Children's Home run by Lifetime Opportunities Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report children‟s home: SC063103 1 SC063103 Registered provider: Lifetime Opportunities 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

The home is run by a privately owned company and is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to five children and/or young people who have a learning disability.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 14 to 15 November 2017

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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outstanding

The children‟s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children‟s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: Sustained effectiveness

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Key findings from this inspection

This children‟s home is outstanding because: Inspection report children‟s home: SC063103 2  The manager and staff have demonstrated a strong child-focused commitment to the young people in the home by ensuring that staff shortages within the team have not undermined continuity of care.  Young people continue to make exceptional progress in all aspect of their lives. This is because they are provided with excellent levels of support that focus on helping them overcome the challenges they face in their lives, in particular those associated with their disabilities.  Young people are settled and regard this as their home. All aspects of daily life are carefully planned around the individual needs of each young person.  Young people benefit significantly from well-established and consistently implemented routines that provide reassurance, reduce their anxieties and promote a sense of stability.  Young people have strong, reciprocal attachments with the manager and staff

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Key findings from this inspection

who give their individual needs the utmost priority.  Staff are effective at keeping young safe. They demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of each young person‟s behaviour, risks and vulnerabilities and take a multi-agency approach to managing these.  Strong links with parents, relatives and external professionals ensures a collaborative approach to all aspects of care planning and risk management. Feedback from stakeholders is consistently positive.

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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

 Achieving continuity of care relies significantly on the manager working a full- time care rota due to insufficient numbers of staff within the core team.  A number of staff have failed to acquire an appropriate qualification within regulatory timescales.  The manager has failed to complete and provide HMCI the six-monthly review of quality of care review.  The manager was unable to provide written records that evidence that staff supervision is taking place.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 30/11/2016 Full Outstanding 25/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 02/12/2015 Full Outstanding Inspection report children‟s home: SC063103 3

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, Children‟s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the „Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children‟s home that helps children aspire to fulfil their potential and promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child. (Regulation 13(1)(a–b) and (2)(d)

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Requirement Due date

This is with specific reference to recruiting a sufficient number of staff to the core team and reducing the over reliance on the manager covering shifts. This should be done prior to the registered manager assuming any additional management responsibility within the organisation. 20/12/2017

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Requirement Due date

Ensure any individual who works in the home in a care role has the attained the appropriate qualification, by the relevant date. (Regulation 32(4)) 20/12/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months and supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed. (Regulation 45(1)(4)(a)) 20/12/2017

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Recommendations

 Ensure that supervision records are accessible to the manager and are available for the purpose of inspection to provide evidence that supervision is being delivered in line with regulation 33(4)(b). („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 61, paragraph 13.3)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Inspection report children‟s home: SC063103 4 Both young people have lived at this home for a number of years. Their individual care and support and the day-to-day operation of the home is planned around their known and emerging needs. They are provided with well-thought-out and purposeful routines that staff consistently implement. These routines are designed to provide a level of predictability for young people who often find it difficult to understand and cope with some of the challenges they face in their lives. This approach has been very effective in supporting them to make progress across all aspects of their social and emotional development. Parents, relatives and professionals confirm this, and are consistently positive about the achievements of their respective young people. One professional said, „I can‟t speak highly enough of the manager and staff. (Name) has made significant progress and how they manage (name) on a day-to-daybasis is incredible. (Name) is

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

where they are because of the manager and staff.‟

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The warm and affectionate relationships that young people share with staff, in particular the manager, continue to be a significant feature of this home. It was noticeable how settled and at ease young people were during the inspection and how well they coped with the presence of the inspector. This is a testament to how safe and secure they feel living in this home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff recognise young people as individuals with their own set of diversely unique needs, and provide good one-to-one support for them. While acknowledging the challenges brought about by disabilities, staff make every effort to ensure that young people are not unnecessarily marginalised because of them. Social inclusion forms part of everyday life, and every opportunity is taken to promote this. For example, young people will regularly go out for meals, attend youth clubs and go for walks in the park.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people‟s needs, views and wishes are integral to home life. Staff are skilful and persistent in their efforts to overcome barriers to communication and use a range of approaches to enable young people to have their say. However, they do not over-rely on communication aids, actively encouraging young people to verbalise their thoughts and feelings. Indeed, having inspected the home on a number of occasions the inspector was impressed with the increased vocabulary and understanding demonstrated by one young person in particular.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The manager is a strong advocate for the young people in her care. She makes every effort to ensure that their needs are understood and that external networks of support are in place for them. Professionals confirm that the manager is proactive in promoting a multi-agency approach to care planning, which is based on the principles of thorough assessment, monitoring and review. A social worker said, „The manager and staff, in particular (names‟) keyworker, are good advocates and always prioritise (names‟) needs. They are willing to engage with parents and professionals because they want to get it right for the young person and will challenge professionally to ensure everyone is pulling their weight.‟

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff are trained to meet young people‟s specific health needs, including understanding autistic spectrum disorders. They work hard to provide the necessary support that enables each young person to maintain a healthy lifestyle, including good diet and Inspection report children‟s home: SC063103 5 exercise. Each young person‟s health needs are clearly identified in their individual plans. The manager maintains good oversight of these plans and ensures that strong links with health professionals and agencies are maintained. She ensures that staff are consistently working to the plans and that staff are preparing young people and reducing their fears and anxieties effectively when planning for appointments. Consequently, young people are receiving regular health checks and the support of specialist services such as the learning disability nurse.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Education is fully promoted and is part of each young person‟s daily routine. Both young people maintain high levels of attendance and are making extremely good progress relative to their individual needs and ability. Education professionals are exceedingly positive about how the manager and staff promote and support education. They talk about collaborative working, effective information sharing and the consistent implementation of shared strategies designed to promote positive behaviour and educational engagement. A representative of one school said, „Staff are professional and better than most other children‟s homes we work with. (Name) is always well presented and prepared for school. We share information on a daily basis which helps us work together. I can‟t speak highly enough of the manager who will always discuss and support us when addressing issues‟.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people are supported to have purposeful contact with their parents and relatives, in accordance with their individual plans. All contact is agreed, well planned and supported effectively to ensure that it is a safe and positive experience for all concerned. The manager and staff maintain close links with parents and relatives, and ensure they are kept up to date with their child‟s progress and care. This helps reassure them that their child is being well looked after. A relative wrote, „Staff are always pleasant and ready to answer any questions. They are very helpful. The manager is very professional and always a pleasure to talk to. (Name) is maturing and her school results have improved. She has her moments but the manager keeps me up to date.‟

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

There is a constant focus on helping young people prepare for the future. Opportunities to learn new skills and become more independent form part of daily life in this home. For example, it is now a matter of routine that young people will put their laundry into wash, help prepare snacks and tidy up after themselves at mealtimes. These small steps are significant for some young people who will require an immense amount of support when they leave this home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people are at various stages of preparing to leave this home, with one being due to transition to an adult placement early in the new year. The manager has been influential in promoting a proactive approach to transition planning over the last 18 months. She has worked closely with the placing authority, attending best interest meetings, sharing information and contributing to assessments for future placements and services. This, combined with the focus on teaching basic life skills, provides a good platform for the young person to move on to adult services. An adult transition worker spoke very positively about the care and support that has been provided so far. He expressed a confidence in the staff and the manager to remain committed to the plan Inspection report children‟s home: SC063103 6 and support a successful transition once the identified placement has been confirmed.

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

Keeping young people safe is an integral part of day-to-day practice. Staff are clear about their safeguarding responsibilities and take them very seriously indeed. They provide one-to-one staffing, which ensures that young people receive the supervision and support they need to keep them safe. A great deal of thought is given to which member of staff works with each young person, considering factors such as who the young person likes and responds to, as well as skills and personalities. This is planned in advance and helps staff prepare for their shift and ensure that each young person‟s daily routines are consistently followed. This is of significant importance in reducing unnecessary anxiety for some young people and is a key component of providing a sense of security that makes them feel safe. A social worker said, „Staff understand well (name‟s) needs and are really good at making him feel safe. They have a good routine for (name) who calls [this home] home. I have no

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

concerns because it is all about the safety of young people.‟

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

There is a cohesive approach taken to understanding and managing each young person‟s behaviours and risks. Parents and professionals are fully involved in the formulation of detailed risk assessments and behaviour management plans. These are used as working documents, are regularly reviewed and discussed, and are consistently implemented across a range of settings including school and the family home. A family liaison officer said, „The manager and staff are very professional and their support is excellent. Guidance, boundaries and routines are shared and staff are very supportive in helping (name) understand her behaviour and the impact of her actions. This support has helped take (name) forward. It is a real partnership that has benefited (name).‟

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

Staff are trained in safeguarding, including factors that are specific to the needs of young people who have disabilities. Staff know exactly what to do if they are concerned about the safety of a young person and take decisive action to protect them. This, combined with their comprehensive knowledge and understanding of each young person‟s behaviours, risks and vulnerabilities, means that they are highly effective in the management and reduction of risks and behaviours, in particular those associated with their disability. A parent wrote, „(Name) has calmed down a lot. We could not take (name) out, but in the time he has spent at the home he is now going shopping and without the need for his harness. We have been really satisfied with the service provided. The only improvement that could be made would be for (name) to stay there when he reaches 18. My husband and I are upset that he is leaving. The staff have been

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

Staff are very calm and caring in their approach and young people respond positively to this. They make exceptionally good use of preventative behaviour management techniques and positive relationships when responding to challenging behaviour. They Inspection report children‟s home: SC063103 7 are good at recognising changes in mood and take action to reassure young people and reduce their feelings of anxiety or frustration. This has been highly effective in helping young people to regulate better their behaviour, relative to their level of understanding and self-control. This proactive and supportive approach has significantly reduced the need for external controls such as physical restraint, which is only used when all other avenues of support have been completely exhausted. On the occasions that restraint has been used, it has been done in a sensitive, caring and supportive manner using the lowest level of intervention possible and for the shortest period of time.

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

The home provides young people with a safe place to live. They are protected from hazards by a range of effective health and safety procedures, risk assessments and routine checks to ensure that the premises are safe. Fire drills are regularly undertaken to enable young people to know how to respond in the event of a fire. Good consideration is given to their individual needs such as the level of staff support required, which is clearly outlined in each young person‟s personal evacuation plan.

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

The organisational procedures for recruiting staff are thorough. All staff recruited since the last inspection have been subjected to thorough checks and vetting, and rigorous interview processes. When the manager is not involved specifically in the recruitment process, she ensures that she checks all written records prior to the applicant starting work in the home. She knows her young people well and is committed to ensuring that they are suitability protected and only cared for by staff who have the right skills to meet their needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is run by a suitably qualified and experienced manager who has been registered with Ofsted since March 2013. She demonstrates a dedicated commitment to the young people in her care and gives their needs the utmost priority. For example, the home has been running with a number of vacancies in the core team for several months. Shifts have been covered using a small pool of staff from other homes within the organisation, some occasional use of agency staff and the manager frequently covering shifts herself. From the rota seen, the manager has only had one dedicated management day since July 2017. To her credit, and because of her dedication to the young people and the commitment of her core team, this has not significantly impacted on the quality of her day-to-day management of the home or the quality of care provided for young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Senior management within the organisation has recognised that staffing is an issue in a number of homes. The management team has analysed the issue and has begun to formulate plans designed to address the recruitment and retention issues that have been faced over recent months. However, it will take time for these plans to come to fruition. Although a recent addition to the team has reduced the vacancies in this home to two, there is still a high reliance on the manager covering shifts to maintain continuity of care. This is a factor that will need to be considered as part of the manager‟s recent application to register to be the manager of second home. Inspection report children‟s home: SC063103 8 The manager has high expectations of her staff and supports them to deliver a child- focused service. Staff are realistic about the challenges that the home has and continues to face, and have shown resilience and continued commitment in ensuring that these

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

challenges have little impact directly on the care of young people. They confirm that they receive regular supervision, which is both purposeful and focused on helping them overcome the challenges of their work. However, the manager was unable to provide records of these supervisions.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Young people are well supported because staff know them well. There is a good level of experience within the core team and the staff used from other homes. Staff are clearly proud of what each young person has achieved, and talk with passion and warmth about them. They have the utmost respect for the manager who they say is available and provides them with high levels of support. One staff member said, „Shifts with the manager are like a supervision. We are always discussing the young people and how best we can make it work and support them.‟

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Opportunities for staff to maintain and improve their skills and knowledge are readily available to them. They complete regular training in key areas such as safeguarding, medication, first aid and behaviour management. In addition, they are provided with needs-led training, which has included epilepsy awareness and understanding autistic spectrum disorders. The manager and the recently appointed senior hold a relevant qualification to their role. The remaining two members of the core team are in the process of completing the level 3 diploma but are now outside of the regulatory timescale for completion.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Day-to-day monitoring activity remains good. Regular audits of young people‟s records, care plans and risk assessments ensure that their needs are recognised, recorded and prioritised. Some areas of development have continued, for example the introduction of a sensory garden. The manager continues to express a frustration that she has no time to focus on developing and improving the home, something that she expressed at the interim inspection in March 2017. Throughout this challenging time she has remained realistic about the current situation and openly states that her focus, quite rightly, has been on sustaining high levels of care for the young people. She recognises that this cannot be sustained much longer because some management tasks are not being completed in a timely manner. For example, she has not yet completed the bi-annual review of quality of care for the period of March to September 2017, which should have

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

been submitted to Ofsted in October 2017.

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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 Inspection report children‟s home: SC063103 9 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

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: SC063103 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Lifetime Opportunities Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Windsor House, Bayshill Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL50 3AT

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Inspector

Paul Scott, social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: SC063103 11 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

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Inspector

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Inspector

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