Children's Home run by Choices 4 Children Limited in Lancashire

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has declined in effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection three young people have been admitted to the home and three young people discharged. The registered manager has failed to consider the security of the group when accepting new admissions or whether staff are able to meet young people’s needs. Consequently there has been an impact on group living from new arrivals to the home which has resulted in their placements ending prematurely due to instability within the home. The registered manager has admitted young people to the home with diverse needs. This has not promoted their welfare or achieved positive relationships with each other. For example, young people with limited verbal abilities and learning disabilities are placed with young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties including risk taking associated with offending and lack of self-regulation of behaviour.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people have been restrained infrequently since the last inspection. Staff ensure that all appropriate details are recorded. However, the registered manager has not ensured that staff are debriefed following the use of restraint or that he has spoken to young person about being held and recorded their views. This represents lost opportunities to support young people to understand why they have been held and to develop alternative strategies to self-regulate their behaviour. A young person said: ’I was restrained in the kitchen, it was a while ago, I don’t know why.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff work in partnership with professional stakeholders and families to ensure young people receive consistent care in line with their care plans. This includes youth offending services, virtual school head teachers and schools. They promote contact with young people’s families, where that is safe and in their best interests, ensuring that they maintain their identity and relationships. A parent said; ‘All the staff are easy to talk to and always have the child’s best interest at heart and would put themselves out to achieve it.’ The home is welcoming and photographs and toys evidence young people’s personal investment. The home is well- maintained and provides a safe environment for young people. A young person said:’ It’s alright here. I feel safe.’ Some young people make progress from their starting points. This represents significant progress for them. For example, some young people increase their

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

verbal skills and some young people are able to stop mis-using drugs. Staff spend time with young people and are interested in their lives. They involve young people in planning their meals and activities. However, young people’s views about their care is not actively sought to inform reviews of quality of care or staff appraisals. The young people’s meeting is very brief and one young person who has limited verbal skills is not included. This does not ensure that young people’s views are central to the running of the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff team is small and therefore provides continuity of care for young people. A social worker commented: ’Staff do everything they can for my young person. They are nurturing and caring.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff understand what to do when a young person is missing and they look for them and try to maintain contact with them. The frequency of missing incidents reduces as the group dynamic evolves and young people move on. The recording of missing incidents is thorough to the point young people return. However, staff do not record whether safe and well checks have taken place or whether return interviews have been offered or have taken place. This means that opportunities are lost to inform the strategic response to missing behaviour.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection there were several requirements and recommendations made. The registered manager has made progress in addressing some of these but others remain outstanding. There are not effective systems in place to monitor and review the quality of care provided. Without initial impact risk assessments there is no baseline for him to review progress and incidents, such as missing and restraints, are not evaluated to identify pattern or trends with which to inform practice. The registered manager has not consulted with young people, staff, placing authorities or parents about the quality of care provided in order to identify the home’s strengths and weaknesses and a clear action plan. The registered manager has not ensured that the independent visitor’s opinion about whether the home safeguards young people or promotes their welfare is included within their report so that any shortfalls are clearly identified. These deficits prevent the home

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are several shortfalls in leadership and management within the home. There is no record that the registered manager has received supervision for three months. This does not promote his professional development or provide him with the necessary support and guidance. Staff records of supervision do not match with the registered manager’s matrix of completed supervisions. The registered manager does not ensure that the home’s statement of purpose is up to date and includes all the relevant details, including the home’s use of monitoring and surveillance. This prevents placing authorities and commissioners, as well as Ofsted, from having clear information about how the home is operating.

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Information about this children's home

This is a private children’s home that provides care and accommodation for up to four children with learning disabilities and 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

05/02/2015 CH - Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

21/01/2014 CH - Interim Satisfactory progress

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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

7: The children's views, wishes and feelings standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the children’s views, wishes and feelings standard the registered provider must ensure that staff:- 2(c)(iv) regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home’s care. 11/04/2016

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the positive relationship standard the registered provider must ensure that:- 2(b) each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. 11/04/2016

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard the registered provider must ensure the: -

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Requirement Due date

2(h) use of monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. 11/04/2016

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Requirement Due date

In order to ensure the care planning standard is met the registered provider must ensure:- 1(a) children receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and (b) have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. 11/04/2016 2(b) that arrangements are in place to – (i) ensure the effective induction of each child into the home.

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1 and must keep the statement of purpose under review and notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days. (Regulation 16 (1) and (3)(b)) 11/04/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must ensure that all employees receive practice-related supervision. (Regulation 33(4)(b)) 11/04/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must prepare and implement a policy setting out the procedures to be followed, and the roles and responsibilities of persons working at the home, in relation to a child who is, or has been, absent.(Regulation 34(4)(b)) 11/04/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that within 48 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so, has spoken to the user about the measure and has signed the record to confirm it is accurate. The registered person must ensure that within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35(3)(b-c) 11/04/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the independent person’s report sets out the independent person’s opinions as to whether children are effectively safeguarded and the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being. (Regulation 44(4)) 11/04/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating the quality of care provided for children, the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, it’s facilities and the quality of care they receive in it and any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. The system established must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45(2) and(5)) 11/04/2016

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection 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

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 focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

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 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

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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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