Children's home run by Paramount Care and Safety Ltd in Fylde

Inspection report children's home: 1179497 1 Registered provider: Paramount Care and Safety Ltd

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned home which provides care and accommodation for one child who has emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 8 February 2017

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Declined in effectiveness

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Key findings from this inspection

 The young person is making good progress from their starting point. The young person is engaged in education tailored to their individual needs. Staff support young people to achieve their potential, particularly around dancing. Inspection report children's home: 1179497 2  The young person is supported to form positive and trusting relationships with staff. These relationships underpin effective behaviour management and contribute to keeping them safe.

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Key findings from this inspection

 The young person is supported to have positive contact with their families. Staff work in partnership with families who are often invited to stay at the home for tea.

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Key findings from this inspection

The children’s home’s areas for development

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Key findings from this inspection

 A recommendation has been repeated from the last inspection with regard to staff needing to develop the skills to recognise and be alert to any signs that might indicate a child is in any way at risk of harm.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/02/2017 Interim Declined in effectiveness 13/09/2016 Full Good 27/01/2016 Full Requires improvement Inspection report children's home: 1179497 3

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Recommendations

 Staff need the skills to recognise and be alert for any signs that might indicate a child is in any way at risk of harm.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home provides care and accommodation for a young person who has complex emotional needs; the young person can display significantly challenging behaviour. Staff at this home understand the importance of building on the strengths of young people and not giving up on them and, as a result, they feel listened to. Their views and choices are given good consideration.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home provides good stability, allowing the young person to develop relationships with the staff and to progress in all areas of their life. They have a clear understanding of what is expected of them. They are effectively guided and well supported by staff who understand and can respond effectively to their needs. This approach has allowed them to begin to develop socially acceptable behaviour and to take some responsibility for their actions. As a result, there is a reduction in difficult behaviour related to anxiety. In addition, their emotional well-being is gradually improving.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Care is taken by staff to identify and plan effectively to meet the needs of the young person. Good health support is provided, and includes the services of mental health professionals and access to child and adolescent mental health services. Young people are encouraged to attend routine health appointments.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A good range and variety of activities are provided for the young person; these support their physical and emotional development well. They attend a local youth club with friends and a weekly gymnastics club. Good use is made of local facilities, when possible, so that they are integrated into their local community. Alongside staff’s support for their emotional well-being, the young person is encouraged to develop practical life skills, such as cooking and cleaning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The local high school has made substantive and unrelenting efforts to provide full-time education for the young person, providing consistency in their life. The young person is currently undertaking their GCSEs and staff are working on an education revision plan to help them achieve good grades in their exams. This includes many hours on dance practice, a particular subject that they excel in.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Contact with parents and other family members is encouraged and supported well by staff, when possible. The young person living at the home spends time with their family; this time is valued by the young people. They are encouraged to develop and sustain Inspection report children's home: 1179497 4 friendships with other young people. Friends are free to visit and spend time at the home, and are welcome to stay for meals or join in with activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home offers young people a warm and friendly environment. Young people can decorate their room to their own taste and pictures show staff and the young person in their overalls wallpapering the main lounge with paper chosen by the young person.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The young person has found a long-term home here, and staff have a genuine affection for them and are consistently positive about their potential life opportunities. The social worker and other professionals appreciate the tolerance of and dedication to the young person, especially following incidents which resulted in significant anxiety around behaviours that were displayed.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The care and support provided by staff contribute well to the young person reducing their risk-taking behaviours. They are helped to explore and consider alternatives to self- destructive responses when they feel frustrated and/or anxious. Staff’s ability to recognise early signs of distress allows them to intervene and helps to avoid incidents escalating.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Carefully considered risk assessments help staff to anticipate and respond appropriately to any issues which may affect the safety or well-being of the young person. Incidents of them being missing from the home have reduced over time. The strategies in place to support staff and other agencies to find the young person quickly and return them to safety are effective.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The young person is able to take age-appropriate risks which promote their developing independence. These opportunities are carefully considered, taking into account their particular vulnerabilities and their individual support needs.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

A number of different strategies are used to effect change to difficult behaviour. Rewards, praise and encouragement are the preferred methods used by staff. Decisions are always made in the best interests of young people.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Young people have good access to the services that they need, which will improve their mental health and well-being. Professional stakeholders provide guidance around a variety of issues, including self-harm. There has been a gradual and sustained reduction in risk-tasking behaviour.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The young person feels listened to; they are able to express their concerns to staff and meet with other adults who will advocate on their behalf, if necessary. Staff are clear about how to safeguard them and know how to respond effectively to any child protection issues affecting the young person living at the home. However, some safeguarding incidents have not been responded to effectively. For example, when a disclosure was made that one of the young person’s friends was having a sexual relationship with an adult male, staff did not inform the friend’s parents. This Inspection report children's home: 1179497 5 demonstrates a lack of responsibility as a professional to protect all vulnerable children in the community.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Arrangements for the recruitment of staff are designed to avoid unsuitable adults working with young people. Attention to health and safety, including fire safety, also contributes to keeping young people safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Following a period of difficulty with regard to management, a new and suitably experienced and qualified manager is now in place. She is a thoughtful, reflective and child-centred practitioner who has the confidence of both the staff team and the senior leaders.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision and support. Discussions take place following significant incidents and provide opportunities for staff to learn and develop their practice to provide the best possible care to the young person. Essential training and specialist training are provided to staff, alongside opportunities to undertake care qualifications. Staff’s knowledge and understanding are assessed during supervision, team meetings and in discussions following incidents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Relationships with professionals and families are productive. Work with other agencies is good and contributes to providing for the needs of the young person and helping them to progress. In particular, the staff are currently working on a daily basis with education providers to support learning.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have undertaken a review of care plans and work collaboratively with the placing authority. This work has contributed to the staff team providing a good service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Independent monitoring of the quality of care provided in the home and monitoring by the manager provide additional safeguards for the young person. Leaders and the manager are aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. Practice development needs are identified early to improve the care that is given. Systems help to avoid things being missed, and ensure that all staff can contribute to making improvements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Records, including policy documents, are available within the home. The home’s statement of purpose is kept up to date and accurately describes the services provided to young people.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and young people and their families. In Inspection report children's home: 1179497 6 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.

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Information about this inspection

Using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’, this inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, 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’. Inspection report children's home: 1179497 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Paramount Care and Safety Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Office 1, The Old Fire Station, Byron Street, Blackburn, BB2 2LE

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Inspector(s)

Elaine Clare, social care inspector Inspection report children's home: 1179497 8 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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