Children's home run by Care Afloat Ltd in West Lancashire

Interim inspection report children’s home: SC006014 1 SC006014 Registered provider: Care Afloat Ltd. Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is operated by a private company.

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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 effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been significant progress made in meeting the requirements and recommendations from the last inspection. This and other developments mean that the home is providing a higher quality of care. The manager and her staff team have been instrumental in driving the improvements.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The frequency of incidents of young people going missing from care has fluctuated since the last inspection. The manager has analysed these incidents and has put successful strategies in place to reduce the frequency of missing-from-home incidents. For example, risk assessments have been reviewed and additional strategies introduced, and on the whole this has been successful. Independent return home interviews are offered to young people, with some local authorities commissioning a nearby service to Interim inspection report children’s home: SC006014 2 undertake them on their behalf. This is working well, however the young people comment that they ‘don’t always tell the truth’ at these interviews.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The statement of purpose has been amended to include details of the supervision that the therapy team receives, and from whom. The therapy team is commissioned by the organisation to provide care and therapy, where needed.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

When reviewing the quality of care provided in the home, the registered manager has sought the views of external stakeholders, including parents, to identify areas that work well and areas that can be improved. However, the regulation 44 visitor has made little or no contact with partners that work with staff and young people in the home. A number of community partners work with young people, but no attempts have been made to gather their views on the service, to complement the views of parents and local authority staff. This requirement has therefore been repeated.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people moving in to live at the home have their needs fully assessed, and consideration is given to any impact that new admissions may have on the existing young people; strategies have been developed to minimise any risks. A young person who has moved on from the home has moved into a semi-independent placement in her home town, and near to her family. The move was well supported. The staff at the home have been to visit the young person since her move to enquire about her well-being, and to see how she is getting along. She has signed up for a Prince’s Trust course, and is regularly in contact with cousins and nieces nearby.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people and staff are building stronger relationships with each other, and staff are spending quality time with young people. A young person, parent and social worker were very positive about the home, and the young person wrote about leaving the home, ‘In a way I’m glad because it’s a new start in life, and in a way I’m sad because it’s like my second home because I’ve been here for so long.’ Her mother said, ‘Any child that is placed at … is very lucky, and their family, as they will end up with loads of support from staff.’

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s attitude towards education is changing. They are getting out of bed in the mornings and trying new things. Young people are more gainfully employed during the day, including attending education or training. Two young people are heavily involved in the music scene and attend a music centre to gain qualifications in music and production. They are gaining a sense of achievement and developing a drive to succeed. Their sometimes small but significant achievements are spurring them on to succeed further, including in their education or training.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Instances of physical intervention are low. There has been only one since the last inspection, and this was recorded in detail in a prompt way. In addition, the manager discussed the incident with the young person to help him to understand why the intervention had been necessary, and to help him to reflect on his actions.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s physical and emotional health is improving. They are supported by staff who have been trained, and who are competent in helping them to deal with their Interim inspection report children’s home: SC006014 3 individual physical and emotional health needs associated with smoking cannabis. There has been a significant decrease in episodes of smoking cannabis; in fact, the manager is confident that the young people are not involved in it at all.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has received one complaint from a neighbour, and this is currently ongoing. The alleged incident happened in October 2017. Although the neighbour chose not to involve the police, they will, now and again, raise the issue, and sometimes with hostility. The manager and staff are logging all the events.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The statement of purpose has been reviewed and provided to HMCI, and this clearly sets out the aims and objectives of the home, and what it aims to achieve. Overall, the arrangements for monitoring the home against its statement of purpose are driving improvement. The manager has carried out a comprehensive and insightful review of the quality of care, and this has been forwarded to Ofsted. The review identifies positive aspects of the work of the home, and identifies areas and plans for development over the next six months. The views of all relevant people have not been incorporated into the review, and this is a missed opportunity to strengthen the quality of care provided. An independent visitor carries out a monthly assessment of the quality of care, and makes recommendations for improvement that the manager addresses.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/05/2017 Full Good 22/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 06/12/2016 Full Requires improvement 08/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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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

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. 31/01/2018 Interim inspection report children’s home: SC006014 4 (Regulation 45(5))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to the regular consultation and evaluation of opinions of those individuals which are reflected in the review by the Regulation 44 visitor.

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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’.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 158 Birkrig, Skelmersdale, Lancashire WN8 9HP

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Michael Fletcher

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Inspector

Elaine Clare, social care inspector Interim inspection report children’s home: SC006014 5 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

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Inspector

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Inspector

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