Children's Home run by Lancashire County Council in Lancashire

Unique reference number SC359836 Inspector Anthony Kyem Type of inspection Interim 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 29/01/2015 2 of 5 Inspection date 20/03/2015

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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 sustained effectiveness .

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This inspection

There have been no admissions or placement breakdowns since the last inspection. As a result, young people benefit from stable placements and make good progress at the home. Young people enjoy exceptionally good relationships with staff with whom they have strong and positive attachments.

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This inspection

Staff provide young people with continuity of care and promote their needs effectively. They work enthusiastically with young people to enhance their life experiences and improve their outcomes. Consequently, young people make good progress and benefit from effective support from staff. A care leaver reports, 'I really wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for the amazing people that I call my family, even though they aren't my biological family they have been there for me in one way or another. There is (the manager) and her amazing team at (the home) who gave me the inspiration and motivation to change my life for the better.'

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This inspection

Staff have a very good understanding of the needs of individual young people. Staff work closely with other professionals to ensure young people benefit from the help and support they receive. Young people's safety is the home's priority and staff actively promote the safety of young people. Staff maintain partnerships with the local police to ensure there is an effective response should young people go missing from care. This ensures young people return to the home safely and receive positive support on their return. Incidents involving young people going missing from care have reduced considerably. There have been no complaints since the last inspection. Young people know how to make a complaint and they receive good support to resolve their differences positively.

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This inspection

There have been no sanctions and young people respond positively to the effective use of incentives and rewards that they know they can earn if they engage in positive behaviour. This approach is effective for young people, who are encouraged 3 of 5 by staff to take responsibility for their own behaviour. Young people develop skills in communicating and managing their feelings appropriately, so they are less likely to resort to inappropriate behaviour. The use of restraint is exceptionally rare, and if used, it is only ever used to protect young people from harm. Staff are sensitive in their approach and they understand how young people's feelings and emotions can quickly result in crisis and challenging behaviour. Staff apply positive behaviour management strategies to keep young people safe.

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This inspection

Young people report, ‘It's been alright. You get to do lots of activities like bowling, cinema, pool and trips out to Southport. Staff can take banter because I like to wind people up and it's fun. I like (staff name) because I can talk to her better than anyone else…The house is fun, crazy and it's loud. Well it is when I'm in the house.'

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This inspection

The home has made good progress since the last inspection, addressing both of the previous recommendations made. Young people have given their consent for the independent visitor to check their records. Consequently, the standard and quality of their care can be monitored appropriately. The manager has updated the Statement of Purpose to include the use of a hall alarm to monitor young people's movements. This prevents young people from entering each other’s bedrooms and minimises the risk of anti-social or inappropriate behaviour.

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This inspection

The home's refurbishment and re-decoration is nearer completion. Young people have new beds and bedroom furniture to improve the standard and quality of their own private accommodation. The foundations have been laid for a new conservatory and a single key fob system has replaced the need for staff to have lots of different keys. The building work has been an inconvenience for young people. However, once completed, they will benefit from exceptionally well-planned and carefully designed, comfortable and homely accommodation.

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This inspection

Significant incidents are notified to the appropriate authorities to ensure there is an effective response. This ensures young people are protected and benefit from effective support from appropriate agencies. For example, investigations of abuse are managed quickly and professionally to ensure young people are supported and protected from further abuse.

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This inspection

Managers and leaders routinely use the home's monitoring activities to improve the performance of the home. Consequently, there are clear and effective arrangements for monitoring and improving the standard and quality of young people's care. There are no requirements or recommendations from this inspection. 4 of 5

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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

29/01/2015 Full good 24/03/2014 Interim good progress 14/11/2013 Full good 21/02/2013 Interim good 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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