Children's Home run by Lancashire County Council in Lancashire

Requires improvement

The children's home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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because:

 The majority of the young people are new to this home and have not settled into the rules and boundaries in place to ensure their continued safety and well- being.  The majority of the young people are not consistently engaging in full time education, training or employment.  All the young people smoke tobacco and some regularly use illicit drugs and drink alcohol.  A lack of recruitment within the authority and the consequent need for agency staff has exacerbated the difficulties in establishing consistency and stability for children.  Internal and external monitoring processes are not sufficiently robust to ensure that all legal documentation is maintained to a good standard; agency staff have completed all their required training; and, the views of young people and parents are evaluated with any concerns raised acted upon.  Despite frequent discussions about keeping themselves safe in the community

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because:

and online, young people are still engaging in risk taking behaviours and placing themselves in vulnerable situations.

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The children's home strengths

This experienced and resilient staff team place the well-being of all the young people at the centre of their practice, irrespective of the significant challenges they present. They are strong advocates for the young people ensuring the timely provision of appropriate specialist services to meet their more complex needs. They consistently effectively de-escalate some extremely challenging behaviours without resorting to the use of restraint. They have established good collaborative working with all relevant agencies to safeguard and protect young people. They work well with parents and ensure all young people benefit from regular and constructive contact with family and friends in line with any legal directions and personal preferences. They continue to provide support to young people who have left the home to ensure they continue to successfully live independently or with their families.

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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 young people who are not attending school have access to educational and training support throughout their period of exclusion or non-attendance and return to school as soon as possible: and, help young people above compulsory school age to participate in further education, training or employment. (Regulation 8(2)(viii)and(ix)) 7 September

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Requirement Due date

Review the home's location risk assessment in consultation with other relevant safeguarding agencies to ensure it accurately reflects the current vulnerabilities and the actions taken to reduce these. (Regulation 46) 21 August

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Requirement Due date

Ensure there is documentary that agency staff have completed all the required training prior to working at the home (Regulation 32, Schedule 2(5)) 21 August

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Requirement Due date

44: Independent person: visits and reports

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Requirement Due date

Ensure independent person's reports about the home consistently detail consultations with parents and relatives of the young people living in the home. (Regulation 44(2)(b)) 31 August

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Requirement Due date

Forward to Ofsted a revised copy of any amendments made to the statement of purpose within 28 days of the revision (Regulation 16(3)) 14 August

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Requirement Due date

45: Review of quality of care 30 September Ensure monitoring of the home includes scrutiny of legal documentation about each young person and internal management reports on the quality of care provided in the home include an evaluation of the feedback and opinions of young people. (Regulation 45(2)(c ))

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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

Provide each young person with a lockable cabinet or drawers to securely store personal items. (The Guide, page 16, paragraph 3.19)

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Recommendations

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 children’s home registered to provide care and accommodation for up to six young people at any given time of either gender who are experiencing emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

20/03/2015 CH - Interim sustained effectiveness

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requires improvement

There have been significant changes at this home since the last inspection on 20 March 2015. This includes three new admission and three discharges in quick succession, which has negatively impacted on the experiences and progress of young people. Comments from staff include, ‘We are not getting a sufficient break between discharges and new admissions to help young people to settle, understand the routines and build trusting relationships ’ and, ‘The needs of all the young people already living here are not always considered before a new placement is made.’ One young person said, ‘Group living is hard and we are getting another admission next week so it will be even harder. We got no say. We were just told she was coming.’

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requires improvement

Currently the home is only accommodating four young people. This was a positive decision to provide staff with an opportunity to gain some stability after a particularly challenging few months. Staff clearly place the well-being of all the young people at the centre of their practice, irrespective of the challenges they present. Although most of the young people say they like it at this home and want to stay, most are choosing not to abide by even the most basic house rules.

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requires improvement

All the young people benefit from regular constructive contact with their families and friends thus maintaining a strong sense of identity.

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requires improvement

The decision to admit one high profile young person resulted in significant damage in the home, which really upset other young people. Comments include, ‘It was not nice when things were trashed which are still being mended’ and, ‘It was not right for me there. There was a lot of criminal damage which made me angry.’

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requires improvement

The staff worked hard to improve the emotional wellbeing of this young person and timely specialist services were actively involved. Constructive diversionary activities were also offered, but he continued to engage in significant criminalised activities in the local community. One member of staff said, ‘Nothing offered here interested him, even his favourite activity of go karting or a holiday. Nothing seemed to compete with his associates in the community’.

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requires improvement

One young person’s perception is that, ‘We don’t really do activities anymore’ and another young person complained of feeling, ‘Bored.’ Staff also say they miss taking young people on weekends away. One young person said, ‘I’ve been go karting, the cinema and bowling. I’m offered loads of stuff but I like to go out with my mates’. This is supported by records show that young people are offered the opportunity to try a range of constructive activities but the negative pulls in the local community are proving to be much stronger. One member of staff said, ‘They would rather be out drinking and drug taking then they are loud and disruptive on their return in the early hours’. This home is located in a predominately elderly residential area.

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requires improvement

One young person recently admitted from foster care did not want to come into residential care and was initially struggling with group living, she is now getting embroiled in some disruptive behaviours. She said, ‘It’s alright here. It’s pretty chilled and I get on with most of the other young people, but I would like to live with my mum. I went to a meeting and told the people there, but I don’t know what the future plans are for me now.’

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requires improvement

One young person while living at this home built up particularly strong attachments to some staff. As a result she went back to school, achieved good grades and successfully completed a hairdressing course. However, she continued to place herself in vulnerable situations and incidents of self-harm increased. She is now in a more specialised placement to meet her highly complex mental health needs and where she feels safe. Some staff who had developed constructive relationships with her continued to visit her in her new placement. This is a strength of the staff team. Her leaving has had a big impact on the group and staff still intend to arrange a planned ending. One young person said, ‘I was upset when I was told she was not coming back and there was to be no contact because we would shop and eat together.’

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requires improvement

A major concern is that despite strong advocacy by the staff which has successfully secured alternative educational provision to better meet assessed needs and a reduced timetable, one young person has refused to go to school for the last five months. Consequently an academically bright young person has fallen considerably behind her peers. Another young person’s attendance is sporadic. Moreover, they are not consistently engaging in educational activities within the home. In fact, on the first day of this inspection one young person stayed in bed until late afternoon, with little intervention by staff.

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requires improvement

Since living at this home, with the additional support provided, one young person has improved his grades and has secured a place at college for September. Unfortunately, he is showing limited commitment to his work placement which is part of a court order. This means he is jeopardising this placement and his liberty. All the young people have positive future career ambitions but are currently lacking in motivation.

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requires improvement

All the young people smoke. This is particularly concerning for one young person with asthma. Alcohol and drug misuse and erratic sleep patterns all negatively impact on continued good health. One young person was admitted addicted to illegal substances. Staff ensured timely specialist intervention but it is proving ineffective as he has no desire to stop. Of concern, the frequency and quantity of drug taking incidents have recently increased which is resulting in challenging behaviours within the home.

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requires improvement

Young people confirm that they get on well with most of the staff and they all have someone they are comfortable talking to. However, the majority do struggle with having agency staff which have not previously been used at this home. Comments include, ‘There used to be a set staff team. It’s strange have agency staff. I never know who’s going to be here and some can take me out and others cant. They do try to have the same ones, but some are strangers,’ ‘It’s alright here. It’s homely and welcoming. I can talk to most of the staff, and I really like my key worker who listens to me and is always there for me, but I don’t like one member of staff who is hypocritical and judgemental’ and, ‘I like most of the staff but some like to wind us up. There are lots of changes of staff which is confusing me.’ As a direct result of young people’s views, one agency worker no longer works at this home. This demonstrates that young people’s wishes and feelings are positively responded to

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requires improvement

Staff ensure young people have opportunities to develop the skills and confidence they need to successfully manage their lives as adults. Realistically for the current group, priority is being given to try to settle them, build positive relationships and keep them safe. Consequently, there has been significant work undertaken to help them learn strategies to protect themselves when out in the community or online. They also concentrate on building self-esteem and confidence to empower young people to make wiser choices in their relationships. One young person said she would ‘love’ to do independence work. In response staff helped her to plan an evening meal, but on the day she preferred to be out with friends. One young person recently discharged said, ‘I had my own budget and planned, shopped for and cooked my own meals.’

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requires improvement

This home have previously successfully enabled many young people to live independently or return to family, secure in the knowledge of continued support from the staff. Comments include, ‘I had contact with my family while I was living at the home and now I’m living back with them and I’m still getting support from my key worker’ and, ‘The staff are nice and easy to talk to and even though I have left they still visit me’. This is a key strength. Some young people are still being supported years after being discharged, which is exceptional. Individual staff members have been a maid of honour and guests at young people’s weddings and a birthing partner and God parents to young people’s own children. This demonstrates the staff’s ability to nurture strong and lasting attachments. This continues to increase their confidence and self-esteem. One young adult now visits the home every week using her expertise to explore with staff how they can

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requires improvement

continue to improve upon young people’s preparation and transition into independence. She feels strongly that this should be a much more gradual and longer process. Another young person was recently formally recognised for his educational achievements and openly announced, ‘The only person I want to be proud of me is the manager.’

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requires improvement

Most of the young people are new to this home. They all feel safe, but are struggling to settle into the routines and boundaries in place to keep them safe and healthy. Two young people have voiced their wish to remain at this home at their recent statutory reviews until they feel ready to live independently but, they are not abiding by the house rules.

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requires improvement

This is an extremely committed and resilient staff team, but the current group of young people are not investing in the placement. In fact a youth offending officer was shocked by the deterioration in behaviour of one young person since her recent admission.

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requires improvement

The staff have historically used incentives to effectively promote good behaviour and effort, but are now resorting to appropriately sanctioning unacceptable behaviours. They have also had to start undertaking room searches where drug taking equipment has been found. Nevertheless, this experienced staff team continue to effectively de-escalate some extremely challenging behaviours without the use of restraint.

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requires improvement

Despite frequent discussions with staff about keeping themselves safe in the community and online, young people are still engaging in risk taking behaviours and placing themselves in vulnerable situations. For example, they are consistently not returning at the agreed time and when they do return, often in the early hours of the morning, they are under the influence of illegal substances. This then results in some highly disruptive behaviours. Some continue to offend, others continue to self-harm in spite of timely and appropriate specialist interventions.

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requires improvement

One young person now discharged wrote, ‘The staff kept me safe all the time and gave me phone credit so I could ring them when I was out. We talked about safety issues in key worker sessions and did a lot of work on bullying.’ In sharp contrast, a number of mobiles phones have recently been sold to fund their addictions and one young person purposely discarded one mobile so staff could not contact her.

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requires improvement

All the permanent staff are trained in safeguarding and child sexual exploitation to ensure they remain vigilant. Partnership agencies confirm good collaborative working to protect young people. There have been no allegations or child protection referrals since the last inspection.

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requires improvement

The one complaint from an elderly neighbour was immediately addressed and appropriate action taken to try to prevent a re-occurrence. A young person threw eggs at her front window which frightened her. He was spoken to by the police about the potential consequences of such behaviour. He apologised and paid for the windows to be professionally cleaned.

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requires improvement

This home have established excellent working relationships with the local police. They constantly share any local intelligence, for example drug dealing hotspots, so they can safeguard and protect all young people. A change of location and high staffing ratios have also effectively reduced the risk of child sexual exploitation. Overall, the frequency and durations of missing from home have also reduced. Timely independent interviews are always undertaken on their safe return. Moreover, views expressed by young people are positively listened and responded to. For example, one young person was managing to run away from two to one staffing to spend time with friends. She now enjoys some free time, albeit restricted. This demonstrates that staff have the confidence to enable young people to take age appropriate risks as part of their development into adulthood.

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requires improvement

This staff team have the proven ability to work in partnership with young people’s families and the feedback is positive. Comments include, ‘ I am very happy with the care provided. I can visit anytime and I am kept informed. The staff are absolutely fantastic with my son. He gets what he needs, including hearty meals and he is enjoying it there’ and, ‘My son walked away from an incident in the home and didn’t get involved. I was really impressed with this change in him.’

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requires improvement

The necessity to ensure high staffing ratios at all times has resulted in the need to use agency staff. However, this has only served to exacerbate the ongoing challenge of providing consistent care and stability, which young people are exploiting. Moreover, the records held in the home do not demonstrate that individual agency staff have the required skills and competencies to work with such complex and competing needs.

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requires improvement

Individual risk assessments explore the holistic and unique needs, vulnerabilities and risks of each young person but, some of the detail appears contradictory in respect to perceived progress. This is an example of a recent decline in the quality of some key documentation.

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requires improvement

The appropriate use of restorative justice reduces the need for formal police intervention. A recent example was paying towards the extensive damage caused in the home. However, there were inaccuracies in some of the financial reparation records examined.

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requires improvement

The home’s location risk assessment is out of date in respect to known risk areas and young people’s particular vulnerabilities. It does not include, for example, known suicide and drug hotspots and the risks associated with the boarded up building next to the children’s home. This is despite two young people recently climbing on this roof thereby risking a serious accident.

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requires improvement

The manager recognises that the need to support her staff in safeguarding and protecting a particularly unsettled and complex group of young people has been to the detriment of her usual stringent monitoring in recent months.

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requires improvement

This staff team have also had to manage the protracted refurbishment of the home, which has unsettled young people. One young person was concerned that the builders kept leaving the front door open, which was a security risk. This work commenced in November 2014 and is still not complete. Young people and staff alike also get very frustrated with the key fob system in place and it has been a trigger for some of the criminal damage. This is being addressed.

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requires improvement

Staff within the home are expected to undertake general repairs and re-decoration of the home. Realistically, this has not been a priority in recent months. Consequently, young people’s bedrooms, although maintained to a satisfactory standard, are not decorated to their unique tastes. They also do not have a lockable cabinet or drawers to securely store personal items. This was particularly pertinent for one young person whose lock had been broken for two days, so her privacy was compromised. Comments from young people include, ‘I like my bedroom but would prefer to have it painted in my choice of colours’, ‘I’m still waiting for my new blinds to be put up. I’ve waited months. I would love to paint my room’, and, ‘I like my comfy bed. The colour of my bedroom is okay but I didn’t choose it.’ Judgement grade

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requires improvement

The registered manager of this home is suitably qualified and highly experienced. She is extremely child focussed and leads by example. She has been in this particular post since June 2007 and is not afraid to challenge partner agencies to ensure young people receive the specialist services they require.

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requires improvement

Deputising arrangements in the home are strong. One deputy demonstrated: an excellent insight into the unique and highly complex needs of all of the young people’ and, her ability to constantly reflect and improve upon practices in the home.

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requires improvement

The very recent appointment of a business support officer, albeit for a temporary period, is welcomed by the management team.

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requires improvement

Over the past three years this home has demonstrated a capacity to improve, no requirements or recommendations were made at the last interim inspection on 20 March 2015. The picture at the time of this inspection is markedly different.

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requires improvement

Three admissions and three discharges in less than four months have resulted in a particularly unsettled period. This was heightened when the home report that they were instructed to admit a high profile young person who continued to commit offences in the community and caused extensive damage in the home. In response, the management team developed more robust impact risk assessments in full consultation with missing from home co-ordinators and the specialist child sexual exploitation team. Since that time, a number of referrals have been refused to enable the current group of young people to settle and positively engage. However, staff report there is increased pressure to fill the two empty beds to meet demand and to remain financially viable.

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requires improvement

There has been no recruitment of permanent staff within this local authority for a number of years. This is now a high priority on the strategic agenda. For this home it has resulted in using agency staff for the first time to ensure high staffing ratios. However, this presents its’ own challenges in trying to build trusting relationships with young people and ensuring consistent practices.

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requires improvement

The permanent staff team have completed the required qualifications for their respective roles and benefit from ongoing relevant training opportunities. They also confirm high satisfaction with the frequency and quality of the supervision and support they receive and confirmed that their annual appraisals celebrate their strengths and identify areas to develop. Those who returned Ofsted surveys in April said they really enjoy their work but, ’We are going through a very challenging time.’ This has not dissipated and is testament to the resilience and commitment of the team. In fact, they are nominated for team of the year within this large local authority.

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requires improvement

The registered manager acknowledges that in providing excellent support to her staff over the last few months to manage frequent crises and meet the highly complex and competing individual needs of the young people, it has been to the detriment of some managerial responsibilities. This includes the stringent monitoring of young people’s records. Also, the last internal report evaluating the quality of care provided in the home did not include any lessons learned from the significant ongoing consultations with young people.

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requires improvement

A new children’s guide has been developed with some young people since the last inspection. Their comments include, ‘It is a lively home and amazing’, ‘You get a high standard of care and the staff are always happy to help. They relate to your problems’ and, ‘When I was admitted staff welcomed me and made me recognise that I wasn’t alone.’

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requires improvement

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 in a timely manner. Although this is a regulatory shortfall it does not have a negative impact on young people.

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requires improvement

Senior managers are currently discussing how to ensure that the person appointed to undertake external monitoring visits to the home is sufficiently independent. They fully accept that the current arrangements could lead to a conflict of interest that might appear to compromise the ability of that person to reach a rigorous and impartial judgement on the quality of care provided. Also, the reports forwarded to Ofsted since the last inspection do not consistently demonstrate consultations with young people’s families.

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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

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

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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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