Children's Home run by Lancashire County Council in 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 judges that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home continues to offer a nurturing, homely environment. The experienced and stable staff team excels at establishing open and trusting relationships with previously disaffected young people. Consequently, all young people currently living at this home are happy and feel safe and settled. This competent team also has the proven ability to work in partnership with resistant families and to sensitively support young people to maintain positive contact with family and friends, which strengthens young people’s unique identities.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are particularly good opportunities and specific facilities in place to enable all young people to gain the age and ability appropriate life skills needed to prepare them effectively for future independent living. This home benefits from two fully furnished flats attached to the main building. This enables young people to experience independence with the added reassurance of ongoing staff support. One young person who has lived at this home for over three years is now, by choice, living in one of the flats. She has made significant progress at this home, including acquiring an ability to keep herself safe. Consequently, she is now enjoying a positive, age appropriate relationship. Moreover, she successfully completed her education and is now actively pursuing an apprenticeship.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are strong and effective advocates for young people. For example, this same young person is really pleased that the staff have ensured that she was allocated a specific after care worker whom she already trusts, having previously worked with them. When young people feel ready to move on into full independence, they are secure in the knowledge of continued support from this staff team. The most recent discharges were helped to find good quality accommodation in the exact location of their choice, close to family, friends and college, thus providing them with ongoing support.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Two out of the three requirements raised at the last inspection have been fully addressed. Consequently, restraint records now include all the required details and clearly demonstrate that the least restrictive hold is always used for the shortest period of time. The home’s practice, therefore, is safe, effective and proportionate. Since the last inspection, a robust escalation process has been developed which has ensured timely independent return interviews. Furthermore, the manager has now formally challenged the poor quality of some of these documents completed by young people’s social workers, and has called a meeting to address this.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The quality of reports following independent monthly monitoring visits to the home have continued to improve. However, they still do not consistently include the views of parents and relatives and/or the attempts made to try to contact them. This requirement has been repeated, but has no negative impact on the health or safety of young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home has recently reduced their registered numbers from six young people to four, so the home is currently full. This decision was made in recognition of the complex needs of young people currently placed and has significantly helped them to feel more secure. One young person, in particular, previously struggled significantly every time there was a new admission.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Despite fewer young people, there has been no reduction in staffing numbers, which has increased staffing ratios and therefore the ability to provide highly personalised care. As an example, the staff arranged for a specialist nurse to come to the home so that one young person would feel more comfortable, and at his pace they gradually and patiently encouraged him to have all of his outstanding immunisations. This was in spite of a genuine fear of needles.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager of this home is rightly proud of the fact that, despite some sustained and extremely challenging behaviours, he has never served notice on any placement. Over time young people have believed this important message, which has further strengthened their sense of belonging and demonstrably increased their self-esteem. Consequently, young people with numerous previous placement breakdowns are now starting to positively invest in this placement. In particular, this means there is less criminal damage in the home. There have also been no missing incidents since 6 December 2016. Moreover, all young people are attending and positively engaging in education or employment. This is all excellent progress from their starting points.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are increasing enjoying taking part in constructive activities together. As an example, one young person is really enjoying quality time with staff, honing his cooking skills. A recent cycle trip proved to be very popular with all young people and staff, and so two other days have already been planned. Comments from young people include, ‘I really enjoyed the bike ride. It was the best time ever,’ and, ‘I like it here. The staff really support me. I love go-karting and mountain biking and now I have my own bike. I saved up half and staff paid the other half.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person is both very excited and worried about going on his first youth residential without staff. In response the staff constantly reassure him that they will stay close by for the first couple of nights until he feels safe and settled. This demonstrates highly individualised, pro-active and sensitive care practice. He has also asked to go to the no smoking clinic because he says he wants to be ‘in control’ for this residential. This shows he is starting to make wiser choices.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people continue to smoke tobacco and take drugs, and an increase in alcohol intake for one young person has directly resulted in an assault charge. Moreover, the lack of timely mental health and disability assessments means there is a delay in some young people accessing the specialist resources they need and in receiving the financial benefits to which they are entitled.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This experienced and competent staff team manages effectively some highly challenging behaviours without resorting to police assistance. The appropriate use of reparation and restorative justice has also avoided unnecessarily criminalising young people. Charges were brought and lessons learned following a serious incident when young people stole and drove the home’s vehicle, risking their lives and those of members of the public. Immediately, the security of the building was greatly improved and staffing ratios increased to try to prevent a further occurrence.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The frequency and duration of restraints have continued to reduce since the last inspection and only relate to one young person with highly complex needs. The robust monitoring of patterns and trends shows there was none from 14 October to 28 November 2016, which was in itself significant process. There was then a noticeable increase leading up to Christmas. This was due to his anxieties about family contact and the fact that the deputy manager was going on extended leave. In response, she spent time preparing him and assuring him of her return. The staff also secured him extended Christmas contact. Consequently, there have been no physical interventions since 16 December 2016. The manager said, ‘Although his outbursts are still a daily occurrence, we manage them and the majority are now short lived. He has developed excellent relationships with some of the staff.’ His mum is very happy with the progress he has made at this home and confirmed,

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

‘This is a good placement for my son. The staff have a good understanding of his needs and he is well cared for. I can contact them any time and they are always very supportive.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people benefit from being well cared for by a highly motivated staff team who are very happy in their respective roles and confirm good management support and relevant ongoing training. Since the last inspection, for example, they have all received specific training on attachment, ADHD, autism and loss to better understand and meet the diverse needs of the current young people. They also benefit from regular consultations with a mental health specialist to develop strategies to effectively manage young people’s highly complex behaviours. The manager of this home is very child-focused and leads by example. He is passionate about developing his team and encouraging career progression. He is also not afraid to challenge any poor practice. However, he has not recently ensured that all of the staff receive formal individual supervision sessions at the frequency prescribed in the home’s own policy.

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Information about this children's home

This is a local authority children’s home. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 24/10/2016 Full Good 23/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 12/08/2015 Full Good 19/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person to consult with young people’s parents and relatives. (Regulation 44(2)(a)) 31/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

To meet the health and well-being standard, the registered person must ensure that all young people have access to any assessments, advice, treatment and services they may require. (Regulation 10(2)(c)) 31/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees receive practice-based supervision by a person with appropriate experience at the frequency prescribed in the home’s own policy. (Regulation 33(4)(b)) 31/03/2017

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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 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.

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Information about this inspection

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 0300 123 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, work- based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for children looked after and child protection.

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Information about this inspection

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 .

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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