Children's Home run by Lifetime Opportunities Limited in Lancashire

Unique reference number SC063103 Inspector Ruth Loughridge Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered manager Carly Ann Taylor Date of last inspection 27/03/2014 2 of 10 Inspection date 23/01/2015

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Previous inspection good progress Enforcement action since last inspection none

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Overall effectiveness outstanding

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

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Overall effectiveness

Young people with complex needs benefit from the very high standard of care they receive from a committed staff team. Staff have high aspirations for the young people and they work hard to ensure young people can express their voice. Consultations reflect the genuine respect for young people, and the understanding that staff have of their individual needs and wishes.

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Overall effectiveness

For some young people the longevity of their placements means they make steady progress, developing more positive behaviour, communication skills and life skills. Others more recently placed, quickly make remarkable progress from their starting points.

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Overall effectiveness

Communication with family and external professionals, and the gathering and sharing of information, contributes to high quality documentation. Placement plans link to risk assessments, and care protocols are highly detailed, ensuring clarity around young people’s individual needs, preferences and safe care practices.

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Overall effectiveness

The Registered Manager provides strong leadership. She maintains a detailed knowledge and awareness of the needs and progress of each young person. The continuous drive toward improvement is reflected in evaluative monitoring reports and the excellent outcomes for young people. 3 of 10 A number of relatives and professionals were spoken with as part of this inspection; none of whom raised any concerns about the home. All comments were positive and some were extremely complimentary about the service provided.

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Overall effectiveness

One recommendation has been made as a result of this inspection. It relates to the inclusion of details of independent reviewing officers in the children’s guide to the home. 4 of 10

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a privately owned company and is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to five children and young people who have a learning disability.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/03/2014 Interim good progress 17/12/2013 Full outstanding 07/03/2013 Interim good progress 05/12/2012 Full outstanding

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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 the children’s guide includes a summary of what the home sets out to do for children, how they can find out their rights, how a child can contact their IRO. IRO (NMS 13.5). 5 of 10

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

In line with their particular needs, young people benefit from a structured environment with clear boundaries and routines. This has a significant impact upon their emotional and physical wellbeing and is fundamental to the exceptional progress that young people make. Young people know and follow their routines. This promotes their feeling of security, as they know and understand what to expect. As a result, young people’s behaviour settles, they are able to engage in positive social activities and education, and for some, their presentation and sleep patterns improve. One relative commented, ‘He seems a lot calmer. We are happy he is progressing well there. I have no concerns because I have seen a change and he is happier he is more settled.’

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

Young people’s school attendance is excellent. Some young people make successful transitions between different stages of their education and for others their attendance improves dramatically following placement at this home. A teacher for one young person stated, ‘Things are much more positive at school because she is settled at the home. She is trusting that if she gets praise at school this will be reinforced at home. This means she is in is in the class for longer so she is accessing more learning than before.’

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

Young people take part in meaningful activities in the home and in the community. Swimming, bowling and trampolining provide young people with physical activity and fun. Baking, doing jigsaws and arts and crafts lets young people pursue their interests and develop skills. Attendance at youth club and school holiday clubs means that young people have the opportunity to make and maintain friendships. Regular inclusion in familiar community activities means that young people feel sufficiently safe and secure to participate in new and unfamiliar ventures such as a school residential or trips to theme parks. This represents real progress.

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

Physical activity, social interaction and stable routines contribute to young people’s good health. For some young people, their sleep routine improves so significantly, they are able to reduce prescribed medication. Young people’s emotional wellbeing is supported through ready access to therapeutic support such as art therapy provided through schools or statutory child and adolescents services. Robust practice in the administration of medication means that young people routinely receive medication as prescribed. This promotes and maintains their good health.

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

Young people’s place within their families, and their cultural identity, is maintained through regular contact with significant family members. Young people are supported to develop their identity as teenagers. They develop self-care skills, they choose their clothes and they develop daily living skills such as tidying their rooms. This is apparent to one relative who commented, ‘I have seen such a difference since she 6 of 10 has been at the home. She doesn’t mind helping – they do it at the home. I don’t have to ask her to wash up –– she tidies her room up every morning. She has more patience than she had - she has matured.’

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Quality of care outstanding

Young people benefit from an exceptionally high quality of care from a committed, nurturing staff team. Staff respond to young people with patience, warmth and good humour. As a result, young people develop very positive relationships with staff, they accept staff support, and so make progress in all aspects of their lives.

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Quality of care outstanding

High expectations of, and aspirations for young people, mean that staff continuously promote young people’s achievement and participation. Young people’s complex needs are not viewed as a barrier to their understanding of their rights. Young people receive information that promotes their rights such as their right to complain, and other policies, in accessible formats. Young people are encouraged and enabled to express their likes and dislikes, their views and to make choices. This is achieved through the use of various communication systems including pictures, signs, written word and verbal communication. Young people’s preferred methods of communication are known and understood by staff and so individual systems are developed accordingly. Picture boards help young people to choose menus and activities. Daily planners for each young person means that they can find out information independently, for example, what staff are coming on duty. Young

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Quality of care outstanding

people’s meetings provide a forum for them to communicate their views, for example, in relation to Christmas and Eid celebrations. Consequently, young people know and understand that their views are respected, and they count.

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Quality of care outstanding

Highly individual placement plans mean that young people receive personalised care that meets their individual needs. Placement plans are presented in formats accessible to each young person and they are supported to read, contribute and to understand them. Detailed documentation guides staff in all aspects of young people’s care. This, along with effective communication between staff, promotes consistency for young people.

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Quality of care outstanding

There is exceptionally strong communication, and partnership working, between the home, and young people’s schools. One young person’s teacher commented, ‘The home have been wonderful at supporting us and giving us ideas. If she communicates anything about her previous experiences we can share this with the home and it can be referred on if necessary. She struggled to join the school play last year. This year, the manager met her at the end of the first performance when she did not take part, and attended the next performance so she was able to take part because the manager was in the audience. Things like this have a big impact. There is very good communication with the home which gives a consistent approach across home and school. They have invested in her and this impacts upon her – nothing is 7 of 10 too much trouble – they are brilliant.’

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Quality of care outstanding

Staff have training such as first aid and medication administration and they ensure young people’s health needs are met. Advice from health professionals is followed, and staff receive training to support young people’s particular health needs such as epilepsy care. Careful planning of arrangements for young people to access services, such as the dentist, means that they can do so with the least possible distress. The social worker for one young person commented, ‘Her health is managed very well – they have an excellent understanding of her health needs. They liaise with the paediatrician when they need to, and make sure she attends all her appointments.’

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Quality of care outstanding

Staff recognise the importance of family contact. They work effectively with young people, families and placing social workers to ensure that young people get the most out of contact and that it is safe. Staff are responsive to incidents that occur during contact. As a result, contact progresses positively for young people. One relative commented, ‘Everybody helps me. The manager bends over backwards – she answers my questions – they take time and trouble to listen to me and I didn’t get this before. Since she was placed at the home contact has been so nice – it is great. I couldn’t bear it if she was moved. I’m happy she is safe. If I had a concern you would hear from me straight away – I mean every word.’

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Quality of care outstanding

Young people benefit from living in a safe and homely environment that is maintained to a very high standard. Young people’s bedrooms are personalised to their own tastes. The layout of the home means that young people can spend time together or separately. There is space for play and relaxation.

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Keeping children and young people safe outstanding

Young people communicate through their behaviour and demeanour that they feel safe in this home. External professionals and relatives are confident that young people are safe.

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Keeping children and young people safe outstanding

Staff take their responsibility to safeguard young people seriously. They recognise the extreme vulnerability of the young people in their care. All staff participate in safeguarding training that is regularly updated. This includes specific training on child sexual exploitation. Due to high levels of supervision and appropriate levels of staffing, young people do not go missing from this home and the risk of exploitation is minimised. However, risk assessments are in place, therefore, staff are clear about managing and responding to potential risk.

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Keeping children and young people safe outstanding

Risk assessments are very detailed and they link to placement plans and care protocols. They address young people’s particular vulnerabilities, behaviour, and activities both inside and outside the home. Staff work with families and schools to build risk assessments for newly admitted young people. Where necessary, modifications are made to the home to minimise risks presented by young people’s 8 of 10 behaviour. Care is taken to ensure these do not impact upon other young people’s freedoms.

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Keeping children and young people safe outstanding

The Registered Manager has established contact with the designated police missing from home co-ordinator and she attends meetings with the local safeguarding children board. As a result she is up to date with local protocols and issues in the locality. The wider aspects of safeguarding are well understood by staff and are embedded in daily practice. For example, consistent observation of health and safety procedure is practiced to minimise the risk of accidents and ensure the security of the house.

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Keeping children and young people safe outstanding

Staff are trained in de-escalation techniques and use these effectively. The use of physical intervention is infrequent, appropriate and is fully recorded. Behaviour management strategies are developed and changed in line with young people’s changing needs in order to ensure their continued effectiveness.

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Keeping children and young people safe outstanding

A rigorous recruitment process helps to ensure that only those who are suitable to work with young people are employed at this home. There are routine health and safety checks and regular fire drills, including when young people are new to the home. This helps to ensure that the environment is safe and secure and young people are protected from hazards including the risk of fire.

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Leadership and management outstanding

The Registered Manager has been in post since 2012. She has significant experience of residential childcare, in particular working with young people with challenging behaviour and learning disabilities. The Registered Manager is currently undertaking the relevant management qualification. She has a strong grasp of the homes strengths and the areas she wishes to develop.

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Leadership and management outstanding

The Registered Manager’s monitoring of the home is evaluative and improvement focused. Feedback received through consultation with relatives and professionals is, without exception, positive and shows high levels of satisfaction with the service provided. The provider has taken action to address an identified shortfall in the independent visits to the home. These now ensure consultation with relatives and professionals takes place.

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Leadership and management outstanding

The excellent, clear case records, include young person friendly versions of documentation such as safe care plans. Young people’s memory books include photographs, certificates of achievement, letters and cards received. This ensures that young people have their own record of their time spent at this home.

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Leadership and management outstanding

The home operates in line with its statement of purpose. For example, when a request was received, a young person was not admitted to the home in emergency circumstances. Instead, the staff team worked creatively with the young person, their 9 of 10 family and professionals to plan a successful transition into the home. Young people are provided with information about the home in the children’s guide. This is available in various accessible formats including a talking photo album. The children’s guide does not currently contain details about how young people can contact their independent reviewing officers. This would enhance young people’s access to professionals who are independent of the home.

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Leadership and management outstanding

Staff receive good quality supervision through which they receive support, and challenge to identified shortfalls in practice. Staff are well guided and supported to undertake new roles, such as key worker, and they are enthusiastic about doing so. Staff speak positively about supervision with one member of staff commenting, ‘It is definitely developing me as a professional.’ This demonstrates the commitment of staff to doing a good job and the high standards of professional practice which are expected from staff. Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Leadership and management outstanding

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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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