Children's Home run by Lancashire County Council in Lancashire

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged outstanding at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness . Young people continue to receive high standards of care from dedicated and capable staff. This helps young people to feel safe and well cared for. Young people talk positively about their experiences and the comments they make include:  ‘I like living here because we get treated with respect.’  ‘I like living here. I get on well with most staff and they help me with my education. They make sure I am safe and teach me about right and wrong. [The manager] is okay because if you have any worries or concerns she deals with it quite quickly. She takes time out to speak to you. She will tell you off, but gives you chances. She is firm but fair.’  ‘The staff get me everything I need and I am well looked after. I have started freestyle gymnastics. The staff do things with us so we don’t get

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

bored. I feel ten out of ten safe. The staff have sorted out contact with my Nan, which I like. They listen.’ Positive experiences of care enable young people to feel valued and this helps young people to develop trusted relationships with staff. Staff consult regularly with young people. As a result, young people contribute to decisions about their lives, as well as about day-to-day events in the home. Young people readily share their views about life at the home. Their opinions will be included in the young people’s guide, which is in the process of being updated. Consequently, young people are helping to welcome other young people to the home and reassure them about what the home is like. Two young people have moved on from the home since the last inspection. Both young people’s moves were planned and made in line with their care plan. Similarly, when young people move into the home, managers and staff work hard

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

to get to know them. They quickly develop a good understanding of young people’s individual needs. When young people arrive in an emergency, the manager ensures that additional staff are available to provide support. Managers and staff liaise well with parents and offer them reassurance about the support that the home can offer to them and their children. Working constructively with parents benefits young people. Managers and staff liaise promptly with partner agencies so that young people access the right help. For example, one young person quickly received support from specialists, to address concerns about possible child sexual exploitation. Managers and staff requested an early appointment for another young person in response to a particular health concern. Prompt and effective action promotes young people’s safety and welfare. Some young people make excellent progress with their education. Positive school

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

reports show that young people’s attendance and attitude to learning has improved. When young people encounter difficulties, staff work with them to understand what the barriers are to learning and help them to overcome these. Managers and staff explore a variety of options so that young people can access education or training opportunities that are right for them. This work is ongoing with some young people. The home remains relatively settled. Young people rarely go missing and there has only been one incident of restraint since the last inspection. Staff have a very good understanding of risk and respond robustly when concerns arise. As a result, young people are protected from harm. When young people occasionally display challenging behaviour, staff manage this well. Staff support young people through difficult times. They help them to understand the impact of their behaviour on themselves and other people. Positive

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

relationships with staff, clear boundaries, and good routines help young people to know what is expected of them. This helps young people to feel safe and cared for. Staff say they are well supported and receive supervision regularly. Staff have confidence in the registered manager to provide them with strong leadership. A member of staff describes the manager as ‘fantastic’. She said: ‘The manager provides clear direction, sets high standards, and wants the best for young people. She has clear expectations of us to provide this.’ Positive steps have been taken to address the one recommendation raised at the last inspection. Following an incident of restraint, young people are given the opportunity to talk about what happened with someone who was not involved. This helps young people to understand why staff needed to restrain them and it gives young people the chance to raise any concerns. Young people told the inspector about how staff have started to encourage them to

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

adopt a healthier lifestyle. Although not all young people like it, they understand why staff are supporting them to take regular exercise and develop a sensible attitude towards their diet. Initiatives such as this educate young people and promote their well-being. The manager has recently been involved in work to strengthen the quality of independent monitoring visits and reports. This shows a commitment to improving external oversight that will help her own home to progress, as well as others within the authority. Robust deputising arrangements mean that the two assistant managers successfully maintained high standards of care during a period when the registered manager was away supporting another children’s home within the authority. This reflects the strength and depth of the leadership team running this home. No requirements or recommendations were raised following this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

This is a local authority home registered to provide care and accommodation for up to six young people who may be experiencing emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. This home offers care and accommodation to young people on a short- term basis, for a period of assessment.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

09/12/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

18/03/2015 Interim Improved 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 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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