young people’s views matter. They are therefore supported and encouraged, through the use of signing and pictorial symbols, to make choices. For example, they choose where they eat out and the clothes that they wear. This helps young people to begin to understand decision making, and the influence they can have.

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

Young people develop communication skills such as listening and following instructions. This, combined with consistency and the sense of security provided, means that over time young people’s behaviour becomes more calm and settled. One social worker commented, ‘He found it difficult to wait for food or snacks but he will now set place mats out and he can wait for his food. They help him prepare for the meal. They have an expectation of what he needs to do and he knows what is expected of him.’

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

Through safely managed contact young people maintain, enjoy and develop relationships with significant family members. This supports their sense of family identity and belonging. A relative of one of the young people stated, ‘The only thing I want is to keep him where he is. To him this is his place, so it’s home. He is happy there.’ 7 of 10

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Quality of care outstanding

Young people benefit from a very high quality of care which is provided by a stable and committed staff team. The social worker for one young person said, ‘He has good relationships with staff and has had a consistent staff team that I communicate with. He knows the staff team really well.’ An independent advocate stated, ‘I spent time with him at the home. They were amazing with him… They go over and above for him. They know what he likes and ensure he does activities he likes.’ Highly detailed and individualised placement plans identify the full range of young people’s needs and link to comprehensive care protocols and risk assessments.

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Quality of care outstanding

Good communication between the home and schools further ensures continuity of care practices. The teacher for one young person said, ‘The home have been very supportive of him. There is a home-school diary in use for staff to liaise. He had a target setting meeting and the home put forward their point of view. They are very supportive and willing to back up education targets. He has very challenging needs. They are well equipped to deal with him. They know his triggers and what to do. We know he is in capable hands when he goes home. They are approachable, willing to listen and proactive.’

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Quality of care outstanding

Staff promote good health and monitor young people’s health needs closely. This ensures that good quality information is provided to health professionals, which aids decision making and planning around health needs. Staff promote healthy diets and active lifestyles. Robust practice in the administration of medication ensures that young people only take medication in the way that it is prescribed. A thorough understanding of young people’s complex needs, and the way that they learn, ensures that young people develop skills and positive behaviour, and can engage in new experiences.

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Quality of care outstanding

Staff work with placing authorities to ensure that contact plans are unambiguous, therefore, contact is promoted in line with agreements. The staff recognise the importance of family and so they help foster these vital relationships. For example, where appropriate they facilitate contact at the home, and they support young people to give cards and presents to significant family members on special occasions.

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Quality of care outstanding

Memorabilia such as photographs and birthday cards are gathered to ensure young people have their own record of their time spent at the home.

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Quality of care outstanding

Young people live in a homely environment which is maintained to a very high standard. The home’s layout and equipment means that they can accommodate young people with a range of physical abilities and needs. Young people benefit from and enjoy the excellent facilities such as the large garden and the sensory room.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

8 of 10 Young people indicate with their behaviour and demeanour that they feel happy, content and safe in the home. Relatives and professionals are confident that young people are safe. The relative of one young person said, ‘I could tell if anything was wrong as he wouldn’t want us to leave – he is quite content.’

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Keeping children and young people safe good

The high staffing ratios and the appropriately secure environment are key to ensuring young people are safe and protected from harm. Young people do not go missing from home. Restraint is only used to ensure young people’s safety. Although all staff have completed safeguarding training and are trained in the use of restraint, not all staff have completed refresher training which is important for revision and update of previous learning and skills.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

The knowledge and understanding that the staff have of individual young people is built up through time as well as careful monitoring and analysis of behaviour patterns. This means that incidents of challenging behaviour are reduced. One social worker commented, ‘Staff know him really well so they can gauge when he is not feeling so good. They can now quickly divert his behaviour – they use different techniques and divert his attention so before behaviour escalates they can nip it in the bud.’

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Risk assessments are thorough and clear. They cover a range of activities and behaviour. Staff sign to say they have read each risk assessment which promotes ownership and accountability for their safe care practices.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Health and safety checks, including fire safety checks and fire drills, are routinely completed. Robust recruitment practices mean that only staff who are checked as being suitable to work with children are employed. These are essential practices that help to ensure young people are safe.

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Leadership and management good

The Registered Manager has been in post for almost two years. She has significant previous experience, is suitably qualified and is currently undertaking the level 5 diploma. The Registered Manager keeps up to date with changes in legislation and ensures new requirements, such as the development of a location risk assessment, are adhered to.

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Leadership and management good

Monthly Regulation 33 visits are conducted as part of the monitoring of the home. Reports do not consistently demonstrate that consultation with families has taken place. Therefore, relatives’ views about the quality of care are not reflected and they do not routinely have the opportunity to express their views to someone independent of the home and placing authorities.

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Leadership and management good

Emphasis upon building strong working relationships with education, health and advocacy services, contributes to the high quality of care provided. The Registered 9 of 10 Manager has developed links with the police and the local safeguarding children board. This ensures that she keeps up to date with changes and developments. For example, the home’s missing child policy is being updated in line with changes to police protocols.

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Leadership and management good

Staff receive relevant training. However, some training, such as first aid and fire safety awareness, needs to be updated to ensure that staff are fully up to date with current practices.

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Leadership and management good

Communication between staff and consistency of practice is supported by the comprehensive written records and care protocols. Formal staff supervision is infrequent as are staff meetings. The registered manager should consider frequency of staff meetings as a continuum of staff support.

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Leadership and management good

The Registered Manager is resolute that only young people, whose needs they can reasonably expect to meet, are admitted to the home. Therefore, great care is taken when considering and planning for new admissions to the home. Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Leadership and management good

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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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