Children's Home run by Lytham Care Limited in Knowsley

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:

 Young people make good progress in relation to their individual starting points across most aspects of their welfare, physical, emotional, social, educational and behavioural development. They have exceptionally good relationships with staff and they build and sustain their positive attachments.  Care planning is well planned and practice is highly individualised to meet the needs of individual young people. Young people say that they enjoy living at the home and have a strong sense of belonging. Young people’s views about their care and their relationships with staff are consistently and exceptionally positive.  Staff provide young people with continuity of care, so that they have consistency and stability in their lives. Young people benefit from effective, good-quality support from staff that contributes to change and improvement in their lives.  Staff consistently place the safety of young people at the centre of their

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The children's home provision is good because:

practice. They protect them from abuse, exploitation and bullying and all other forms of significant harm. Young people become increasingly safer as a result of the actions that staff take to support and protect them. Young people are kept safe and have a strong sense of personal safety.  Young people enjoy good health and benefit from the services that they need to promote their physical and emotional well-being. Staff work closely with other professionals to ensure that young people benefit from the best possible help and all round support.  Overall, the performance of the home is managed effectively by a suitably qualified and experienced registered manager who demonstrates effective leadership of the home.  There is one requirement and a number of recommendations made as a result of this inspection.

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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 within the given timescales.

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40: Notification of a serious event

The registered manager must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— (a) a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation; (b) an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious; (c) there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there; (d) a child protection enquiry involving a child— (i) is instigated; or (ii) concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or (e) there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)). 1 August 2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  Ensure that children should be in full-time education while they are of compulsory school age, unless their personal education plan contained within the care plan or other relevant plan states otherwise. The home must aim to support full-time attendance at school unless the child's relevant plan indicates that this is not in their best interests (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.14).  Ensure that the home is well maintained and homely. Specifically, in relation to replacing the stained carpets on the stairs and ensuring that there is an effective programme of redecoration and repair (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9).  Ensure that children are offered a wide range of activities both inside and

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Recommendations

outside of the home (where appropriate) and are encouraged to participate in those activities (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 30, paragraph 6.5).  Ensure that a record of supervision should be kept for staff, including the manager. The record should provide evidence that supervision is being delivered in line with regulation (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.3).  Ensure that staff have their performance and fitness to carry out their role formally appraised at least once annually. This appraisal should take into account, where reasonable and practical, the views of other professionals who have worked with the staff member over the year and children in the home's care (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.5).  Should oversee the welfare of the children in their care through observation and

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Recommendations

engagement with each child, the home's staff, each child's family/carers where appropriate and professionals involved in the care or protection of each child including their social worker, independent reviewing officer, teachers, clinicians and other health professionals, as part of the home's external and independent monitoring activities (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.23).  Under regulation 46, the registered person should review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises at least once a year. The review should include the identification of any risks and opportunities presented by the home’s location and strategies for managing these. (Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards, page 64, paragraph 15.1).

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Information about this children's home

 The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to five young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and learning disabilities.  The home is privately owned and managed.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

17 February 2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

5 January 2015 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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Good

Young people who are new to the home have settled in quickly and have been made to feel welcome. Both current young people have positive views about the home. Another young person’s placement was ended very recently, due to the intensity of their disruptive and challenging behaviour. Consequently, the home has endured some disruption and instability. However, a change in the group dynamic has brought about stability and young people are safer as a result. The home’s leadership has placed temporary restrictions on any new admissions to the home. This is a good opportunity for staff to regroup, reflect and learn lessons from this experience. Young people report, ‘It’s boring now he’s gone, but I understand why he had to be moved. When he was here the mood was very different. I was joining in because I wanted to fit in.’ Young people benefit from well-planned, highly personalised care that contributes to change and improvement in their lives. Young people make good progress,

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Good

taking into account their individual starting points across most aspects of their lives. They enjoy exceptionally good relationships with staff and they sustain their positive attachments. Young people have stability and consistency in their lives. Social workers report, ‘I feel that the home is a great setting. The staff are very supportive of the young person. The young person talks positively about the staff she has formed positive relationships with. The young person talks about activities which she has enjoyed. I feel that the setting is providing stability and consistency for the young person and that it is making a difference to the young person. The young person appears to have grown in confidence since residing at the placement.’ Young people report, ‘The staff are really good and they are understanding. Staff are dead caring and all of the staff are sound. It’s the staff that make this place

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Good

good. They’re fair and lenient. I wouldn’t change anything in this home.’ Staff are positive role models that the young people look up to and learn from. They involve young people in key decisions, listen to their views and encourage them to express themselves as individuals. Staff address young people’s needs and concerns and act on all of their reasonable requests. As a result, young people feel valued, empowered and listened to. Young people know how to make a complaint and their rights are promoted effectively. Young people report, ‘I haven’t got any complaints. If I have a problem I can talk to staff. This has been a great experience for me… The staff here care. You can ask all of the kids here. They treat us like family and bend over backwards for us. It’s brought the better out in me. They’ve helped me realise what I’ve got. I have a strong bond with the staff.’ There are effective arrangements to promote young people’s good health. Young

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Good

people are registered with doctors, dentists and opticians and have access to these services, including specialist services, if they need them. Consequently, they benefit from the services that they need to promote their physical and emotional well-being. Staff advise young people about key health issues and encourage them to lead and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Medical consent is in place so that staff are clear about what health decisions and responsibilities are delegated to them. Young people attend school, college or alternative educational provision with good support and encouragement from staff. The home works closely with the providers of young people’s education to promote their regular attendance. School leavers are supported to further their education and training so that they have the skills, qualifications and training that they need to pursue their aspirations and goals. However, some young people attend education part time and this is currently less

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Good

than 25 hours a week. Consequently, there are young people who may need additional educational support to promote and improve their educational achievement. Young people are provided with positive activities to develop their particular interests and hobbies. However, the amount of planned weekly activities has decreased and staff say that they would like to see more planned activities for young people. The home has recently purchased a caravan for young people to use during the weekends and school holidays. Staff promote contact and maintain positive relationships with young people’s friends and families. As a result, young people are supported to sustain their close relationships with the people who are most important to them. Staff allow young people to take appropriate risks to promote their growth and natural development. Young people develop practical skills in shopping, cooking and budgeting and staff ensure eligible care leavers have pathway plans to

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Good

promote their readiness for independence.

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Good

Staff have a good understanding of the needs and vulnerabilities of the young people and they take appropriate action to address them. Risks associated with young people are well known and understood by staff. The use of clear risk assessment and individualised behaviour management strategies promote the safety and well-being of young people. Social workers report, ‘His behaviours have been much worse in other placements. The only stability he has in his life is provided by the home. He has genuinely got good relationships with staff. They do some good work with him and go the extra mile. As soon as there’s an issue, they let me know and they are very proactive in keeping his father informed also. I don’t have any concerns or complaints about the home.’ There is evidence of change and improvement in the lives of young people. For example, risk-taking behaviours such as offending, going missing from care for

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Good

long periods of time, self-harm and alcohol and drug misuse have decreased considerably and young people are less likely to suffer actual harm. Staff promote young people’s positive behaviour through positive relationships, targeted incentives, praise, encouragement and rewards. The consequences for unacceptable behaviour are fair and the use of sanctions is kept to a minimum. Restraint is rare and it is only ever used as a last resort to protect young people from accident, harm or injury. There have been no restraints since the last inspection. Staff are trained in child protection so that they know how to deal with allegations and report suspected abuse. The home maintains effective partnerships with the police and other safeguarding agencies to keep young people safe from harm. Staff are vigilant about the risks of young people being exploited and provide advice to them about internet safety and staying safe. There are no current

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Good

concerns with young people being exploited or bullied. Young people report, ‘I have lived here for two months. It’s alright but I’d rather be at home. They take me to visit my mum. Everyone treats you nice like, all the kids and no one bullies you. It’s a bit mad and wild sometimes. It feels like home, but it’s not, if you get what I mean. Everyone cares about you here. They’re like a second family.’ When young people go missing, or are absent without authority, staff follow the home’s procedures to promote their safe return. Return home interviews are requested and these are held on their return. This enables staff to understand and identify the real reasons why young people go missing. As a result, they can take appropriate action to minimise the risk and protect them. Each young person has a missing from care risk assessment that details their particular vulnerabilities and how staff should respond. There is evidence to show that the frequency with which

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Good

young people go missing is reducing. The local police report, ‘I would say as the neighbourhood sergeant for the police station that incorporates the home that we have a good relationship with Pam and her staff. We call at the home on regular occasions when asked and without prior invitation and are always welcomed. I am aware they do have problems with some of the children reported as missing.’ Judgement grade

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Requires improvement

The home employs a well-qualified and suitably experienced registered manager who oversees the day-to-day operations of the home. The home also employs one senior worker and is currently in the process of recruiting another to ensure that there are sufficient shift leaders and staff employed to meet the needs and numbers of young people at the home. Staff have access to good-quality training to develop their own knowledge, skills and professional practice. There is a diverse range of training available for staff’s continuing development. However, some staff are not receiving regular, professional supervision or having an annual appraisal. Consequently, they are not receiving the support that they need to reflect on their own practice, performance and development. Staff’s efforts and enthusiasm are not being channelled effectively. The registered manager was not present during this inspection. However, a senior

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Requires improvement

leader was deputising in their absence. There is evidence to show that the registered manager makes positive use of the home’s monitoring activities to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the service. Combined with the home’s independent monitoring activities there are appropriate systems for reviewing the standard and quality of young people’s care. However, independent monitoring visits do not routinely take account of the views of staff, young people, social workers and other relevant people to form an accurate opinion about the quality of young people’s care. Significant incidents are reported to the appropriate authorities charged with a duty to protect young people. However, some incident reports had not been sent to one placing authority in a timely manner and there was a delay in Ofsted being notified of a significant event. Failure to report such matters promptly, potentially compromises the safety of young people. Consequently, a requirement is made in

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Requires improvement

respect of this issue. Following on from a significant incident, the home has met with the placing authority, reviewed its risk assessment and security arrangements. The police were informed about a serious event and appropriate action was taken to safeguard and protect the young people. The home meets the aims and objectives of its statement of purpose and clear, detailed development plans are in place to promote the home’s development and improvement. The home has completed a safe location area report to ensure that risks and opportunities associated within its locality are reported. While, the assessment is useful, the level of detail regarding the location’s opportunities could be improved. The home has addressed the recommendations from the last inspection by reviewing young people’s missing from care risk assessments, behaviour management plans and a health and safety matter. However, one recommendation

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Requires improvement

was not addressed fully and is consequently repeated. This relates specifically to replacing the heavily stained carpets in the home. The accommodation provided for young people is physically safe and health and safety matters are addressed effectively to promote a physically safe and appropriately secure environment for young people. The home is a large and spacious property with many rooms for many uses, such as an education room, music room, lounge area, games room and so on. However, the lounge area, in particular, would benefit from some redecoration, pictures, soft furnishings and new furniture to make it more personalised, welcoming, comfortable and homely. Staff meet the needs of young people and have developed strong and trusting relationships with them. This is a strong and impressive feature of this home. Young people report, ‘This is the longest and best placement I’ve been in. It has its

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Requires improvement

ups and downs, don’t get me wrong, but I have never been so comfortable. It’s the best placement I’ve been in by far. I’m a good judge of character. I have lived here a year and a half and that’s judging by my experience. When I first came here I wasn’t in a good place. Now I’ve got into college. I would definitely, 100% say, this is a good home.’

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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 that 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

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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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