Children's Home run by Lancashire County Council 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 sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All the young people are happy, settled and feel safe and secure at this home. They enjoy sound relationships with the staff and their peers. Comments from young people include, ‘All the staff are very friendly and I get good support. I get on well with the other young people and I really like my keyworkers’, ‘It’s a home not a children’s home. There are boundaries but they are fair. If young people kick off I just walk away. It doesn’t bother me. My home life was hectic so it’s calmer here’ and, ‘The manager is firm but fair and he and all the staff will go out of their way to take me to see family and friends and pick up me up again most days. Sometimes another young person who I am friends with at the home comes with me.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A key strength of this home is ensuring that all the young people benefit from constructive contact with family and friends. Since the last inspection the staff were instrumental in successfully re-establishing positive contact with one young person’s brother before he was discharged to secure family support long term. Two young people admitted since the last full inspection made a positive choice to move to this home to be closer to their families and friends. One parent confirmed, ‘I am very happy with the care my daughter receives and I am kept well informed of her progress. I am satisfied with everyone I have come into contact with at this home.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person was only at the home for a few days until an appropriate long term placement was found. He was struggling with the family rejection and his reaction was to go missing on three occasions. Robust processes ensured that he was soon located and was returned safe and well from his family home. However, records show that independent return interviews are not consistently undertaken in a timely manner to explore ways of trying to prevent a re-occurrence.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person with extremely complex needs specifically asked to return to this home on release from secure saying it was the only home that had never given up on him. He settled quickly and initially enjoyed feeling safe being a child again and was taking part in age appropriate and constructive activities. However, he was able to manipulate other young people into causing significant disruptions especially at night. This culminated in a serious incident and the placement was disrupted. While the home had robust contingency arrangements in place for a new placement which reduced the risks to the group, a lack of detail within compatibility impact risk assessments and belated completion of the same meant that some pre-placement processes were weak.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person has made excellent progress from his starting point in respect to building trusting relationships and developing appropriate routines. Prior to admission he had a history of going missing and putting himself in unsafe situations. In response, this home negotiated extended time with friends and overnight stays. He is very pleased about this and it has proved highly effective in stopping missing from home incidents. To his credit he has also developed the emotional resilience to remove himself from negative pulls in the community by frequently asking staff to, ‘bring me home’ early. This comment alone demonstrates his strong sense of belonging.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is clear evidence of effective partnership working to safeguard and protect young people. Recent examples include, serving a harbouring notice and the successful prosecution of a perpetrator. Following consultations, they now have direct access to the specialist child sexual exploitation team. Previously staff were experiencing delays referring through young people’s social workers, so this process has significantly strengthened and helps manage the risks for those young people at risk in this area.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This experienced and competent staff team advocate strongly for young people to receive the most appropriate educational provision to meet their assessed needs. Since the last inspection they are also working much closer with the virtual school to challenge decisions by one particular specialist school to send pupils home when they cannot manage their behaviours. The staff will now insist on clear documentation from the school to justify this. They also provide additional support within the school if needed to meet young people’s unique and highly complex emotional, behavioural and learning needs. This is to try to prevent exclusions and help young people to reach their full potential. As a direct result one young person has recently gained the highest marks in the class in her English and mathematics GCSE mock examinations.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Another young person who had not been in an educational setting for five years prior to admission is now studying health and social care at college and has positive future ambitions. She is also enjoying working on a structured preparation for independence programme. These are outstanding outcomes.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Placing authorities consistently confirm high satisfaction with the quality of care provided at this home. Examples of particular good practice include, ‘This team supported my young person very well through a difficult time and into independence’, ‘This is an excellent placement. They manage difficult behaviours well and encourage hobbies and interests’, ‘They are quick at spotting any safeguarding issues, inform relevant agencies and implement appropriate strategies. Communication is very positive’, ‘Young people see this as their home and the staff do not give up on them. They provide a high standard of care. They manage challenging behaviours and risks really well and show commitment to young people’ and, ‘Their ability to compromise with young people whilst maintaining safety is a strong point. ’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home has been significantly refurbished since the last inspection on 12 August 2015 and young people were actively involved in choosing the décor and new furniture. They also changed round the dining room and lounge at young people’s request. This means they can now enjoy more privacy when ‘chilling.’ Health and safety was given high priority throughout and the staff and builders went to great lengths to keep disruption to a minimum. Young people really like their new bedrooms which are highly personalised and they now have their own new large screen televisions which they specifically requested.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s opinions and feelings are central to the day-to-day running of the home, which makes them feel valued. For example, one young person, by choice, is the first to live in the one of the four new semi-independence flats. These are tastefully decorated and furnished to a high standard. This has enabled her to budget, shop for and cook meals with the security of continued advice and support from the staff. Consequently, she is now ready, and looking forward to moving into her own flat in the local community.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A significant development since the last inspection is securing the independence of monthly monitoring visits. All their reports conclude that the young people are effectively safeguarded and their welfare is promoted in partnership with a wide range of relevant agencies. The most recent report concludes, ‘This stable and consistent staff team is providing a very high standard of individualised care to all the young people living there.‘

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager’s six monthly monitoring report on the quality of care provided in the home is detailed and analytical. It is an honest reflection of the many strengths of this home and the areas for continued development. It also shows robust monitoring of patterns and trends. For example, although one young person in particular, continues to be restrained, the frequency and duration has significantly reduced. The records clearly demonstrate that the least restrictive hold is used and for the shortest time possible. In many cases it involves effectively guiding young people away from unsafe situations.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The use of sanctions has also continued to reduce. Those used are appropriate and proportionate to the particular misdemeanour. Rather, the emphasis is on rewarding positive behaviours and effort, which is demonstrably having the desired effect. In turn, this is boosting young people’s confidence and self-esteem so they are now experiencing pride in their achievements, which is significant progress.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The one requirement raised at the last full inspection has been satisfactorily addressed in that the manager’s report includes outcomes of consultations with children and stakeholders. This demonstrates that their views are considered as part of the continuous improvements to the service offered. The managers have also redesigned and sent out questionnaires to parents and social workers and have undertaken a staff consultation. These responses are now being collated to inform the next report.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people benefit from being well cared for by a particularly stable staff team who are very happy in their respective roles and confirm good support and training. Eight weekly staff development days are now firmly established to ensure consistency of care and shared responsibility and accountability in respect to continual improvements.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One relatively new member of staff said, ‘I love it here and I am doing my qualification with ten others so I get good support from them and the team.’ Permanent contracts for some staff have been secured since the last inspection which is a strong motivator. The business support officer is now confident and competent in her role and is proving to be an asset in continually improving systems and documentation.

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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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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

 Ensure when a young person returns to the home after going missing that they have the opportunity for an independent return interview. The home should then take account of the information provided by such interviews when re-assessing risks and putting any new arrangements in place to protect the young person. (The Guide, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

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Recommendations

 Demonstrate that placements are only accepted when the home is satisfied that they can respond effectively to their assessed needs and after fully considering the impact that placement will have on the existing group of young people living there (The Guide, page 56, paragraph 11.4)

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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

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

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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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