Children's Home run by Lancashire County Council in Lancashire

Outstanding

The children's home provides highly effective services that consistently exceeds the standards of good. The actions of the home contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 Without exception, all the young people are extremely happy, safe and settled at this home and enjoy excellent relationships with all the staff.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 Young people are exceptionally well cared for by a particular stable, experienced and competent staff team.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 Young people benefit from highly individualised care and receive timely and appropriate specialist services that best meet their more complex needs.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 The staff are particularly strong and effective advocates for the young people. This has ensured, for example, that they all receive the most appropriate education to maximise their full potential and they enjoy regular constructive contact with family and friends in line with any legal restrictions and personal preferences.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 Staff safely and effectively manage some extremely complex and challenging behaviours without the need to restrain young people.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 Highly effective collaborative working is firmly established with all the relevant safeguarding agencies to ensure that young people are protected from harm.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 This staff team are consistently highly successful in building young people’s emotional resilience and equipping them practically to return home successfully or move into independence.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

To continue to improve, the home must: ensure robust independent monitoring arrangements; an effective system for forwarding amended versions of their statement of purpose to Ofsted in a timely manner; and, internal reports on the quality of care should include the views of young people.

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

ensure internal management reports on the quality of care provided in the home include the feedback and opinions of young people (Regulation 45(2)(c) ) 31/10/2015

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Requirement Due date

ensure Ofsted is always notified of any revisions to the statement of purpose and send a revised copy within 28 days of every revision. (Regulation 16(2)(b)) 30/06/2015

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  ensure that the independent person appointed to undertake monitoring visits to the home does not give rise to a conflict of interest that would, or appear to, compromise the ability of that person to reach a rigorous and impartial judgement of the quality of that home's care (The Guide page 65, paragraph 15.6).

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Information about this children's home

This is a local authority home registered to provide care and accommodation for up to six young people who may be experiencing emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

18/03/2015 CH - Interim improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

12/03/2014 CH - Interim Satisfactory Progress

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outstanding

All the young people are extremely happy living in this home. From a clear research–informed knowledge base, this service excels at providing a warm, nurturing, homely environment. Consequently, new admissions settle in very quickly. One young person said, ’I have never been in care before and it was scary, but I like it here and it feels safe. The staff are good to me and I get on well with all the other young people. I fully understand the plan for me to return to my family because I went to the planning meeting, but I would like to stay here for a bit and still see my dad, but we need to build up trust again. I am really looking forward to spending a weekend at my sisters which the staff sorted out for me and I have already been trusted to visit my friends’ and, ‘This is my first time in residential care and it took a day or two to settle, but the staff are really nice and we are well looked after. My bedroom is lovely and I like having the chance to

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outstanding

have some privacy. I am having a sleep over at my friends at the weekend. We are going to theatre.’

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outstanding

This particularly experienced staff team have the proven ability to establish open and honest relationships with the young people. Consequently, young people benefit from strong and positive attachments which enables them to express their feelings and difficulties and to receive the appropriate support required. A number of young people have been exceptionally well supported practically and emotionally following the death of loved ones.

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outstanding

In this placement young people are gradually coming to terms with past traumatic events, demonstrably gaining more positive self-views and building emotional resilience to better deal with difficulties in the future. As a result, they are making wiser choices. For example, one young person is actively choosing to no longer associate with individuals engaged in anti-social behaviours. Self-harming incidents have ceased altogether for one young person since moving to this home. Comments from young people include, ‘Staff look after me well and spend time with me. They understand my feelings and treat me how I like to be treated’ and, ‘The staff are ace and have helped me to manage my own feelings and behaviours.’

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outstanding

Young people’s opinions and feelings are central to the day-to-day running of the home, which makes them feel valued. The staff are also particularly strong and effective advocates ensuring young people’s wishes are acted upon, if it is in their best interests. This has resulted in, for example: securing education that best meets individual needs; and, re-establishing and maintaining positive relationships with family members of their choice to maintain their sense of identity. One young person said, ‘I see my mum and siblings but it is my choice not to see my dad and his family.’

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outstanding

This service clearly demonstrates sustained improvement to the lives of all the young people, despite some extremely complex backgrounds. It has an excellent track record of working with young people and their families to rebuild their relationships and developing young people’s emotional resilience and equipping them practically to either return home successfully or move into independence. Parents consistently confirm high satisfaction with the quality of care provided and feel that their views are listened to and respected. Comments include, ‘The staff provide my child with a stable environment. The care and support is excellent. They listen to my views and keep me fully up-to-date with progress and, ‘ My child is kept safe at this home and gets on well with the staff. My son has made friends and is happy. The atmosphere is always friendly and I am made to feel welcome when I visit.’

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outstanding

There are excellent age and ability appropriate opportunities for all the young people to gain the practical and social skills necessary to successfully live independently in the future. Staff make great efforts to ensure that young people leave this home in a gradual and positive manner and they are always assured of their continued support after discharge. One young person said, ‘I have never been so happy and I am thrilled to bits that the staff sorted me out a lovely flat in an area I wanted to live in which is close to my family and friends and college. I am so excited about starting driving lessons.’ Three young people who have been successfully living independently for several months, visited the home last week which is testament to the excellent relationships established with the staff.

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outstanding

All the young people currently living at this home are now attending school, engaging well and have been entered for nationally recognised examinations. One young person is now a prefect and two young people are looking forward to starting college in September and have very clear positive ambitions about their future careers. This is significant progress given their past histories. Another young person goes to school on the bus every day and ‘loves it’. She is on target to achieve very good grades and is involved in lots of extra-curricular activities. To her credit, she is now head librarian and works with younger pupils who may be experiencing bullying.

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outstanding

This home provides particularly spacious accommodation enabling young people to have a very good choice of rooms if they wish to study in private. Staff routinely support young people with their homework and examination preparation and attend parent’s evenings.

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outstanding

Young people are offered a wide range of constructive leisure activities. Individual interests and talents are actively encouraged and supported which increases competences and confidence. Examples include, free running, rugby and swimming. Two young people are actively involved in the children in care council which seeks to constantly improve the development of residential services across the authority.

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outstanding

Staff actively promote young people’s good health. Moreover, young people are now taking more responsibility for their own continued good health, by for example, arranging their own appointments. In particular, their self–esteem and confidence has blossomed in this placement and they are now noticeably taking great pride in their appearance. Comments from young people include,’ I have stopped taking drugs altogether and I’ve been to parties and resisted. I now only smoke two cigarettes a day from 15 when I came here so I am feeling much healthier’ and, ‘I do lots of sports like long distance running, and rounder’s and I have joined a local gym. I enjoy going swimming with the staff and I am getting really fast and have learned backstroke.’

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outstanding

The meals provided at this home are always homemade and nutritious and thoroughly enjoyed by the young people. Consequently, some young people have benefitted from appropriate weight loss. Mealtimes are relaxed social occasions.

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outstanding

Young people are treated and respected as individuals in their own right which makes them feel genuinely loved and valued. A key strength of this home is the timely provision of an exceptionally wide range of specialist services to meet individual needs. All the young people who recently completed Ofsted surveys confirmed that their culture and religious beliefs are always respected and supported.

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outstanding

All the young people feel, and are, very safe and secure in this home and enjoy excellent relationships with the staff. They feel genuinely cared about and listened to and are confident that any concerns will be immediately addressed. Consequently, they have never needed to formally complain. They also get on well with their peers and confirm that there is no bullying in this home. Robust impact risk assessments ensure staff can meet the assessed needs of any young people requiring accommodation and that this will not have a negative impact on the young people already living in the home. If this is still in question after scrutinizing all available information the manager arranges a meeting with all relevant stakeholders to explore issues in more depth. Young people’s views are central to the final decision. For example, following a period of disruption and the ultimate discharge of a young person to a more specialised placement, the

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outstanding

remaining young people requested that there were no more admissions until after the Easter holidays. They argued, ‘We want some time to get back to normal and enjoy a happy family routine again.’ Consequently, four referrals were turned down.

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outstanding

This particularly stable staff team have established highly effective working relationships with all relevant agencies to try to protect young people from all forms of harm. This service has an excellent track record of safeguarding young people at risk of child sexual exploitation and then developing their self-esteem, confidence, resilience and understanding to protect themselves.

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outstanding

Young people are empowered to take age appropriate risks necessary for their continual development into adulthood. This means, for example, that young people are entrusted to travel significant distances independently to enjoy contact with their family or to see friends.

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outstanding

All the young people continually explore strategies to protect themselves when online or in the community.

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outstanding

Despite some very complex histories, incidents of going missing have significantly reduced in frequency and duration. The two most recent had clear mitigating circumstances which were immediately addressed. Independent return interviews are completed in a timely manner and shared with the home to continually improve practice and try to prevent a re-occurrence.

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outstanding

A key strength of this home is the staff’s ability to safely and effectively manage some highly complex and challenging behaviours without resorting to physical interventions. Staff also benefit from the advice and guidance of specialist emotional health workers who attend their team meetings every two months to explore strategies.

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outstanding

The home has also recently revised its’ behaviour management policy after consultation with the police and the youth offending team. This is to specifically ensure that young people are not unnecessarily criminalised. No young people currently living in the home have been prosecuted for any offences since being admitted. This is despite past involvement in criminalised and anti-social behaviours. There are very clear and consistent boundaries to behaviours in place to safeguard and protect the welfare of the young people. These are fully understood by the young people and they all confirm that they are fair. All the young people who completed Ofsted surveys confirmed that staff recognise and reward good behaviour and effort.

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outstanding

All the required external and internal health and safety checks are undertaken in a timely manner to ensure a safe and well-maintained home.

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outstanding

Robust recruitment and selection processes ensure a safe and competent staff team.

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good

This home is exceptionally well managed by a suitably qualified and experienced individual who provides very clear direction, supervision and support to her staff. Moreover, she actively involves her staff in the continual development of the home. Consequently, morale and commitment is high and there is a strong sense of shared responsibility and accountability. She leads by example and is held in high regard by her team, parents and professionals.

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good

She has an extremely detailed knowledge of the unique and highly complex needs and personal preferences of all the young people and is vigilant in ensuring these are adhered to. She said, ‘We are their voice.’ This means she will not hesitate to challenge senior managers and other stakeholders if it is in the child’s best interest and a different strategy will ultimately secure more positive outcomes. She also secures the active involvement of independent reviewing officers outside the six monthly reviews. She is also very proactive in securing specialist workers to meet more complex needs and in ensuring her staff team are all specifically trained and equipped to meet the needs of any new admissions. Examples include, awareness training about Asperger’s, working with bereaved young people and caring for young people with diabetes.

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good

There are equally excellent deputising arrangements in place. This individual did a sterling job when the manager was on long term sick, managing the home throughout a very difficult period and securing an improved effectiveness judgement at the last interim inspection in March 2015.

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good

Consequently, the leadership team is very strong and demonstrates an outstanding capacity to continuously improve. They are very clear about the many strengths of their service provision and the areas they are keen to further develop. For example, they are supporting young people to produce a leaflet to give to other young people prior to admission. This will answer some frequently asked questions from young people’s own perspective with the aim of trying to alleviate some anxieties.

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good

The home is always very well staffed to safeguard and promote the welfare of all the young people. Sickness or leave is covered by regular casual workers known and liked by the young people. They come from a wide range of relevant backgrounds, which enriches young people’s lives. Examples include education, health, youth work and social work. They have all completed the mandatory training required of this specific role.

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good

Young people benefit from excellent care and support from a particularly stable, experienced and competent staff team who receive continuous and relevant training opportunities. These are purposely offered to meet organisational needs, their own professional development needs and the specific needs of the young people currently living in the home.

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good

Staff confirm regular good quality supervision and timely annual appraisals that support and challenge their individual performances. This enables them to continually improve their practices. Team meetings are very child focussed with staff feeling comfortable to explore issues openly and honestly thus ensuring an agreed and consistent approach to meeting individual young people’s needs.

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good

Internal and external monitoring systems are undertaken at the required frequencies and any shortfalls identified are immediately addressed. However, the most recent three monthly internal report on the quality of care provided in the home, does not detail the views of young people.

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good

The one recommendation made at the last interim inspection in March 2015 has been satisfactorily addressed. Consequently, there is an effective system is in place for enabling the manager and staff to read and respond to external monitoring reports, and in particular, to undertake an accuracy check before forwarding to Ofsted. This authority is currently reviewing their arrangements to ensure that moving forward, this is a robust and independent process as prescribed in the new Regulations and does not give rise to any conflicts of interest.

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good

One member of staff in particular, works tirelessly to ensure that this home is always maintained to a high standard throughout and it provides a particularly welcoming, relaxing and homely ambience. Young people love getting involved in re-decorating. This demonstrates their strong sense of pride in their living environment and they are also learning excellent practical skills for future independent living. All the young people love their personalised bedrooms. One young person said, ‘We have repainted my bedroom and the staff bought me new curtains and a gorgeous leopard print.’

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good

The statement of purpose is regularly reviewed and revised as necessary to ensure it always accurately reflects the current aims, policies, practices and staffing of the home. However, the most recently amended version has not been forwarded to Ofsted. Although this is a regulatory shortfall it does not have a negative impact on young people.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place, however, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This 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 Children's

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Information about this inspection

Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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