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:

 Young people are happy and settled at this home and express their wish to stay.

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people are well-cared for by an experienced, stable and resilient staff team who continually place the well-being of all the young people at the centre of their practice, irrespective of the significant challenges they present.

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people receive timely provision of appropriate specialist services to meet their more complex needs.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people benefit from consistent and effective de-escalation of their challenging behaviours without being restrained.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 The staff team have established good collaborative working with all relevant agencies to effectively safeguard and protect young people.  Young people re-establish and maintain constructive contact with family and friends in line with any legal directions and personal preferences. This strengthens young people’s understanding of their past, sustains their unique identities and builds emotional resilience.  Positive support is provided to young people who have left the home to ensure they continue to successfully live independently or with their families.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 There are no requirements or recommendations arising from this inspection.

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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 young people who may be experiencing emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 15/07/2016 Monitoring Notices met 02/06/2016 Full Inadequate 13/01/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness 17/07/2015 Full Requires improvement 20/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

p.4

Good

Young people are very happy living at this home. They have built up particularly strong and trusting relationships with the staff and want to stay.

p.5

Good

The staff have ensured that they all benefit from regular constructive contact with their families and friends, thus maintaining a strong sense of identity. For example, they supported one young person through protracted court proceedings to enable her to have contact with her brother. One young person is frequently taken to see his dad to have a hug and say goodnight, so he can settle to bed. Another young person said, ‘I feel so lucky to live here. I have recently started having contact with my older brother and it is going magnificently. Staff took us both to the British superbike championships. It was really good.’

p.5

Good

This staff team treat and respect young people as individuals in their right and provide highly personalised care. For example, one young person struggles to sleep when he is alone at night in his room. Recently, the deputy stayed up all night with him as he openly shared his feelings. This has resulted in the recruitment of waking watch as he said he would feel better if he could sit and chat to someone when he feels anxious.

p.5

Good

In recent months, the staff did some good focussed work with an asylum seeking young person in promoting his heritage and establishing contacts in the community. As a result he is now living independently with appropriate on-going support that meets his specific cultural needs and religious preferences.

p.5

Good

After months of patience and persistence from a committed and stable staff team, all the young people are making good progress from their individual starting points. In particular, their self -esteem and confidence has grown so they now all have positive future ambitions.

p.5

Good

Staff actively encourage and support healthy lifestyles resulting in some good outcomes. For example, one young person no longer consumes alcohol. Another is continuing to reduce his drug habit, which was well established prior to admission. This is positively impacting on his physical and emotional health and his behaviours. It took 12 weeks encouraging one young person to take his prescribed medication which helps him relax and feel less anxious. Incidents of self- harm have ceased altogether in this placement for one young person. Indeed, he is now advising another young peer on other ways to manage emotions. The staff have successfully and sensitively supported young people with genuine fears to: have a dental check; attend all health care appointments; and have all required immunisations.

p.5

Good

There are ample opportunities for young people to positively contribute to decisions about their day-to day lives and futures and towards service development. All reasonable requests are genuinely listened to and acted upon if it is deemed to be in their best interests. One young person requested more key worker sessions, so these were immediately increased to weekly. Other examples include the stop on agency workers and recruiting permanent staff to re-establish consistent care.

p.6

Good

Young people know how to complain and one young person recently chose to complete a ‘niggles form.’ This was taken seriously and strategies put in place to her satisfaction. This demonstrates that young people’s opinions are genuinely valued, which builds their self-esteem.

p.6

Good

All the young people are making good educational progress. For example, six months ago, a specialist school deemed it unsafe to educate one young person in a classroom setting. To his credit, he is now at college. He said, ‘My tutors understand the way I learn. I like being around new people at college who don’t know my past and I want to do myself proud in education and become an engineer.’ A significant development is the staff’s increased confidence to challenge education providers when young people are not receiving appropriate education. This has resulted in bespoke programmes for young people that meet their unique learning, emotional and behavioural needs.

p.6

Good

One young person successfully completed a six-week parenting course, and a sports course prior to discharge, thereby widening his personal skills and career opportunities.

p.6

Good

At the last inspection, one young person had completely disengaged from school and his work experience. In sharp contrast, prior to his discharge and with staff support, he successfully completed his foundation examinations in Mathematics and English and completed his record of vocational achievement. This secured him a college course in engineering which he commenced in September. Moreover, the staff were strong and effective advocates in ensuring an additional needs package was in place and in re-establishing contact with his mum so he has family support for the future.

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Good

One young person had poor school attendance prior to moving to this home. 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 with all her friends which she was really pleased about. She gained nine GCSE’s A-C grades which is an outstanding result. She wrote, ‘I have plans now to be a midwife and I know what I have to do with my life to achieve that.’ Young people still enjoy being out with family and friends, but are noticeably engaging much more in positive activities organised by the staff. Individual interests and talents are actively encouraged and supported to increase confidences and competencies. Examples include photography, cooking, baking, kit cars, bike repairs, taekwondo and art. One young person recently submitted his poetry in a national competition about his experiences in care. Comments include,

p.6

Good

‘My key worker took me to London and we stayed in a really posh hotel and I really enjoyed going out for a nice meal. I chose steak’, ‘We are applying for a passport so I can go abroad soon.’ ‘I like playing golf’ and, ‘Staff took me and my friend go- karting and we had a great time.’

p.7

Good

Staff ensure young people have opportunities to develop the skills and confidence they need to successfully manage their lives as adults. Realistically, for the current group, priority over the last 12 months has been given to settling them, building positive relationships and keeping them safe. Consequently, there has been significant work undertaken to help them learn strategies to protect themselves when out in the community or online. Young people are empowered by staff to make wiser choices in their relationships, through building self-esteem and confidence .Young people’s social skills have demonstrably improved at this home.

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Good

One young person designed and did a presentation about child sexual exploitation to a group of professionals, which is now part of the authority’s mandatory course. Two other young people were involved in staff recruitment. During this inspection, another young person conducted himself exceptionally well at his personal educational planning meeting with six professionals in the room. All these positive experiences demonstrate excellent and improving life skills.

p.7

Good

All the young people are competent using public transport. They now do their own laundry and enjoy cooking. Established practice is to gradually move towards them managing their own budget and planning, shopping and cooking all their own meals. One young person is really excited about the prospect of starting driving lessons which will further increase his independence.

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Good

Consequently, this home have successfully enabled many young people to live independently, secure in the knowledge of continued support from the staff. This is a key strength. Some young people are still being supported years after being discharged, which is exceptional. Individual staff members have been a maid of honour and guests at young people’s weddings and a birthing partner and God parents to young people’s own children. This demonstrates the staff’s ability to nurture strong and lasting attachments.

p.7

Good

One young adult used her expertise to explore with staff how they can continue to improve upon young people’s preparation and transition into independence. Another young person formally recognised for his outstanding educational achievements, openly announced at the awards ceremony, ‘The only person I want to be proud of me is the manager of the children’s home I lived in.’

p.7

Good

Young people feel safe and secure at this home and use every opportunity to voice how much they like this home and want to stay. For one young person the close proximity to his family is really important to him. Another young person said, ‘I like it round here because it feels safe and I have lots of friends. I was always afraid to go out where I used to live.’

p.8

Good

The manager carefully assesses referrals and has stood firm in resisting new admissions, if it was not in the best interests of the young people already in placement. Consequently, there has only been one emergency placement since the last inspection. This is a six bedded home, and currently the home is only accommodating three young people. This was a positive decision, supported by senior managers, to provide staff with an opportunity to gain some stability after a particularly challenging year.

p.8

Good

Staff clearly place the well-being of all the young people at the centre of their practice, irrespective of the challenges they present and their commitment is now resulting in positive experiences and outcomes for the young people, who are noticeably investing in this placement.

p.8

Good

For example, in January this year one member of staff said, ‘If we go one day without a challenge that is progress.’ Now incidents have reduced in frequency and severity and is testament to the staff’s patience and willingness to frequently try new strategies. A social worker said, ‘The staff here support my young person so well and he is doing absolutely fantastic in his behaviours and in education.’ A parent said, ‘I am happy with the way this home looks after my son. The staff are very professional. They do a great job and have a lot of patience.’

p.8

Good

This staff team have the proven ability to work in partnership with young people’s families, some of whom were initially highly resistant. Their feedback is consistently very positive. Recent examples include, ‘I am happy with care provided and I have seen improvements in my brother’s attitude and behaviours. The staff encourage our contact’ and, ‘The staff are professional and we have open and honest communication and include me in my son’s life.’

p.8

Good

The staff use incentives to effectively promote good behaviour and effort. The sanctions imposed are fair and proportionate to the particular misdemeanour. Also, the appropriate use of restorative justice reduces the need for formal police intervention. A recent example was paying towards minor damage caused in the home.

p.8

Good

As young people have felt increasingly more comfortable sharing their intense feelings with staff, there has been less criminal damage in the home. Consequently, it is maintained to a good standard throughout and has a homely ambience. Young people chose the themes for their bedrooms so they are all highly personalised. This home offers a particularly good choice of communal rooms and young people have been actively involved in re-decorating and furnishing the computer room and the games room. Very recently, they have also built a timber frame for their own vegetable patch. This shows they are now taking great pride in their surroundings and reflects their increased sense of belonging.

p.9

Good

This experienced staff team continue to effectively de-escalate some extremely challenging behaviours without the use of restraint. When a physical intervention is necessary, 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.

p.9

Good

All the staff are well trained in safeguarding and child sexual exploitation to ensure they remain vigilant. Professionals are highly complementary about the stalwart efforts of the staff and the particularly good partnership working to protect young people. There have been no allegations or child protection referrals since the last inspection.

p.9

Good

The home has established excellent working relationships with the local police. They constantly share any local intelligence, for example drug dealing hotspots, so they can safeguard and protect all young people. This has resulted in the serving of nine harbouring notices in the last 12 months. The staff will also not hesitate to knock on known drug dealer’s doors, regardless of the hour, to find young people. Moreover, they have purposely established collaborative working relationships with the managers of a local bail hostel and a private landlord. This has successfully prevented a young person staying at inappropriate addresses. The local sergeant said, ‘This staff team effectively respond when young people are missing. There is good multi-agency working. This staff team have a good understanding of the protocols and provide the police with a very detailed and helpful log.’

p.9

Good

One young person continues to be reported missing because he refuses to say where he is. In practice, he is staying at family and friend’s houses, and he has not been involved in any criminal activity. Also, overall the duration of incidents has reduced. After a month of having no missing episodes throughout July, which was significant progress, there was an increase in August when he got a girlfriend. More robust monitoring is showing another clear pattern of the particular days he does not return on time, which staff will now try to break. This young person does not perceive himself as being at risk, because this was his lifestyle prior to admission. He argues in independent return interviews, ‘I don’t go missing. I’m not running away’, ‘I was just hanging out with my mates who are allowed to stay out’ and, ‘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

p.9

Good

daily positive contact with his dad. Friends are also invited to the home. These strategies are having a positive impact.

p.10

Good

His social worker said, ‘He is difficult, but the staff here are working above and beyond to try to keep him safe and he has a particularly good relationship with the deputy. He is streetwise and has never once said he felt unsafe. He does not consider himself as running away.’

p.10

Good

The authority continues to actively source a specialist residential school placement to meet his specific safety and educational needs. However, because he does want to leave, unfortunately he is currently applying the logic that if he starts going missing again no other provider will accept him.

p.10

Good

The experienced staff team have the confidence to enable young people to take age appropriate risks as part of their development into adulthood. This means one young person is able to spend time in her home town with family and friends every day after school. She knows her plan is to return there permanently and that is her expressed wish but stressed, ‘There’s no rush though. I’m happy here.’

p.10

Good

The registered manager of this home is suitably qualified and highly experienced. She is extremely child focussed and leads by example. She has been in this particular post since June 2007 and is not afraid to challenge partner agencies to ensure young people receive the specialist services they require.

p.10

Good

The deputising arrangements in place are particularly strong. The leadership team have good organisational skills and are reflective practitioners, always striving to improve on service provision. In particular one deputy has developed an effective monitoring tool to explore patterns and trends. The home also benefits from a very efficient business support officer, who provides good administrative support and data as required.

p.10

Good

The staff team are suitably qualified for their respective roles and some have achieved or commenced management qualifications to aid career progression. They also benefit from ongoing relevant training opportunities. They confirm high satisfaction with the frequency and quality of the supervision and support they receive and confirm that their annual appraisals celebrate their strengths and identify areas to develop.

p.10

Good

This means young people are well-cared for by an extremely committed and resilient staff team. They have a strong history of providing genuine care, sustained commitment and advocacy for some particularly high profile young people with extremely complex needs until a more appropriate specialist provision is secured. This has included, significant mental health needs and young people at high risk of child sexual exploitation. Staff continue to keep in contact with previous residents, thereby showing they are still loved and valued.

p.11

Good

Young people speak highly about the staff. Comments include, ‘All the staff are doing really, really well and I do not know what I would do without them’, ‘The manager has done so much for me. She is amazing’, ‘The deputy makes me believe in myself and pushes me that extra mile’, ‘A new member of staff really understands me’ and, ‘I am really happy with my key worker and the sessions I have with her.’

p.11

Good

This home was judged to be inadequate at the last full inspection which concluded on 2 June 2016. Following the subsequent case review, two compliance notices were served in respect to education and safeguarding. A monitoring visit was undertaken on 15 July 2016 and the shortfalls had been addressed.

p.11

Good

At the last full inspection, 12 statutory requirements were raised. This proved a pivotal point for the registered manager, who acknowledges that in providing excellent support to her staff over time to effectively manage frequent crises and meet the highly complex and competing individual needs of the young people, it had been to the detriment of some managerial responsibilities. In response, monitoring is now more robust and 11 requirements have been satisfactorily addressed. The manager’s six monthly review report of the quality of care provided in the home is not yet due. There are no regulatory shortfalls arising from this inspection.

p.11

Good

All the young people are now benefitting from increased educational provision. The staff have also 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. There is now clear documentary evidence supporting young people to lead healthier lifestyles. In particular, at the last inspection, one pregnant young person was not benefitting from the homemade nutritious meals provided at the home. She was legitimately wanting to spend most of her free-time with her boyfriend, but admitted to having a poor diet when not being monitored by staff. This could negatively affect her health and that of her unborn baby. In response, staff visited

p.11

Good

her when she was away from the home to ensure she was having regular, healthy meals. The home is maintained at a good standard throughout and has lots of homely touches. One young person said, ‘I am really happy here now and feel safe 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.’

p.11

Good

Robust fire safety processes are now strictly adhered to in order to adequately protect against the risk of fire. Daily checks of young people’s bedrooms were re- established to ensure they are kept clean and free from any avoidable health and safety risks.

p.12

Good

Restraint records are in good order and demonstrate the opportunity for young people to reflect on their behaviours. All independent return interviews are now completed and improving the timeliness and quality of these has been escalated to senior managers.

p.12

Good

Independent monthly monitoring reports produced following a review of the quality of care provided in the home, now clearly demonstrate consultations with young people, their parents and relatives and the staff.

p.12

Good

An effective system is now re-established to ensure all staff receive monthly supervision and timely annual appraisals. All the staff have also completed online awareness training in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and face-to-face training, as a staff team, by a specialist clinical lead. Moreover, the managers have ensured direct access to ongoing advice from specialist workers to ensure safe and effective strategies. In September, they are commencing a more in-depth course to ensure they have a comprehensive understanding of individual young people’s needs.

p.12

Good

Young people’s files are now satisfactorily maintained, which means young people and staff can access relevant information quickly.

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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.

p.12

Good

The children’s guide was developed with young people and includes their comments, for example, ‘It is a lively home and amazing’, ‘You get a high standard of care and the staff are always happy to help. They relate to your problems’ and, ‘When I was admitted staff welcomed me and made me recognise that I wasn’t alone.’

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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

p.14

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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