Children's Home run by Lancashire County Council in Lancashire

Unique reference number SC440309 Inspector Lynn O'Driscoll Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

p.1

Registered person Lancashire County Council Registered person address PO Box 78 County Hall Fishergate Preston PR1 8XJ Responsible individual Brendan Francis Lee Registered manager Hena Begum / Gillian Wilkinson Date of last inspection 12/11/2014 2 of 7 Inspection date 18/03/2015

p.1

Previous inspection good Enforcement action since last inspection none

p.2

This inspection

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

p.2

This inspection

Since the last inspection, the deputy manager has been successfully registered with Ofsted to manage the home. This is to cover the long term sick leave of the permanent registered manager. She demonstrated, through the application and interview process, that she has integrity and good character to manage a home for young people with complex emotional and behavioural difficulties and is suitably qualified and experienced. She is sincere, passionate and highly skilled at safeguarding young people and promoting their welfare.

p.2

This inspection

Stakeholders confirm excellent partnership working. The police recently complimented the staff for effectively safeguarding and protecting two particularly high risk young people and thereby avoiding criminalisation. A social worker wrote, 'The staff are very accommodating and maintain open communication. The care is very good and my young person has been offered a lot of opportunities. Their ability to safeguard is excellent.'

p.2

This inspection

Significant positive developments have been made under the new manager's clear direction. Examples include: more robust impact risk assessments in respect to child sexual exploitation and self harm; strengthening young people's involvement in the staff appraisal process; and, introducing a new recording template to ensure a pro- active response to, and effectively managing, any potential bullying. This identifies both the victim's and the perpetrator's needs, aiming to prevent a re-occurrence. A significant amount of targeted work has taken place with young people to improve their understanding of the many different facets of bullying and to learn strategies to protect themselves online and in the community.

p.2

This inspection

The new manager has a particularly good knowledge, understanding and commitment to ensuring anti- discriminatory practice within all aspects of young people's lives. Consequently, she motivates her staff to actively promote equality 3 of 7 and diversity by regularly involving young people in specific workshops and stimulating activities. This is demonstrably improving their understanding of other cultures, festivals and significant events both locally and internationally.

p.2

This inspection

This staff team are particularly strong and effective advocates for the young people. This ensures their wishes and feelings are acted upon, which makes them feel respected and valued. This includes their choice of their future accommodation and receiving the education that will best realise their individual potentials.

p.3

This inspection

The one requirement and one recommendation made at the full inspection on 12 November 2014 have been satisfactorily addressed. Consequently, monitoring reports by the manager clearly demonstrate on-going consultation with young people, and records of monthly staff supervisions now detail the duration of each session.

p.3

This inspection

Effective internal and independent monitoring systems are in place and any shortfalls identified are efficiently addressed. These processes ensure that all records are in good order. Highly individualised placement plans offer a thorough assessment of needs and clear plans to address them. Staff also ensure that young people have access to a good range of specialist services to meet more specific and complex needs. However, when the manager was on leave, the accuracy of monitoring reports were not checked before being forwarded to Ofsted.

p.3

This inspection

There have been no complaints about this home since the last inspection. In sharp contrast, they have received a number of compliments. One ex resident thanked the staff for their support following the death of her mum and said, 'Without you, I would literally not be here. You saved my life.' In fact, she has nominated the manager and a member of staff for an award in recognition of their care and continued commitment to her since her discharge.

p.3

This inspection

This experienced staff team are highly skilled at building up trust and developing positive working relationships with families. Consequently, they feel respected and valued and are very happy with the quality of care provided at this home. Comments include, 'I like my son living here and I am kept well informed of his progress' and, 'This home has provided a safe place and the care is outstanding. The staff are excellent and have a great understanding of my child's needs.'

p.3

This inspection

This home can demonstrate the significant progress young people have made. Examples include a reduction in self injurious behaviours, the use of restraints and missing from home incidents. School attendance has improved and young people are expressing positive future ambitions. A tutor confirmed, 'The staff ensure the pupil is well prepared for lessons and is equipped with good academic learning materials.' A teacher wrote, 'This staff team are supportive of the school. They are doing a marvellous job and the young person is a lot less aggressive since moving to this home.' A social worker of two young people placed at this home said, 'Both young people enjoy living at this home and the range of activities provided. I am 4 of 7 particularly pleased with their educational progress.' One young person gets up at 6-30 every morning to get to his preferred school on time and is currently considering college courses to enhance his career opportunities.

p.3

This inspection

Since the last inspection, two new admissions and one discharge initially negatively affected the group dynamics leading to some significant criminal damage. Throughout this particularly challenging period, the staff team worked tirelessly to maintain a good standard of accommodation and had effective strategies in place to keep everyone safe. The home is again enjoying a very settled period and the young people are now choosing to be involved in the ongoing redecoration. One young person is a particularly talented joiner and willingly uses these skills around the home. This demonstrates their strong sense of pride in their living environment. A recent visitor to the home said, 'This home is very well decorated and has a nice, warm feeling.' Comments from parents include, 'The staff do all they can for my son. He is kept safe and is learning independence skills. It is a very clean and lovely home. The best I have been in' and, 'The atmosphere is always friendly. I am always

p.4

This inspection

made to feel welcome when I visit. My son has made friends and is happy'.

p.4

This inspection

This home is always sufficiently staffed to meet the diversity and complexity of all the young people's needs. They have also successfully recruited recently which has improved the gender balance within the staff team. The registered manager ensures staff use their individual skills and interests which is a strong motivator. For example, one member of staff has set up a recycling system and is educating the young people about sustainable living, energy saving and caring for the planet longer term. The team have also benefited from a team away day enabling them to reflect on their current practices and to prepare for the new Regulations and quality standards.

p.4

This inspection

Healthy lifestyles are actively promoted at this home. The young people always benefit from nutritious, homemade healthy meals and regular physical exercise. As a direct result of staff researching with the young people the effects of smoking, as part of the national campaign, one young person with a long term habit, has chosen to stop. This is with the assurance of continued support from the staff. One young person won, 'The athlete of the year' at school.

p.4

This inspection

Young people enjoy taking part in a wide range of positive activities. These experiences are captured in books which young people take with them on discharge. Recent examples include, a day out at a farm, go karting, trampolining, gardening and table tennis. Two young people were treated to a weekend away in recognition of their excellent school attendance and improved attitude to learning. One young person said, 'It was ace. We did climbing, archery and zip wires.' The staff have also worked closely with the youth service, specifically to integrate young people into local youth clubs. This encourages new experiences, positive friendships and strengthens their sense of belonging. Individual interests and talents are actively supported which increases competencies and confidences. One young person has exceptional cooking skills which are utilised in the home and at her weekend paid 5 of 7 employment. To their credit, all the young people regularly raise money for charities.

p.4

This inspection

All the young people are happy, safe and secure in this placement and want to stay until they feel ready to move into independence. They also benefit from regular and positive contact with their families which maintains their sense of identity. Comments from young people include, 'I feel safe here all of the time and staff look after me well and I can take part in activities I like. It's close to my friends and family and the home is nice. The staff are ace', 'My key worker keeps me safe, treats me with respect and listens to my views and wishes' and, 'I like it here and am well cared for. I get lots of support and my wishes and feelings are listened to.' The manager of a private children's home where a young person recently moved to wrote, 'The young person said the staff are so caring and supportive. It is not often that young people come into the home saying what a positive difference a previous

p.5

Information about this children’s home

This local authority children's home provides care and accommodation for up to six young people of either sex aged from 11 to 17 years with emotional and behavioural difficulties. This home can take emergency placements.

p.6

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/11/2014 Full good 12/03/2014 Interim good progress 15/08/2013 Full good 07/03/2013 Interim good progress

p.6

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

p.6

Recommendations

 ensure an effective system is in place for enabling the manager and staff to read and respond to Regulation 33 reports, and in particular, undertake an accuracy check before forwarding to Ofsted. (NMS 21.8) Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.6

Recommendations

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.

p.7

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.

p.7

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.

p.7

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.

p.7