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 judges that it has improved effectiveness . The young person that was resident at the time of the last inspection has since moved on to more specialised care provision. They enjoyed living at the home and made good progress as a result of their care. There have been a small number of short-term placements since the previous inspection, most of which have made a well-planned, smooth and supported transition. For example, the last young person to have left the home was enabled to return home to the care of her own family. Consequently, there is evidence of improved outcomes for young people. The young person that lives at the home currently was only admitted in February 2017. They have been made to feel welcome and are making good progress when taking into account their starting point. The young person was not present during this

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

inspection. The young person is beginning to benefit from the care provided. The young person has relevant plans provided by their placing authority. However, their care plan is not reflective of the current placement. Consequently, a revised care plan is needed to take account of the young person’s changing needs and circumstances. The young person attends an alternative educational provision regularly and benefits from good support and encouragement from staff. The young person has a personal education plan to promote their learning, and staff maintain effective partnerships with their school to promote their educational achievement. Staff consistently place the safety and well-being of young people at the centre of their practice, irrespective of the challenges the young person presents. Risks associated with the young person are well known and understood by staff. Staff have a good understanding of the young person’s specific needs and vulnerabilities

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

and take appropriate action to address them. The young person is becoming increasingly safer, as a result of the actions staff take to support and protect them. Staff actively look for young people if they are absent or go missing. They maintain highly effective partnerships with the young person’s family, social worker, school and the police to encourage their safe return. Significant incidents are reported to the appropriate authorities so that appropriate action is taken to protect young people and keep them safe from actual harm. The young person benefits from positive and enjoyable activities that are of specific interest to them. For example, the young person has recently been to visit a pleasure park and enjoys playing pool, gaming, bowling and attending the local gym with staff. The young person is beginning to develop positive relationships with staff, who provide them with continuity of care so they have stability and

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

consistency in their life. Staff promote and encourage the young person’s positive behaviour and ensure that the use of sanctions are kept to an absolute minimum. The use of restraint is rare and, if used at all, restraint is only ever used to protect young people from harm. The use of clear risk assessment and effective behaviour management strategies promote the safety and well-being of young people. There has been no complaints, sanctions or restraints since the young person’s admission. The home has met and addressed one of two requirements from the last inspection. The acting manager has submitted an application for their registration with Ofsted to ensure that the home is managed effectively and staff are well managed, supported and led. However, reports following the home’s external monitoring activities have not been sent to Ofsted each month, to ensure that Ofsted can monitor the home’s developments and the progress and experiences of

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

the young people. As a result, the requirement is repeated. The home has addressed and met all of the previous recommendations from the last inspection and has improved in its effectiveness. There are sufficient opportunities provided for young people to develop themselves in accordance with their wishes and feelings. The manager has reviewed the appropriateness and suitability of the home’s location to ensure the safety of young people. Staffing levels meet the specific needs and any demands of the young people and can respond flexibly to unexpected events. Staff maintain effective partnerships with health professionals to understand and promote young people’s good health. There are effective arrangements for controlling and monitoring the activities of the home. An independent professional visits the home each month to form an impartial judgement about the quality of young people’s care and the arrangements to safeguard them and promote their well-being. The manager

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

makes good use of the home’s internal and external monitoring activities to secure improved outcomes for the young people.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation 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 08/06/2016 Full Good 04/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 03/09/2015 Full Good 26/02/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Statutory requirements

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

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Requirement Due date

44: Independent person: visits and reports

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month. The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to— (a) HMCI; (b) on request, the local authority for the area in which the home is located; (c) the placing authorities of children; (d) the registered provider and, if applicable, the registered manager; and (e) the responsible individual. (Regulation 44 (1)(7)) 01/04/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:

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Recommendations

 Ensure that ‘relevant plans’ are obtained from the placing authority. This relates specifically to obtaining an updated care plan from the placing authority. (‘Guide to the children homes regulations, including the quality standards’, paragraph 3.1, page 14)

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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 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. 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

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

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