Children's Home run by Lancashire County Council in Lancashire

This monitoring visit

This home was judged to be inadequate at the last full inspection which concluded on 2 June 2016. Following the consequent case review, two compliance notices were served in respect to education and safeguarding. This monitoring visit was undertaken to explore the home’s response to this enforcement action.

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This monitoring visit

Positive steps have been taken to reduce risk and improve educational attendance and achievements. Two young people have recently moved into semi- independence in line with their care plan so there are currently three young people in placement. A senior manager confirmed that they have no intention of admitting to this home until they have benefitted from a sustained period of stability. Consequently, levels of disruption are not as high, and young people are beginning to invest in this placement. An example of this is young people helping staff to redecorate the home throughout putting their artistic talents to good use. Consequently, all the bedrooms are highly personalised. One young person said, ‘I am happy and feel safe now because there is no more criminal damage and the home is nicely decorated again. I helped to do my room and choose my bedding so I really like it. I am excited because I now have my own patch to grow fruit and

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This monitoring visit

A robust system of daily bedroom checks has been re-established to ensure they are kept clean and free from any avoidable health and safety risks. Also, records now clearly evidence that fire safety procedures are stringently adhered to in order to adequately protect against the risk of fire.

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This monitoring visit

At the last inspection the manager expressed concern that she may have to use agency staff to ensure good ratios on duty at all times, given the significant and sustained challenging behaviours from the young people. A reduction in young people has meant this has not been necessary. This means young people continue to be cared for by a very experienced and competent staff team who have demonstrated resilience in safeguarding young people and promoting their welfare.

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This monitoring visit

All the staff have now completed online awareness training in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and a mental health nurse is providing further training on 4 August 2016. The managers have also ensured they can access ongoing advice from specialist workers to ensure safe and effective strategies. One member of staff said, ‘At the last inspection we had exhausted the strategies used. Two young people leaving has made a real difference. Also, one young person has tuition outside the home to avoid any distractions which also means that the other young person concentrates better.’

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This monitoring visit

Following the last inspection, the manager escalated her concerns to the director of children services about: the lack of timely independent return interviews by a young person’s social worker; and, the poor quality of those that were on the system. Nine had not been completed in June. There are now three outstanding. Going forward, there is now a change of social worker who is pro-active and works in partnership with the home. Moreover, the wider organisation has recently restructured. This means there is now a dedicated team of social workers for looked after children.

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This monitoring visit

This home have established an excellent working relationship with the police. Relevant intelligence is shared and harbouring notices served to safeguard young people living in the home and in the community. The police have confirmed that the address one young person is currently spending time at does not pose any known risks.

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This monitoring visit

This young person does not perceive himself as being at risk because he says he is ‘just chilling with friends’ or ‘playing computer games with my dad.’ He said, ‘This is my home and I feel safe here and I just want to be near my dad who is not very well. I don’t see myself as missing.’ In response, the staff actively promote daily positive contact with his dad. Friends are also invited to the home. This means he is now coming in on time. Moreover, his cannabis use has significantly reduced. This is having a marked effect on his physical health, emotional well-being and behaviours. He said, ‘Since I was told I might be moved I have stopped going missing. When I’m out I now ring to say I am safe and I come in before 11pm and settle to bed. I am really trying hard’.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection staff have discussed and agreed with young people the rules, boundaries and expectations of the home. Individualised behaviour support plans have also been reviewed in consultation with young people and restraint records have markedly improved. In particular, they now clearly demonstrate timely de-briefs with young people to try to prevent a re-occurrence. There is also clear evidence of robust evaluation by a manager in respect of confirming safe and proportionate use. Records show that the least restrictive intervention is always used after exhausting de-escalation techniques. Most commonly staff effectively guide a young person away from an unsafe situation.

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This monitoring visit

In the last five weeks this home have taken effective steps to ensure that young people are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe within the home and when enjoying independence in the community with family and friends.

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This monitoring visit

In relation to education, all five young people in placement at the full inspection have since increased their attendance and demonstrated educational progress from their individual starting points. There are also appropriate plans in place to build on this success from the start of the new academic term in September.

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This monitoring visit

One young person had poor school attendance prior to moving to this home. Since the last inspection her school have complimented the home’s staff for supporting her to maintain excellent attendance and to complete all her GCSEs. This renewed commitment also secured her attendance at her prom which she was really pleased about. To her credit, from a position of disillusionment, she now has positive future ambitions. She wrote, ‘I have plans now to be a midwife and I know what I have to do with my life to achieve that.’ Funding was agreed in March for a specialist residential school placement for one young person to try to keep him safe and to meet his specific educational needs. However, to date, despite extensive searches, including approaching 15 ‘non- preferred providers’ and offering additional funding and outreach from the home’s staff, his referral has been rejected. Feedback is that this is due to his assessed

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This monitoring visit

risks of going missing and the potential negative influence on other young people.

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This monitoring visit

This young person is very clear that he does not want to move and always refers to it as, ‘My home.’ It is located close to his father which is extremely important to him and staff actively encourage him to visit for meals and to share positive activities together. Over the last 10 months he has built up strong, trusting relationships with the staff and he is starting to open up about his past. The staff have also responded quickly and successfully to his recent request to have specialist help with his anxieties and frustrations. He is now taking his medication which improves his sleep patterns and therefore his ability to concentrate in education.

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This monitoring visit

He said, ‘Everything’s a lot better here since one young person left who used to keep us up at night. I am behaving better because I want to stay and I am making more of an effort in my education.’

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This monitoring visit

At the full inspection this young person was only receiving two hours home tuition a week. This has gradually increased and is now eight hours. The tutor is clear this is appropriate given the complexity of his learning and mental health needs. This extract from his most recent education report demonstrates progress from his individual starting point, ‘He demonstrates interest and considerable self -discipline in maths…he enjoys a challenge and likes to succeed and is confident in his ability to perform mental calculations…..he demonstrates excellent logic ……this all has a positive effect on his self-esteem. He could now achieve success at GCSE with the right tuition.’ It is acknowledged that, ‘His behaviour can escalate in an instant to crisis point’ but staff gave a good example of effectively turning this round recently by encouraging him to do some artwork.

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This monitoring visit

Without exception the use of financial incentives to promote good behaviour and effort is having the desired effect on young people’s improved attendance and engagement. One young person said, ‘I do education every day now so I get an extra £5 a week. I saved up my incentive money for a month and bought some track suit bottoms.’

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This monitoring visit

This young person has developed a particularly good relationship with his tutor who is very pleased with his engagement and progress. She said, ‘He has come on in leaps and bounds since I started working with him this January. He is engaging fully and is now back in school one session a week. I incorporate reading into every lesson and his reading age has improved by 12 months in the last four months. We go to the library so he can concentrate and I am now confident that he will behave well when out in the community.’ This has demonstrably increased his self-esteem to the extent that he recently submitted his poetry in a national competition about his experiences in care. He has also successfully secured a place at college from September offering a good balance between practical construction work and academia. He said, ‘ I like my sessions and get on well with my tutor. I am good at technology and mechanical things so now I want to get better at

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This monitoring visit

One young person at the last inspection had completely disengaged from school and his work experience. In sharp contrast, prior to his discharge and with staff support, he successfully completed his foundational examinations in mathematics and English and completed his record of vocational achievements. This has secured him a college course in engineering in September. The staff were strong and effective advocates in ensuring an additional needs package is in place and in re- establishing contact with his mum so he has family support for the future.

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This monitoring visit

At the last inspection one young person was showing little commitment to his sports course which would negatively affect his chances of going to college in September and pursuing his future chosen career prospects. Prior to discharge he successfully completed this football course and has put in a college application to complete foundational studies in mathematics and English. This will improve his career opportunities.

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This monitoring visit

In response to the compliance notice, the staff have successfully ensured that personal education planning meetings have taken place for all the young people. This means that clear actions have been agreed by all relevant parties to continue to promote young people’s educational progress. Also, individualised educational targets are now known to the staff team so they can effectively help young people to achieve them. Moreover, there is now clear documentary evidence of staff helping young people with homework and revision.

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This monitoring visit

This home offers an excellent choice of communal rooms which have all been redecorated so they are inviting rooms to study in. They have also purchased a new computer to support private and independent study. There is also clear documentary evidence of staff helping young people with homework.

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This monitoring visit

A case review was convened on 21 July 2016 where it was decided that the two compliance notices have been met. The home remains inadequate, however, a second full inspection is planned which will review this judgement and the progress and outcomes for young people.

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Information about this children's home

 This is a local authority home which can accommodate up to six young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties  The home can accommodate young people over the age of 18 years within their overall registered numbers.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the home in relation to two compliance notices issued on 17 June 2016. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. 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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