Children's Home run by Lancashire County Council in Lancashire

Good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children's home provision is good because:

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

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The children's home provision is good 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 good because:

 Staff place the well-being of individual children and young people at the centre of their practice, irrespective of the significant challenges they may present.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 This competent staff team are highly skilled at securing good partnership working with resistant families which in turn positively promotes young people’s sense of identity.

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The children's home provision is good 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 that will realise their full potential and they all enjoy constructive contact with family and friends.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Excellent multi agency working has successfully brought a perpetrator to justice.

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The children's home provision is good 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 good because:

 Young adults who have successfully moved on into independent living are secure in the knowledge of ongoing practical and emotional support from this staff team.

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The children's home provision is good because:

To meet regulation, the manager’s review report on the quality of care provided in the home must include an evaluation of the views of young people, their parents, placing authorities and staff.

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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 that the manager’s review report on the quality of care provided in the home includes an evaluation of the views of young people, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45(5)) 30 November

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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 children and young people at any given time 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

19/03/2015 CH - Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

31/03/2014 CH - Interim Inadequate Progress

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good

This service excels at providing a warm, nurturing, homely environment and this experienced staff team have the proven ability to establish open and honest relationships with the young people. Consequently, new admissions settle in quickly and all the young people are happy living at this home. Some attachments are particularly strong. This enables young people to express their feelings and difficulties and to receive the appropriate support required. Consequently, they are gradually coming to terms with past events, gaining a more positive self-view and building emotional resilience to better deal with difficulties in the future.

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good

Comments from young people include, ‘Its mint here. The staff are sound’ and, ‘I am really well cared for and want to stay until I feel ready to move into independence. I get on with all the other young people and my behaviour has improved here. I now have plans to go to college and to have a career in social care. I take part in plenty of activities and see my family and friends all the time.’

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good

Young people’s opinions and feelings are central to the day-to-day running of the home, which makes them feel valued. They positively engage in frequent individual key worker sessions where highly relevant and sensitive issues are fully discussed and in young people’s meetings. The staff are also strong and effective advocates ensuring young people’s wishes are acted upon, if it is in their best interests. Young people know how to formally complain and have direct access to independent advocates should the need arise.

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good

A key strength of this home is successfully ensuring young people receive education that best meets their individual needs so they can reach their full potential. This includes, for example, securing 100% attendance for one young person who had not been in education for two years. The home benefits from a newly developed education room with two computers where young people can choose to study in private.

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good

Young people are treated and respected as individuals in their own right which makes them feel loved and valued. Another key strength of this home is the timely provision of a wide range of relevant specialist services to meet more complex needs. Staff actively promote young people’s good health and ensure timely health checks. The homemade and nutritious meals provided are thoroughly enjoyed by the young people. One young person needs teeth removed but doesn’t want to be awake so the staff have successfully advocated for him to go into hospital.

p.6

good

However, young people still smoke despite financial incentives to stop. This was a habit formed prior to admission. In sharp contrast, some young people have stopped taking illicit drugs altogether since moving to this home and others have significantly decreased their intake. This is noticeably improving their physical health, emotional wellbeing and behaviours.

p.7

good

This staff team are highly skilled at re-establishing and maintaining constructive contact with family and friends which involves frequently transporting young people significant distances. This positively promotes young people’s sense of identity. One young person is now working in his family’s business. The staff also gradually build and secure excellent partnership working with parents and provide them with support. They are involved in care planning so they feel respected and valued. One mum now wants to get involved in the redesign of the gardens. One young person said, ‘When I first came my contact was supervised but now I can see my family and friends whenever I want and we get money for food and transport while we are out so we can go places’.

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good

Young people are offered a wide range of constructive leisure activities. Currently playing board games with staff is proving particularly popular. This is a clear indicator that they feel safe and relaxed in their company. One young person said, ‘I enjoy all the activities. I helped to dig up a tree with staff because we are going to grow our own vegetables. I chose to go to Blackpool with my friend and a member of staff for my birthday treat. It was brilliant.’

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good

Some young people preparing for independence realistically prefer to spend their free-time with friends rather than engage in group activities. One young person said, ‘I am involved in a Church group in my home town where I go with my friends.’

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good

Individual interests and talents are actively encouraged and supported which increases competences and confidence. Examples include, caring for and riding horses, football, guitar playing, singing and fishing.

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good

There are good 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. One young person is thoroughly enjoying planning menus, going food shopping with staff and honing his excellent cooking and baking skills. Two refurbished two bedroomed apartments on site are near completion. This will be an excellent resource for young people ready for more independence.

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good

Staff go to great efforts to try to ensure that young people leave this home in a gradual and positive manner and strong and effective advocacy ensures that their wishes and feelings are realised. So, for example, one young person moved to his sisters and another to a children’s home closer to her family. One young person is currently viewing properties in a location of his choice where he already spends lots of time with family and friends. He is competent at cooking and using public transport so staff are concentrating on helping him to budget.

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good

Young people are feel secure in the knowledge that they can remain here until they feel ready to move into independence. Moreover, the provision of ongoing support to young people is an outstanding feature of this home. This includes a young person studying medicine at University, a young couple with a child and a single young adult working within his chosen career. He said, ‘I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support from the staff here. They are brilliant. I also don’t need anger management sessions anymore.’

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good

Social workers and independent reviewing officers are highly complementary about the home and the progress young people are making.

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good

All the young people feel, and are, 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. They also get on well with their peers and confirm that there is no bullying in this home. In fact, one young person requested a return to this home because she felt so safe there. Another young person said, ‘I feel safe here, really like the staff and get on with all the other young people.’

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good

This particularly stable staff team provide much needed consistency in their previously chaotic lives and the manager gives priority to his team spending quality time with young people. Consequently, they demonstrate an excellent understanding of young people’s unique and highly complex needs.

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good

Staff have established highly effective working relationships with all relevant agencies to try to protect young people from all forms of harm. Managers attend monthly meetings with the police to share local intelligence. Staff also have direct access to a social worker specialising in the reduction of child sexual exploitation. It is outstanding that staff’s vigilance has recently led to a successful prosecution of a perpetrator. Police have also acknowledged that risks of child sexual exploitation have significantly reduced for two young people since moving to this home.

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good

The staff have successfully worked through a particularly challenging few months. This is testament to their commitment and resilience to ensure one young person remained until the right specialist placement was secured. His social worker said, ‘The quality of care at this home is excellent and the manager and staff are brilliant. They did a fantastic job helping him through some extreme challenges. He was more settled there than anywhere he has been previously.’

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good

Increased staffing and reduced numbers of young people living at the home during this unsettled period ensured that all the other young people were kept safe and could still take part in their chosen activities. An independent reviewing officer particularly highlighted the fact that, ‘The staff in this home do not give up on the young people no matter how difficult their behaviours.’ A social worker stressed, ‘I am aware of a very disruptive period two months ago yet the staff made sure my young person was okay throughout. They are a really good staff team and keep me up to date daily.’

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good

Young people continually learn strategies to protect themselves when online or in the community and how to try to manage their mixed emotions. Staff also have the confidence and competence to empower young people to take age appropriate risks necessary for their continual development into adulthood. In particular, they all enjoy time with their family and friends. One young person said, ‘Staff provide transport if we’re good and we keep our phone on. If we abuse their trust we can still go out but we have to use public transport which is fair.’

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good

Despite some very complex histories, incidents of going missing have ceased altogether for some young people and have significantly reduced in frequency and duration for others. Young people are warmly received on their safe return. One young person said, ‘I only ran off because I wanted to get some tobacco but then I wanted to return because it was freezing so I came back. I was not scared to return and I was treated the same when I came back.’

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good

There was an increase in missings in March as one young person was not returning from free-time with friends, so this home secured a placement for her in the area of her choice. When the older young people stay over at friends they do not perceive themselves as missing, but are embarrassed to have their friend’s homes checked. In response, the staff are currently negotiating a safe compromise with their social workers.

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good

This staff team reward good behaviour, progress and effort, which is having the desired effect. For example, previous offending behaviours have ceased in this home and one young person successfully managed to self-regulate his temper. The few sanctions imposed for unacceptable behaviours are more creative, relevant and time-limited.

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good

Comments from young people include, ‘I love it that my good behaviours are rewarded. I had a lovely day out’ , ‘I really enjoyed going with my friends to a football match to see my favourite team’, ‘I went swimming and staff bought me some goggles because I was well good’ and, ‘I managed not to break anything for a week and I got some fishing gear. I felt really good about myself.’

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good

Staff frequently safely and effectively manage some highly complex and challenging behaviours without resorting to physical interventions. All the staff who completed an Ofsted survey ‘strongly agreed’ that the training and support they receive helps them to work positively with young people and manage difficult situations well. They also benefit from the expertise of the manager who provides behaviour management training for residential workers throughout this large local authority.

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good

Requesting police intervention is also a rare occurrence, therefore young people are not unnecessarily criminalised. Moreover, an increased use of appropriate restorative practices are effectively developing young people’s sense of personal responsibility and reducing the need for formal police interventions.

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good

All the required external and internal health and safety checks are undertaken in a timely manner to ensure a safe and well-maintained home. This is a large property with great potential that is currently undergoing a complete refurbishment. This is being managed very well in respect to both safety and security. Young people are actively involved in choosing décor and furnishings so there is real excitement and a strong sense of ownership.

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good

The stringent selection and recruitment processes in place ensure a safe and competent workforce. Judgement grade

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good

This home demonstrates a good capacity to improve based on previous Ofsted judgements and developments since the last interim inspection on 19 March 2015. No requirements or recommendations were made.

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good

It is very well managed by a qualified, highly experienced and child-focussed individual who provides clear direction, supervision and support to his staff. He has an appropriately calm and reflective manner. In the eighteen months in this post he has gradually and sensitively made improvements to the systems, documentation and practices in the home. Moreover, he actively involves his 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. He leads by example and is held in high regard by his team.

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good

This home has a full complement of staff. Notably one individual has chosen to increase to full time hours because she likes the way the service is progressing under this manager’s leadership. The new business support officer is described as, ‘Worth her weight in gold’ and is developing the systems already in place. Recently she has set up a training matrix which flags up when refreshers are due.

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good

The home is always very well staffed to safeguard and promote the welfare of all the young people and to effectively meet their unique and highly complex needs and personal preferences.

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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 and their own professional development needs. For example, one individual who wishes to progress into management, is undertaking relevant courses and is supervising staff.

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good

Team members also champion specific key areas to ensure they remain high on everyone’s agenda. Examples include promoting education, safe administration of medication and effective behaviour management. Handovers are conducted very professionally and demonstrate highly individualised and consistent care.

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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. Staff feel comfortable to explore issues openly and honestly in team meetings thus ensuring an agreed and consistent approach to meeting individual young people’s needs. Young people’s suggestions also inform the staff team meeting agenda.

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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, their parents, placing authorities and staff.

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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. A user friendly children's guide is also given to young people prior to admission. This means they are well informed about the services provided and the expectations on their behaviour.

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good

Notifications are forwarded to Ofsted in a timely manner of serious incidents. These show that appropriate action is taken, in full collaboration with relevant safeguarding agencies, to safeguard and protect the welfare of the young people and strategies put in place to try to prevent a re-occurrence.

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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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