Children's Home run by Frances House Ltd 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 supported by staff who know them well and understand their needs. Young people express confidence in staff and enjoy living in the home.  Young people are supported to access healthcare services and to maintain healthy lifestyles.  Staff support young people to express their views and opinions. Young people feel that their views are valued and that they are listened to.  Young people have the opportunity to enjoy fulfilling and valuable experiences on a day-to-day basis. Interests are encouraged, and young people are encouraged to try new experiences.  The registered manager and staff have a good understanding of the risks to the safety and well-being of young people. They monitor risks closely and take appropriate action when concerns are identified.  The registered manager ensures that all staff are fully aware of their responsibilities to safeguard young people from harm. Staff have a good

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The children’s home provision is good because:

understanding of safeguarding procedures and are confident to report any concerns.  Young people are safer as a result of the care and support that they receive at the home. They feel secure and able to raise concerns with staff.  Consistently positive behaviour support helps young people to develop personal coping strategies and results in fewer incidents reaching crisis point.  There is a clear management structure in place, and the registered manager receives adequate support and resources to manage the home effectively.  Staff describe a supportive environment and an open and transparent culture, in which they can raise concerns and express their views.  Community professionals express satisfaction with the service and speak highly of the registered manager and staff. They describe the registered manager and staff as proactive, cooperative and receptive to advice and support.  The registered manager constantly monitors safety and quality across the

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The children’s home provision is good because:

service. She is able to identify areas for development and takes positive action to address them.

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person(s) meet(s) 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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Requirement Due date

32: Fitness of workers (1) The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. (2) The registered person may only: (a) employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or (b) if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3). (3) The requirements are that: (a) the individual is of integrity and good character; (b) the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform; (c) the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and (d) full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the

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Requirement Due date

individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. 09/12/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  When children placed in a home are not participating in education because they have been excluded or are not on a school roll for some other reason, the registered person and staff must work closely with the placing authority so that the child is supported and enabled to resume full-time education as soon as possible. In the interim, the child should be supported to sustain or regain their confidence in education and be engaged in suitable structured activities. If no education place is identified by the placing authority, the registered person must challenge them to meet the child’s needs under regulation 5 (engaging with the wider system to ensure that children’s needs are met). (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.15)

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Recommendations

 Any use of restraint carries risks. These include causing physical injury, psychological trauma or emotional disturbance. When considering whether restraint is warranted, staff in children’s homes need to take into account: − the age and understanding of the child; − the size of the child; − the relevance of any disability, health problem or medication to the behaviour in question and the action that might be taken as a result; − the relative risks of not intervening; − the child’s previously sought views on strategies that they considered might de-escalate or calm a situation, if appropriate; − the method of restraint which would be appropriate in the specific circumstances; and − the impact of the restraint on the carer’'s future relationship with the child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.55)

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Information about this children's home

The home is operated by a private organisation and is registered to care for up to five young people. The home cares for children who have 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

24/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

10/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Good

Young people who live in this home benefit from good-quality care that is tailored to meet their individual needs. As a result, they make good progress and experience positive outcomes. Young people themselves are very positive about the care and support that they receive and recognise their own progress and achievements. One young person said, ‘I’ve done good from when I came. I’m even thinking about college now and the things I can do there.’ Young people expressed contentment and said that they are happy to live in the home. Their comments included: ‘I want to stay here. It’s the best home I have been in’ and, ‘I have been here for quite a long time now. I don’t want to go anywhere else. This feels like my proper home.’ Young people speak extremely highly of staff and describe warm and secure relationships with them. Young people said that they trust staff and feel able to tell them if something is troubling them. A young person commented, ‘The staff are all

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Good

nice. There are none I don’t like. They nag us sometimes, but that’s because they care about us and they are looking out for us.’ One young person who had recently left the home was a regular visitor. She commented, ‘These staff are my family. I absolutely love them all.’ The trusting relationships that young people enjoy with staff support their emotional well-being and development. One young person has made remarkable progress since her admission and developed confidence and self-esteem to such an extent that she is able to cope with social situations that were previously not possible for her. An external healthcare professional involved in this young person’s care was extremely complimentary about the staff team and the way in which they support her. They described the staff team as ‘insightful’, ‘empathic’ and ‘very receptive to advice’. Staff work hard to equip young people with valuable life skills. Individual and group

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Good

sessions take place on a regular basis with young people, which are designed to help them to develop their understanding and knowledge of important areas, such as safe relationships and online safety. The methods for recording some of the individual work carried out with young people could be improved to enable the registered manager to monitor their progress better. Staff support young people to maintain good health. They work in partnership with community healthcare professionals to ensure that young people receive a good level of healthcare. Arrangements are in place to ensure that young people attend routine health checks, such as dental checks and eye tests. The registered manager ensures that any individual support required by a young person is provided by the appropriate specialist. One young person reported feeling unwell during the inspection and was promptly supported to access their general

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Good

practitioner the same day. Young people are at different stages in their education. Not all the young people are fully engaging in education at this time, and the provision for some young people could be improved. This has been recognised by the registered manager who is currently in discussion with young people’s social workers and other professionals about how these improvements can be achieved. Some young people’s personal education plan (PEP) documentation is not up to date. This means that some young people’s educational achievement may not be fully supported. Staff support young people to pursue their interests and take part in fulfilling activities. One young person has recently started music lessons, and another spoke of their intention to take up boxing. Young people are able to take part in a range of leisure activities, such as going to the cinema or to local events. This provides them with a variety of experiences and supports them to achieve and grow in

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Good

confidence. Staff encourage young people to express their views and talk about the things that matter to them. Regular meetings take place with the young people, at which they are asked their opinions about everyday matters, such as meal times and activities. Young people are encouraged to express their opinions about their own care and support during individual sessions with staff. Several young people have been supported to access independent advocates to help to support them in expressing their views. Young people know that their opinion is valued and that they are listened to.

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Good

Young people feel safe living in the home and have confidence in the staff team to support their well-being. One young person commented, ‘They [the staff] are here to keep us safe and look after us.’ Another said, ‘I feel the safest here. The staff will always look after us.’ Young people say that they are able to tell staff if something is troubling them and are clear that they would have no hesitation in doing so. The staff team has a good understanding of safeguarding practice. Training in relation to recognising and responding to safeguarding concerns is provided to all staff at the start of their employment and regularly updated. Staff are able to confidently describe the procedures that they must follow and are aware of the roles of external agencies, such as the local authority and police. This helps to protect the safety and well-being of young people. The registered manager and staff are very mindful of risks to young people,

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Good

including those risks outside of the home, and remain alert at all times. They recognise potential issues quickly and take prompt action, involving other agencies when appropriate. This helps to ensure that measures to protect the safety and well-being of young people are carefully planned and coordinated. Community professionals, including social workers and the local police, all describe the registered manager and staff as extremely proactive in recognising and responding to concerns about the safety and well-being of young people. There has recently been some close joint working with the police and child sexual exploitation team to safeguard young people. Community professionals report that the registered manager and staff have engaged fully in this work and continue to monitor risks in the locality in an effective manner. Each young person has a range of individualised risk assessments in place, which

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Good

are regularly reviewed. Risk assessments are updated when any new information is identified. This helps to ensure that staff have clear and current guidance about how to keep young people safe. Young people who live at this home do not regularly go missing. Even those who have a history of doing so in previous placements have shown a notable reduction in missing episodes. There are detailed risk assessments in place for each young person, as well as clear protocols to be followed in the event that they become missing. This helps to ensure that staff have clear guidance about the action to take to safeguard young people who are missing. As a result of the care and support provided, young people have reduced risk- taking behaviours. One young person described how they were making better choices about how they spend their free time and whom they are spending time with. Their social worker commented that staff had helped the young person to

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Good

‘find a different way of doing things’ and, as a result, they were ‘learning to make safer choices’. The registered manager and staff have a positive approach towards behaviour support. Individualised behaviour support plans are in place for each young person, describing potential behaviours and known triggers for particular behaviours. Staff express confidence in supporting young people in a positive manner and all speak of the importance of de-escalating situations at the earliest opportunity, through the use of individualised strategies. The understanding and consistent approach of the staff team means that incidents rarely reach crisis point. Incidents requiring physical intervention are rare for most young people who live at the home. However, there should be clearer guidance in the behaviour support plans of young people about the use of physical intervention, for example permitted manoeuvres. This will help to reduce the risk of any young person being

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Good

physically managed in an inappropriate manner. Measures are in place to ensure that young people live in a safe and well- maintained environment. Recruitment procedures designed to protect young people are in place and generally followed. However, evidence was found that, on one recent occasion, the recruitment of a staff member was not carried out in a thorough manner. This had led to some discrepancies in the staff member’s application not being followed up in a timely manner. While this has not impacted on the safety and well-being of young people, a requirement is raised in relation to staff recruitment, to help to ensure that this process is carried out in a safe manner at all times.

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Good

Following an unsettled period, a registered manager has recently been appointed. The registered manager is suitably qualified and experienced and has particular skills in therapeutic work, which she intends to build upon in the future. The registered manager demonstrates a good understanding of the strengths of the home and the areas that would benefit from development. She reported a good level of support from the providers and described regular supervision, which is provided by an external professional. The providers of the home visit on a daily basis. It is apparent that they have positive relationships with the young people and a good understanding of their needs. The providers maintain regular contact with staff and external professionals and are fully involved in the planning of young people’s care and support. They ensure that the home is well maintained and that the registered manager has the

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Good

necessary resources to manage the home effectively. It is clear that the needs of young people are prioritised and that their achievement and well-being are central to the home’s purpose. The registered manager and staff work in accordance with the home’s statement of purpose. They are all fully aware of the home’s aims and objectives and the policies and procedures that they should follow. The registered manager ensures that the home’s policies and procedures are regularly updated to reflect changes in legislation or developments in best practice. Community professionals report positive joint working with the registered manager and staff and express satisfaction with the care and support provided to young people. A social worker commented, ‘The good thing about this home is they don’t give up on the young people. They really want to work with them. When there are problems, they try and work through them.’

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Good

Staff described a supportive environment within which they feel able to express their views and ideas and raise concerns. Staff feel that, following some disruption in the management team and a high staff turnover, there is now stability. A care worker commented, ‘There has been a high turnover, but it has settled now. I feel there is a very strong management structure in place with strong leadership and it’s working really well.’ Despite some staff turnover, the registered manager has been able to avoid a high use of agency staff. This means that young people receive their care from a consistent staff team that knows them well and understands their needs. The registered manager has a positive approach to training, and all staff are supported to develop their skills and knowledge. Each staff member has a personal development plan in place, which is regularly reviewed in their supervision sessions. One staff member described how they have been given a very good level

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Good

of support with aspects of their training that they were less confident with. A detailed mandatory training programme and workforce development plan are in place. The workforce development plan is demonstrably linked to the needs of young people and updated when any new needs are identified. This helps to ensure that staff are equipped with the skills to support young people in a safe and effective manner. The turnover of staff experienced at the home since the last inspection has had an impact on the ratio of care workers who hold nationally recognised qualifications. Fewer than half the staff team members currently hold them. However, the registered manager has identified this issue and has supported all staff members to commence the necessary courses. The registered manager has systems in place to enable her to monitor quality and safety across the service. These systems are used effectively, and the registered

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Good

manager is able to identify shortfalls and act upon them. Adverse incidents and complaints are taken seriously and dealt with in a robust manner. This means that young people benefit from a constantly improving service.

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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 children looked after 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 that 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 whom 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

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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