Children's Home run by Partners in Care Limited 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 improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection, which was carried out in July 2016, three requirements were made. The home has addressed the requirements and has improved safeguarding practice in the home. The home has continued to develop as a result of reviewing its practices and procedures.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The new manager has successfully been registered by Ofsted and continues to have a positive impact on practice in the home. She has a good overview of the service and its routines and day-to-day organisation. Overall, this transition process from deputy manager to registered manager has worked extremely well.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person has moved into the home since the last inspection, and is settling very well. The home’s detailed and extremely comprehensive referral and assessment process continues to ensure that placements are appropriate and that young people benefit from the whole package of care, education and support. Young people who were not previously engaged in education are able to start school as a result of the careful planning. The registered manager has challenged the local education authority around decisions for young people at the home in order to ensure that young people receive the education that they themselves are requesting. For some young people this is the first time that they have been in education for many years. In addition, previous presenting behaviours, such as aggression, have quickly diminished or have stopped completely for some young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Safeguarding matters are competently identified and addressed. The registered manager has good links with the external safeguarding agencies who offer her advice where necessary. Staff receive training on a range of safeguarding policies and practice. They are familiar with and understand indicators of child sexual exploitation. They know how to minimise the impact of risk-taking behaviours, such as running away from home, substance misuse and self-harm. This means that any safeguarding concerns are promptly identified and referred to social workers, health services and the police, as appropriate. Agencies work together effectively to keep children safe. The staff team is well organised and provides a caring atmosphere in the home. Young people respond to this very well. Staff continually and positively praise the young people. They act as suitable role models by, for example, showing respect and kindness to each other. The young people soon learn that they can trust the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

staff and that they are really cared about. Despite the many challenges that the young people face on a daily basis, staff make sure that the young people do have fun at the home and can enjoy the range of activities that are on offer after school.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has developed the skills of the staff team. She leads in a collaborative way and gives the staff responsibilities that they are able to fulfil competently. For example, more senior staff now take on different areas of responsibility, such as managing staff rotas, monitoring staff training or overseeing the care records. The registered manager maintains a good oversight of all areas of practice in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young people have many ways of making their views, wishes and opinions known. These include meetings, key-working sessions and questionnaires. The views of young people are used to contribute to the home’s development plan.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is comfortable, well decorated, well maintained and safe. The young people say that they are proud of their home. Their rooms are personalised and they are encouraged to take responsibility for their bedrooms, and to assist with cleaning and cooking in the home. They enjoy having photographs around the home of their days out and significant events. Consequently, young people respect the home and each other’s space.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The monitoring and auditing in the home remains robust. This includes very detailed monthly independent visitor reports that comment on the safeguarding and the quality of care that the home provides.

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is part of a large organisation that is operated by a private company. The home is registered to provide care for up to four young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 11/07/2016 Full Good 02/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 12/01/2016 Full Good 16/03/2015 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 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

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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