Children's Home run by Lifetime Opportunities Limited in Lancashire

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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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

This home was judged outstanding at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness .

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Both young people enjoy very stable placements having lived at this home for a number of years. They have strong attachments with the manager and staff who work exceptionally hard to help them achieve their personal goals as they prepare for adult life.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

The manager promotes a strong ethos of care that helps young people to overcome the challenges that they face in life, including those brought about by their disability. Because of this ‘can do’ approach, young people are making excellent progress, relative to their individual needs. For example, they are growing in confidence and developing basic life skills as well as showing increased levels of emotional control and social interaction.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Care planning and care practice are highly individualised and are based on rigorous assessment, monitoring and review. These processes are further strengthened through cohesive and well-used links with parents and a range of health, social care, safeguarding and education professionals and agencies. This promotes good collaborative responses and ensures that young people receive individually tailored care that is consistently delivered to meet their complex and unique needs.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Staff have a good understanding of young people’s risks and vulnerabilities. High levels of supervision are underpinned by effective, well-thought-out risk management strategies. This ensures that young people are well protected and kept safe at all times.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Young people benefit from well-planned routines and consistently delivered boundaries that help to minimise their levels of anxiety. Staff are able to recognise potential triggers and make good use of distraction and de-escalation techniques to avoid the escalation of challenging behaviour. Young people are benefiting from this calm, patient and caring approach. This is evident in their improved behaviour and reduction in the need for external controls such as the use of harnesses and physical restraint.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

The home is well run by a highly motivated and child-focused manager. She is well supported by a competent and experienced team of staff members who share the same commitment to giving young people what they need to succeed. The manager reduces her management time in order to fill gaps on the rota. From the rotas seen, this means that in many weeks she attributes less than 10% of her weekly working time to management of the home. Fortuitously, occupancy is at 50% and she currently has the full-time support of a registered manager from another home, who is able to assist in the completion of day-to-day management tasks. However, this is not a long-term plan, which means that when the supporting manager returns to her substantive post, there is potential for some management tasks to drift. Also, the manager expressed concern that she has no time to focus on developing and improving the home. She is understandably

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

concerned about this and recognises that this is a key component of being an outstanding manager and an outstanding home.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Both recommendations from the previous inspection have been addressed. Systems for recording sanctions have improved and have now been fully implemented. The manager is receiving sight of Regulation 44 reports in a timelier manner, which means that she is aware of and can address shortfalls. She recognises that further improvements could be made to the report format and is in the process of discussing this with the independent visitor.

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Information about this children's home

The home is run by a privately owned company and is registered for five young people who may have learning disabilities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 30/11/2016 Full Outstanding 25/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 02/12/2015 Full Outstanding 30/03/2015 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 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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