Children's Home run by Lancashire County Council in Lancashire

Unique reference number SC359836 Inspector Anthony Kyem 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 Anne Lesley Shenton Date of last inspection 24/03/2014 2 of 10 Inspection date 29/01/2015

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

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Overall effectiveness

Young people make good progress in relation to their individual starting points across all aspects of their welfare, physical, social, emotional and behavioural development. The progress young people make is underpinned by effective, high quality support from staff. Young people enjoy exceptionally good relationships with staff and they sustain their positive attachments.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people report, 'They're very supportive and you can always talk to them. Yeah, they're very helpful…It's friendly and welcoming here…They're very caring and they do support us.'

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Overall effectiveness

A social worker reports, 'She was freely seeking advice and support and cried when she was moving…she felt part of a family for the first time in her life and attributes this to the care and support she received.'

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Overall effectiveness

Young people benefit from well planned, highly personalised care, that promotes their needs effectively. Care planning and practice is highly individualised to meet the needs of individual young people. Young people's needs and views are central to all aspects of how the home operates and develops its practice. Young people views and feelings are actively sought and young people feel they are able to influence the running of the home. 3 of 10 A social worker reports, 'This, in my opinion, having worked with children and young people for 25 years is the epitome of the perfect placement, with staff who are more than adequately trained, with good age ranges, knowledge of safeguarding, professional, supportive and genuinely caring.'

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Overall effectiveness

Leaders and managers routinely make good use of the home's monitoring activities to raise standards and improve outcomes for young people. Leadership and managements arrangements are strong, and leaders and managers are effective at tackling weaknesses and securing improvement. There are positive arrangements for reviewing and improving the quality of young people's care. Young people benefit from a home that is managed efficiently and effectively.

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Overall effectiveness

There are no breaches of regulations or failures to meet the national minimum standards that impact negatively on the welfare and safety of young people. Young people are kept safe and have a strong sense of personal safety.

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Overall effectiveness

As a result of this inspection, there are two recommendations made. These relate to obtaining consent from young people and their social workers for the independent person to access their confidential records, and updating the Statement of purpose to include, the details of any electronic or mechanical means of surveillance of young people which may be used in the children's home. 4 of 10

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Information about this children’s home

This is a children's home operated by a local authority. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to six young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/03/2014 Interim good progress 14/11/2013 Full good 21/02/2013 Interim good progress 18/10/2012 Full good

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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

 update the Statement of Purpose to include a description of any electronic or mechanical means of surveillance of young people which may be used in the children's home (NMS 13.1)  ensure visits carried out under Regulation 33 include relevant checks set out in regulation and guidance. Where these include children’s case records, the child and their responsible authority should confirm their consent in writing. (NMS 21.7) 5 of 10

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people make good progress in relation to their individual starting points across all aspects of their care and support. Young people develop emotional resilience, improved self-confidence and a positive self-view. They benefit from the help they need to make sense of their past experiences and staff support them to move forward and plan for the future. Staff are positive role models for young people. Young people have appropriate adults they can turn to, and learn from.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

A social worker reports, 'They were highly instrumental in facilitating an amazing change in my young person. When she moved into placement she was very lonely, sad, confused and bewildered...However, when she moved placement she had aspirations for her future...She had learned to accept care and love and specifically attributed this to the care, love, understanding and support she had been given during her placement. She cried on leaving.'

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people are registered with doctors, dentists and opticians and have access to specialist services and support, if they need it. The home provides young people a healthy environment where they can access the services and support they need to promote their physical, emotional and psychological well-being.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people are taught about key health issues so they know how to lead and maintain a healthy and active lifestyle. Young people are encouraged to make positive lifestyle choices and take responsibility for their own health.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people's medication is stored and administered safely by trained and competent staff. Medical consent is in place and staff are clear about what health decisions and responsibilities are delegated to them.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

There are clear expectations for young people to attend school or alternative educational provision. The educational achievement of young people is either good or satisfactory, taking into account both their attainment and their progress in relation to their individual starting points. The home works positively and pro-actively with young people's schools to promote their regular attendance.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people who struggle to attend school regularly, are actively supported to resume their education. Those of school leaving age are engaged in further education to improve educational outcomes for young people.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Social workers report, 'The attention to detail with regards to care and education packages arranged by the home have been second to none. They assisted my young person to become a happy and healthy young lady with the ability to succeed…They never failed to surprise me with regards to their continuous support and were 6 of 10 meticulous in their approach to care planning. I cannot say enough about this care facility.'

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people benefit from contact with their friends and families. Consequently, they maintain their close relationships with the people who are most important to them. Young people are allowed to take appropriate risks as part of their growth and natural development. They develop practical skills in shopping, cooking and budgeting to promote their readiness for independence. Staff maintain positive relationships with the families of young people to promote their support and social networks for the future.

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Quality of care outstanding

Staff have consistently high aspirations for all young people and strive to achieve the best outcomes possible for them. Staff work creatively and enthusiastically with young people in way that maximises their progress across all aspect of their lives. Staff consistently place the well-being and safety of young people at the centre of their practice, irrespective of the challenges this presents to them. Staff maintain highly effective partnerships with other professional agencies to promote the needs and progress of young people. Young people benefit from a highly supportive, caring and nurturing environment.

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Quality of care outstanding

Young people report, 'I wanted to move back to Lancaster because it’s nearer home but wanted to take all the staff with me as they made me feel safe.'

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Quality of care outstanding

Staff are skilled at developing positive and constructive relationships with young people. They help them to build and maintain their positive relationships and how to resolve conflicts positively. Staff invest in meaningful relationships with young people and this is highly instrumental to the progress young people make and the outcomes they achieve. Young people benefit from exceptionally good relationships with staff and they sustain their positive attachments.

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Quality of care outstanding

Young people report, 'The staff are always good it's just the other kids. Sometimes you get kids that don’t treat the home with respect...It's good that you get freedom and have staff that don’t talk down to you. You have to build relationships with someone to feel safe. I would rate the home as good because things could be improved. The age group can sometimes be an issue…It's chilled out, there's lots of opportunities and it's fun.'

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Quality of care outstanding

Staff routinely involve young people in the running of the home and young people feel that their views, opinions and feelings are frequently sought and acted upon. Staff actively involve young people in their care so young people can contribute to and influence their own care and support. As a consequence, young people feel empowered, respected and listened to. Young people know how to make a complaint and their rights are championed effectively. Young people raised no concerns or 7 of 10 complaints during this inspection.

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Quality of care outstanding

Young people benefit from very well planned, highly personalised care, that promotes their needs effectively. Care planning and practice is highly individualised to meet the needs of individual young people. Young people's needs arising from personal identity, age, gender, race and ethnicity, are identified and addressed positively in both care planning and daily living. Young people's needs are promoted comprehensively.

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Quality of care outstanding

Young people are actively encouraged to make a positive contribution to the home and the wider community. Young people benefit from positive and enjoyable activities to promote their social skills, interests, friendships and hobbies. Young people report, 'They're very supportive in all areas and arrange great activities for us to do as a household.'

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Quality of care outstanding

Young people benefit from safe, comfortable and homely accommodation. The upper levels of the home are in the process of refurbishment and the work is near completion. New washing and showering facilities have been installed and young people's bedrooms have been completely redecorated for them. Staff ensure the home is consistently maintained to good quality standards for young people.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people benefit from effective support and protection. Staff demonstrate a good understanding of safe working practice. They understand young people's needs and their particular vulnerabilities and they take appropriate action, to address them. Young people are kept safe and have a strong sense of personal safety.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people are protected from abuse, bullying, neglect and child sexual exploitation. Staff are trained in child protection so they know how to deal with allegations and report suspected abuse. Staff maintain highly effective partnerships with the police and other professional agencies to support and protect young people. The use of clear risk assessment and proactive safe working practice promote the well being and safety of young people.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

The use of sanctions are kept to an absolute minimum and restraint, if used at all, is only ever used to protect young people from harm, accident or injury. Staff are trained to manage the behaviours of young people safely and effectively. Staff share and implement the home's ethos, approach and philosophy in caring for young people.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Staff promote young people's positive behaviour through the effective use of targeted incentives and rewards. Young people's individual achievements are always praised, acknowledged and celebrated. Staff are familiar with and know how to follow the home's joint protocol and procedures for reporting young people missing 8 of 10 from care. Consequently, there are effective arrangements to promote young people's quick and safe return, if they are absent or go missing. The frequency with which young people go missing is either controlled or decreasing.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

A social worker reports, 'I think it's a really good placement. They're always willing to discuss things and willing to put their views across. Overall, it would all be positive. They adapt well and they will bend over backwards. She hasn’t gone missing for a month now through the one to one support…They keep her safe.'

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Staff employed at the home are selected and vetted carefully to protect young people from unsuitable people. Visitors to the home are chaperoned and there is suitable and stringent monitoring of such people. Investigations into allegations of abuse are handled quickly and professionally in a way that provides young people with effective support and protection.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

The accommodation provided for young people is physically safe and appropriately secure. Health and safety matters are managed effectively to promote the safety of young people. The manager has completed a safe location review to ensure the location of the home is suitable and safe for young people.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

The home has recently introduced an alarm to the hallway adjacent to young people's accommodation to discourage them from entering one another's bedrooms following a recent incident within the home. As a result, consent for the measure needs to be obtained and the reason for its use need to entered into the Statement of Purpose in order to comply with regulation. The alarm is a temporary arrangement put in place to promote the safety of young people.

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Leadership and management good

The home employs a well qualified and experienced manager who exercises strong and effective leadership of the home's staff and operation. The manager has been in post since June 2007. There are senior staff employed to deputise in the registered manager's absence. There are clear lines of leadership and accountability.

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Leadership and management good

There were no requirements or recommendations from the previous inspection. Young people benefit from a home that is managed efficiently and effectively. The manager routinely makes good use of the home's monitoring activities to raise standards and improve outcomes for young people. Leaders are managers have a good understanding of the home's strengths and they tackle identified weaknesses, to secure the home's improvement for young people.

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Leadership and management good

The performance of the home is monitored each month by an independent person. This enables the independent person to form an accurate opinion about the standard and quality of young people's care. However, consent has not been obtained from young people and their social workers for the independent person to have access to 9 of 10 their confidential records. Consequently, a recommendation is made in respect of this issue. There have been no concerns or complaints to have arisen about the home since the previous inspection.

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Leadership and management good

The home can demonstrate the positive value and difference it has made to the lives of young people and it show how their live changes and outcomes have improved, overtime. Professionals involved with the service report, 'I have never had a young person placed here before so it is difficult to form an opinion. However, communications been good so far. Staff have been very friendly and helpful.'

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Leadership and management good

'They're always engaging. Really good staff. I can't praise them enough.' (Local police community support officer).

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Leadership and management good

'One of the best care facilities I have had the privilege of working in partnership. They have offered the one thing which many care homes fail on and that is genuine understanding and care offered to each and every young person in placement.' (Social worker)

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Leadership and management good

The home meets the aims and objectives of its Statement of Purpose in providing a good quality service for young people. The is adequately resourced and staff have sufficient numbers, qualifications, skills and relevant experience to meet the needs and number of young people.

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Leadership and management good

Staff are extremely well trained and they benefit from effective support and professional supervision. Staff have access to good quality training to develop and enhance their knowledge and skills in caring for young people. The training needs of individual staff are identified and met. Significant incidents are reported to the appropriate authorities charged with a duty to protect young people. This ensures appropriate action can be taken, as result of any significant event. 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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