Children's Home run by Lancashire County Council in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC035477 1 SC035477

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is operated by a local authority and provides care for up to six young people who have emotional and behavioural difficulties. The home takes emergency placements.

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This monitoring visit

An interim inspection was completed on 12 and 13 January 2017 and the home was judged to have declined in effectiveness. During that inspection, social care regulatory inspector, Jackie Line, identified widespread concerns including:

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This monitoring visit

 Poor care planning for young people moving into and on from the home  Serious shortfalls in safeguarding practice  Weaknesses in leadership and management  A lack of robust independent monitoring.

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This monitoring visit

These failings left young people vulnerable to harm and had a negative impact on their welfare.

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This monitoring visit

As a result, four compliance notices were issued on 23 January 2017 together with a restriction of accommodation notice.

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This monitoring visit

An unannounced monitoring inspection was undertaken on 24 February 2017 to monitor three out of the four compliance notices, and adherence to the restriction of accommodation in place. The outcome of this visit was that all three compliance notices were met. This showed that improvements had been made in safeguarding practice, care planning, and leadership and management. The restriction of accommodation remained in place to enable young people’s individual plans to be progressed, and for a period of consolidation to allow for continued improvement.

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This monitoring visit

A second monitoring visit was carried out on 5 April 2017 to monitor one compliance notice and check adherence to the restriction of accommodation. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC035477 2 This inspection found that young people have not been admitted to the home, therefore the restriction of accommodation notice has not been breached.

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This monitoring visit

The two young people who were living at the home have now moved on. Careful consideration was given to their future plans. As a result, they moved on to suitable provision that is able to meet their individual needs. Staff supported young people to move on from the home positively.

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This monitoring visit

Steps have been taken to improve the quality of external monitoring visits and reports. The interim manager has met with the independent visitor and the visitor’s manager to review what is expected during monitoring visits. Following this meeting reports have improved in quality. Information contained in the report shows that the visitor robustly monitors the home. Overall reports contain sufficient information. and they are more evaluative. The visitor now provides a summary of findings in the report. The report clearly sets out the visitor’s opinion as to whether young people are effectively safeguarded. Quarterly meetings have been set up to review progress and identify emerging patterns and trends. This will help to maintain good external monitoring systems and support improvement within the home. Improved monitoring arrangements will ensure that young people receive good standards of care, and that they are safe.

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This monitoring visit

A permanent manager has now been appointed and he is due to submit his application to register with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted is satisfied that sufficient measures have been taken to address the shortfalls highlighted at the last inspection. No further enforcement action is being taken and the restriction of accommodation has now been lifted. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC035477 3

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 12/01/2017 Interim Declined in effectiveness 06/09/2016 Full Requires improvement 18/05/2016 Full Inadequate 07/03/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC035477 4

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC035477 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Lancashire County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Lancashire County Council, PO Box 78, Preston PR1 8XJ

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Inspector(s)

Jackie Line, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC035477 6 to 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, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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

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