Children's Home run by Care Afloat Ltd in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC006011 1 SC006011

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Care Afloat Limited

Monitoring visit 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 two children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is owned and operated by a private company.

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This monitoring visit

At the full inspection on 24 and 25 January 2018, the home was judged inadequate. A number of shortfalls were identified, including the registered manager’s and staff’s lack of awareness and understanding of serious safeguarding matters. As a result of these shortfalls, young people were not safeguarded effectively because the registered manager and staff did not recognise, assess and respond appropriately to all potential risks. The lack of robust safeguarding practice compromised young people’s welfare and safety. Additionally, poor leadership and management practice impacted adversely on the quality of care and support provided to young people. The registered manager’s ineffective monitoring of the service did not identify the decline in the quality of care and protection provided by the team. Two compliance notices were issued under section 22A of the Care Standards Act 2000, in particular regulations 12, the help

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This monitoring visit

and protection of children standard, and 13, the leadership and management standard. On 12 March 2018, Marina Tully and Lisa Mulcahy, social care regulatory inspectors completed an unannounced monitoring visit. The purpose of this monitoring visit was to assess the progress made by the provider regarding the two compliance notices. The registered manager has taken sufficient steps to improve safeguarding practice at the home. Risk assessments are more robust and now identify more clearly the full range of young people’s needs and vulnerabilities. The revised risk assessments now provide staff with improved guidance on what action they must take when a Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC006011 2 young person is at risk of significant harm, for example child sexual exploitation and unsafe internet use. Young people have benefited from having their bedrooms redecorated and refurnished, which is motivating young people to keep their personal space clean

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This monitoring visit

and tidy. Consequently, the cleanliness and conditions of young people’s bedrooms have improved significantly. To sustain this progress, the manager has introduced twice-weekly bedroom checks and young people have signed a contract to agree to staff entering and cleaning their rooms if necessary. The home improvements and staff’s regular bedroom checks are making the home a safer environment to live in. Staff and the young people have undertaken internet safety training. This training provided staff and the young people with a greater awareness and understanding of the potential risks of the internet and how to use it safely. Staff provide young people with regular support that is targeted to the young person’s individual needs, for example online safety, fire safety and sexual health. Consequently, young people benefit from improved key-work sessions with staff and they are learning how to keep themselves and others safe.

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This monitoring visit

Better monitoring systems are helping the manager to identify shortfalls and improve and develop the home. Additionally, staff receive clear management direction and support through regular professional supervision and team meetings. As a result, the quality of and consistency in care has improved. Ofsted has now received the updated statement of purpose, the backlog and the most recent independent monitoring reports. This improved communication with Ofsted is enabling the service regulator to evaluate changes in the service and monitor the quality of care provided by the team at the home. No further enforcement action is planned. However, a further inspection will take place to review how these improvements are being embedded into the home’s practice and to ensure that the service’s ongoing development is sustained.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 24/01/2018 Full Inadequate 16/11/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 26/04/2016 Full Good 23/02/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC006011 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

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must ensure that staff— seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans; seek to input services required to meet each child’s need; seek to maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5(a)(b)(d)) 30/03/2018

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children and that they use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff— provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background; provide to children personal items that are appropriate for their age and understanding; ensure that the premises used for the purpose of the home are designed and furnished so as to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6(1)(a)(b)(2)(b)(iv)(viii)(c)(i)) 30/03/2018

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff— help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans; support 30/03/2018 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC006011 4 each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study; understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers; help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment; promote opportunities for each child to learn informally; help a child who is excluded from school, or who

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Requirement Due date

is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible; and that each child has access to appropriate equipment, facilities and resources to support the child’s learning. (Regulation 8(1)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(viii)(b)) The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child; help each child to understand how to keep safe; have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; take effective action whenever there

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Requirement Due date

is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and protect each child effectively from harm; that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(vi)(b)(d)) 02/03/2018

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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. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose; ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate; 02/03/2018 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC006011 5 use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13(1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(h)) The registered person must keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees— receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33(4)(b)(c)) 30/03/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that— within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes— the name of the child; details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure; the date, time location of the use of the measure; a description of the measure and its duration; details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure; the name of the person who used the measure (‘the user’) and any other person present when the measure was used; the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure; within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (‘the authorised person’)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35(3)(a)(b)(c)) 30/03/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain in the home the records in schedule 4. (Regulation 37(1)(2)(a)) In particular, the registered person must ensure that the register of admissions and discharges contains details of the child’s address immediately before admission to the home 30/03/2018 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC006011 6 and the child’s address on leaving the home. The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month. The registered person must ensure that the independent person produces a report about a visit (‘the independent person’s report’) which sets out, in particular, the independents person’s opinion as to whether— children are effectively safeguarded; and the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being. The independent person’s report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home

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Requirement Due date

and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions. The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to HMCI. (Regulation 44(1)(4)(5)(7)(a)) 30/03/2018

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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 every 6 months. In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating— the quality of care provided to children; the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided to children. After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (‘the quality of care review report’). The registered person must supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on

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Requirement Due date

which the quality of care review was completed. (Regulation 45(1)(2)(a)(b)(c)(3)(4)(a)) 30/03/2018

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Recommendations

 Children must be consulted regularly on their views about the home’s care, to inform and support continued improvement in the quality of care provided. Due consideration should be given to the child’s cognitive ability in the development and implementation of any consultation processes. Children should be able to see the results of their views being listened to and acted Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC006011 7 upon. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.11)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Care Afloat Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Michael Fletcher

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Inspectors

Marina Tully, social care inspector Lisa Mulcahy, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC006011 8 to 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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