Lincolnshire Secure Unit

Inspection report children’s home: SC042921 1 SC042921 Registered provider: Lincolnshire County Council

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Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This secure children’s home is managed by a local authority. It is approved by the Department for Education to restrict young people’s liberty. The children’s home can accommodate up to 12 young people aged between 10 and 17 years. It provides for up to 11 young people placed by the Youth Justice Board and one place for young people accommodated under section 25 of the Children Act 1989 who are placed by local authorities. Admission of any young people under section 25 of the Children Act 1989 who are under 13 years of age requires the approval of the Secretary of State. The commissioning of health services in this home is the statutory responsibility of NHS England under the Health and Social Care Act 2012. Education is provided on site in dedicated facilities.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 7 February 2017

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

None Inspection report children’s home: SC042921 2

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved in effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This inspection examined progress made in meeting the four requirements and the one recommendation not related to the educational provision, made at the last inspection in February 2017. Inspectors also examined how leaders have ensured that practice and care are assessed and monitored and how they have developed the service to improve outcomes for young people.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The four requirements made at the last inspection have been fully addressed. The quality and effectiveness of scrutiny of key records by managers have improved. The records now contain all the information required and are completed to a good standard. Records concerning single separations or episodes when young people have had to be managed away from their peers are now clear. They give a good narrative on why the measure has been imposed, how staff have ensured that the criteria are being met and the reasons why the use of separation has either continued or ceased.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Members of staff have a varied training programme which ensures that they have the skills and knowledge to provide good-quality care to the young people. Since the last inspection, the managers have ensured that all members of staff have received training in managing self-harm and identifying and preventing radicalisation. This training has been effectively implemented in practice and has ensured that young people are protected and kept safe.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection, the roles of learning support assistants needed clarifying, as the assistants were sometimes becoming involved in supporting care staff in the residential part of the home, and this had led to start times of some classes being delayed. A protocol has been implemented which makes all staff roles clear and ensures that sufficient staffing is on hand to make sure that the young people’s educational routine is not disrupted.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

One recommendation made at the last inspection related to ensuring that all details about young people’s behaviours are shared at multi-disciplinary meetings so that care plans can be amended and strategies implemented if needed. This has been achieved. Regular meetings and discussions between members of staff from all disciplines review young people’s behaviours and targets and ensure that their needs are fully met.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people benefit from their time at this home. Comprehensive plans are made to ensure that they receive individualised care, which prepares them for their futures. These plans are developed using information from and expertise of staff from the different disciplines who work at this home. They include health and education staff, the care team and representatives from the local authority in which the young person lives. Inspection report children’s home: SC042921 3 Most importantly, the young person’s views are seen as central to this process and they are actively involved in identifying the support they need in order to improve their life chances. As a result, they have an investment in the care planning process, and this increases their chances of reflecting on their behaviours and implementing newly learned strategies.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers respond well to any safeguarding concerns which occur in the home. They liaise with child protection agencies promptly if any issues arise and implement plans which ensure that the young people are protected. Reviews of restraints are carried out regularly by representatives from the local child protection team. This transparent practice and independent analysis of any incidents ensure that the use of restraint has been proportionate and safe. This measure further protects young people’s safety and rights.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

A dynamic management team is open to suggestions about improving practice. Innovation is welcomed, and this has meant that continued efforts are made to improve the quality of care and opportunities for the young people. For example, since the last inspection, various initiatives have been implemented. One initiative has included involving the young people assisting a charity in assessing tenders for a project to support young people’s rights in institutions. This gives the young people in the home a very positive message that they are being listened to and that their views are important and welcomed, not just in in the home, but in the world at large.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Another initiative has involved the young people in the home being involved in a community project aimed at meeting other young people who are seen as being at risk of custody. The young people explain to those visiting the home the choices and realities of their situations and what they can do to avoid custody. One young person living in the home told the inspector that he wishes that someone had spoken to him like that when he was younger so that he could have avoided being locked up.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people in the home have also been involved in developing information leaflets which are given to young people prior to being brought to the home from court. These leaflets are written in the resident young people’s words and are aimed at informing the new young people about their home and explaining what it is like to live there.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some young people have also been involved in displaying their artwork in a local gallery. They have sold pictures and donated the money to a victim support charity. These initiatives have raised young people’s confidence and self-esteem. They have also enabled them to reflect on the choices they have made and given them a chance to have a positive influence on others in their community.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

No requirements or recommendations have been made as a result of this inspection. Inspection report children’s home: SC042921 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/02/2017 Full Good 27/07/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 25/02/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness 21/07/2015 Full Outstanding

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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 differences 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 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.

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Information about this inspection

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

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: SC042921 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Lincolnshire County Council, County Offices, Newland, Lincoln LN1 1YL

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Inspectors

Paul Taylor, social care inspector Linda Christie, Her Majesty’s Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC042921 6 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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