Children's home run by Lincolnshire County Council

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

Young people continue to make good progress in all areas of their lives during their time living in this home. Since the last inspection one young person has moved out of the home and into an adult service provision. This move was very well planned and well supported by the staff team. The young person and their family had the opportunity to make visits to the new accommodation. Staff from this home and the new provision worked closely together to share information and ensure that all of the complex needs of the young person could be met in the new provision. Staff from the new provision also spent time at this home, observing and working with the home’s staff in order to better understand the needs of the young person and how to meet them. Such careful transition planning has led to a very successful move for this young person.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff continue to work very closely and positively with placing social workers and transition workers. There is a commendable commitment to ensuring that transition plans are devised and considered at an early stage. This reflects the staff team’s detailed understanding of the complex needs of the young people living in this home. They are currently undertaking detailed assessment and planning work in relation to those young people who are due to move to adult services in the near future. Staff act as very positive and strong advocates for young people and also for their parents and carers. They challenge providers and agencies appropriately if they do not feel that a young person’s future needs are being fully met.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been one new admission of a young person to the home since the last inspection. The move was very well considered and planned. The young person had the opportunity to visit the home with their parents prior to moving in. This young person has very complex medical needs; staff and managers have made significant progress in a relatively short period of time with regard to the successful administration of medication for this young person. This is attributable to good partnership working with parents and health colleagues, and to the consistent and clear medication administration plans that have been put in place.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been no reported incidents of young people going missing from this home. Staffing ratios provide very high levels of supervision and support to young people at all times. The registered manager recently met with the local police to discuss missing-from-care procedures. This is very positive and proactive and reflects the manager’s learning ethos and desire to consider all potential risks to young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A number of shortfalls were identified as a result of the last inspection. The manager has now ensured that, following a complaint, the complainant is advised of the outcome of her investigations.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager and deputy manager have now ensured that all relevant members of staff have been enrolled on safeguarding training. Work has also been done to improve the recording of staff training records and development. This work continues, but records now show more clearly the details of the training that has been undertaken by all staff.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

New recording systems have been implemented by the manager and deputy manager in relation to the formal supervision of staff. The supervision of staff now includes relief staff. In addition, the frequency with which the supervision will be provided to all staff in the home has been set. Managers now oversee this process more closely to ensure that staff have received formal supervision and that any missed sessions are promptly rebooked within the specified timescales.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has given consideration to the home’s development plan. She has ensured that all identified actions have been updated and that the dates of any reviews of the plan have been clearly entered. The development plan now presents as a live document that is overseen well by managers.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has also reviewed and updated the location risk assessment for the home. This now clearly reflects the current major building works that are being carried out on-site, as well as the new residential housing estate nearby. Consideration has been given to the actual or potential risks that are associated with the building work and the nearby estate, and clear plans have been put in place with regard to these risks.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Case files and records now contain relevant and up-to-date care and placement plans for young people. The deputy manager has taken the lead in undertaking regular case file audits. Following such audits, detailed actions have been set and clear timescales have been given for their completion by relevant staff. This should provide for well-maintained and clear records for all young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers and staff have also worked hard to ensure that there is clear delegated authority in place for all young people. Clear and detailed documentation is now evident in young people’s case files. This provides staff and managers with a clear understanding of the authorities that have been delegated to them. These documents have been signed by the relevant social worker or parent.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

No shortfalls were identified as a result of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is owned and run by the local authority. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for seven children and young people who have physical and learning disabilities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 19/09/2016 Full Good 07/01/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 27/08/2015 Full Good 06/02/2015 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 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 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 children looked after 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

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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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