Children's home run by Family Care Associates Limited in Preston

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 receive a good level of care. All of the young people attend education, with staff supporting those who find this area a challenge. Staff work well with different education providers to ensure that the most appropriate placements are made for young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person has been admitted to the home since the last inspection, and one young person has left. Transition arrangements from the home were well managed, with the staff continuing to offer occasional support to the young person. The newest young person was positive about the move into the home. The young person told the inspector, ‘They told me about the rules and I was introduced to all the staff. I feel as though they made me feel welcome here.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the previous inspection, four requirements and three recommendations were made. The staff team has worked well to respond to these areas, although information relating to the children’s commissioner is still missing from the young people’s guide. All of the young people’s placement plans now have up-to-date information relating to their care. There has been an increase in the records showing consultation with young people, including additional key working information. Medication records are now up to date and audited regularly. This has helped to ensure that the correct medication is administered. Recruitment information is now accessed through the organisation’s computer system, so that it is possible to check that all necessary documentation has been viewed prior to staff working at the home. Risk assessments relating to young people have also been updated to ensure that both the staff and young people are kept safe.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has ensured that the home has a new development plan. This is sufficiently detailed and shows areas that are being worked on to improve the levels of care. An assessment has been made of the computerised recording system, highlighting the areas where records are difficult to be updated, or located in some cases. This has led to the manager reverting back to paper records at times. The organisation is currently working on this area.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The monthly independent visitor has changed since the last inspection. Reports are more focused on the outcomes of young people, with an increase in discussions with young people and professionals.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff respond to safeguarding concerns appropriately. Records show a clear chronology of actions taken, showing that staff have worked well with different agencies, including the police and social workers. The staff worked well with a social worker in regard to a safeguarding incident that happened at a young person’s school. However, this incident was not notified to Ofsted through an appropriate notification.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff respond to challenging situations with the young people well, using good behaviour management strategies. This has resulted in no restraints being necessary and a low level of consequences being recorded. A young person told the inspector, ‘We all get on with each other most of the time, and when we don’t, there is always a member of staff to talk to.’

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned children’s home and part of a small organisation. The home accommodates 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 23/06/2016 Full Good 10/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 03/11/2015 Full Good 16/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  notify Ofsted and other relevant persons if one of the situations specified in regulation 40(4)(a)–(d) occurs, or if there is an incident relating to the protection, safeguarding or welfare of a child living in the home which the registered person considers to be serious. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.10)

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Recommendations

 The registered person must ensure that the children in their care understand their rights as a child looked after, or child living in a children’s home. Children must be informed of how to contact the Office of the Children’s Commissioner for advice and assistance about their rights and entitlements. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 23, paragraph 4.19)

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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. 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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