Children's home run by Care Afloat Ltd in West Lancashire

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been no placement breakdowns, disruptions or failures since the last inspection. Young people that have left the home since the last inspection have done so in an extremely well-planned and positive way. The young person in residence at the time of the last inspection has since returned home to the care of their own family. They made excellent progress during their time at the home and made a smooth and controlled transition. Young people that have since moved into the home have settled in comfortably and have quickly developed positive and secure relationships with staff.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff provide young people with continuity of care so they have consistency and stability in their lives. Young people make good progress in relation to their staring points across all aspects of their welfare, physical, social, emotional and behavioural development. Staff have an exceptionally good understanding of the specific needs and vulnerabilities of young people and take appropriate action to address them. There is evidence of considerable change and improvement in the lives of young people who benefit from well planned, highly individualised care that promotes their needs effectively.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff provide young people with effective, high quality support that has led to a considerable reduction in risk taking behaviour. Consequently, young people are safer and are less likely to suffer actual harm. Risks associated with young people are well known and understood by staff. They become increasing safer as a result of the actions staff take to support and protect them. Young people are kept safe and have a strong sense of personal safety. The use of clear risk assessment and proactive safe working practice promote the safety and well-being of young people. Young people report, ‘I like it. It’s really good here. Staff are always there for you and you’re never left on your own. I just think it’s a really good placement.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people have not gone missing from care since their admission in August 2016 whereas going missing from care had been a previous issue. The frequency and intensity of risk taking behaviour, such as going missing from care, self-harm, drug and alcohol use have reduced significantly. Should young people go missing, staff are experienced at following the home’s procedures and working with the police to secure their safe return.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are well protected from abuse, child sexual exploitation and all other forms of significant harm. Staff are trained in child protection so they know how to identify, recognise and report suspected abuse. They maintain effective partnerships with all safeguarding agencies to keep young people safe from harm. There have been no allegations of abuse, safeguarding notifications or referrals to children and young people’s services since the last inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff consistently promote and encourage the development of positive behaviour. Praise and positive reinforcement are used consistently and effectively to build young people’s self-confidence and encourage their positive self-view. Young people receive good support to help them self-regulate their own feelings and behaviour and this has seen a reduction in incidents of negative and challenging behaviour. Young people report. ‘I used to go missing a lot and drink alcohol and take drugs a lot and get in trouble with the police. But nothings like that has happened here. When I came here I wasn’t in school and they helped me realise what I should and shouldn’t be doing. They’ve helped me choose my friends and got me into college. They’re really chatty, bubbly and I’d say the staff are amazing.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been no complaints since the last inspection. Young people know how to do so but have had no concerns about their care or experiences at the home. The home has addressed and met the requirement and recommendations from the previous inspection. Reports following the home’s external independent monitoring activities are now consistently sent to Ofsted, each month. This enables Ofsted to have oversight of the performance of the home. The home’s statement of purpose has been updated to include staff’s qualifications, training and relevant experience. The development plan has also been reviewed to promote the home’s improvement and continuing development. The manager has ensured that all incidents of control, discipline and restraint are subject to appropriate scrutiny to ensure their use, if used at all, is effectively monitored. The use of sanctions and restraints are kept to an absolute minimum and there has only been the one restraint which was

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

low level and of short duration. The behaviours of young people are managed safely and effectively by staff.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people enjoy and participate in regular positive activities both at home and in the wider community. They attend their educational provision regularly with good support and encouragement from staff. Young people attend their health appointments and benefit from the arrangements made to promote their good health. Young people benefit from a physically safe, appropriately secure, warm, comfortable and homely environment. The home is consistently maintained to a high quality standard for young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager is in the process of completing their registration with Ofsted. She demonstrates strong and effective leadership of the operation of the home. The manager makes good use of the home’s internal and external monitoring activities to ensure continuing improvement. Consequently, there is effective scrutiny of the performance of the home to improve outcomes for young people. The needs of young people are effectively prioritised and met. Young people benefit from a good standard of high quality care that promotes their needs effectively and successfully leads to change and improvement in their lives. There are no breaches in regulation. Consequently, there are no requirements or recommendations made as a result of this inspection.

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Information about this children's home

This section should outline:  The home is registered to provide care for one young person who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.  The home is privately owned and managed.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 28/06/2016 Full Good 01/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 10/06/2015 Full Good 10/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

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

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Information about this inspection

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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