Children's Home run by Choices 4 Children Limited in Lancashire

Unique reference number SC400880 Inspector Jo Hornby Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered manager Ian Peter Banks Date of last inspection 21/08/2014 2 of 5 Inspection date 05/02/2015

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Previous inspection good Enforcement action since last inspection none

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This inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has improved effectiveness .

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This inspection

Staff have a good knowledge of each young person in their care and contribute to planning reviews. Staff have good links with key agencies, which ensures that young people’s wishes and feelings are fully considered and that their views are important to decision-making processes.

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This inspection

Young people enjoy positive relationships with staff. As a result young people feel well cared for and safe. One young person said ‘they make sure we are safe and won’t let us get into any dangerous things and that’s because they care about us.’ Staff have well established relationships with key people who are identified as important to the young people and contact with them is promoted. This enables young people to continue to be integrated into life outside of the home and provides consistent care experiences.

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This inspection

Quality of care and professional practice is regularly monitored. Areas for improvement and development are identified and the Registered Manager, together with the staff team ensures that improvements are made. Following the last inspection the Registered Manager has suitably addressed the requirement made; important educational documents are evident on individual files, which ensures that educational needs are not compromised.

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This inspection

The five recommendations raised at the last inspection have been addressed. All staff complete the children’s workforce development council induction standards, verification of references are completed and on files, the outcome of all statutory reviews are evident and visits completed by the independent person include record checks.

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This inspection

Staff make every effort to encourage young people to engage in education. They work closely with placing social workers and education professionals to identify 3 of 5 suitable education provision. Staff use incentives to motivate young people to engage in education. This has improved young people’s attendance at school and further education. One staff member said young people seem to be intent on gaining rewards and this works; educational attendance is improving’. One young person commented, ‘I am going to go to school because I want to go into the RAF and if I don’t go to school I can’t do what I want when I’m older’

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This inspection

Young people are encouraged by staff to make choices related to their own needs and through this they are building appropriate independence skills. Young people assist in the preparation of meals and are beginning to develop their cookery skills. Consequently they gain a sense of achievement and develop confidence in their skills in preparation for independence. One young person said ‘I’ve helped to do the supermarket shop this morning which I don’t mind doing, things cost more than you think and I have just opened a bank account and may have got a job at the charity shop on Saturdays.’

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This inspection

Staff support young people to understand the importance of maintaining good health. There are good links with other specialist agencies that provide useful advice and guidance to staff and young people about the dangers associated with some lifestyle choices. At the request of the Registered Manager the community nurse visited the home and spoke with the young people about sexual health; this promoted a good discussion and educated young people on keeping themselves safe.

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Information about this children’s home

This is a private children's home that provides care and accommodation for up to four young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and learning disabilities.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/08/2014 Full good 21/01/2014 Interim satisfactory progress 11/09/2013 Full adequate 21/03/2013 Interim satisfactory progress Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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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What inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspections we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection.

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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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