Children's Home run by Lancashire County Council in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC039248 1 SC039248 Lancashire County Council Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is one of several operated by a local authority. The home has increased its number of registered beds from four to six children since the last inspection. The home offers accommodation for children and young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home has a mixture of bedrooms and two self-contained flats to give young people an experience of independence.

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Information about this children’s home

The current manager has been in post since 2014.

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This monitoring visit

An emergency suspension notice was issued to the provider on 21 June 2018. This followed the full inspection of the home on 19 and 20 June 2018, at which Ofsted judged this home to be inadequate.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this monitoring visit was to check compliance with the urgent suspension notice. During this visit, it was confirmed that no children or young people were living at the home. The provider has therefore complied with the notice.

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This monitoring visit

Part of this visit involved a meeting between senior managers of the local authority residential services, social care regulatory inspectors for Ofsted and their regulatory inspection manager. This meeting showed that the provider has started to carry out its own internal investigations and learning from the events at the home that led to the urgent suspension notice being served by Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

The local authority has already identified a number of areas for improvement including placement planning, the assessment and matching of young people’s needs prior to their placement, improving and developing internal monitoring systems, and developing escalation procedures.

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This monitoring visit

The responsible individual has also submitted an action plan that details a number of Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC039248 2 initial actions that have been undertaken such as a full staff-team debriefing and review of staff training to inform their next steps. Additionally, the provider has commissioned an external practitioner to undertake debriefings with staff and to work with the manager and staff on lessons learned.

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This monitoring visit

Work has begun to improve the home internally and externally. Progress was evident during a tour of the premises. Rubbish has been removed from the premises and graffiti have been removed from walls. There is also a planned schedule of works in place to redecorate the property and make any necessary repairs to the property.

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This monitoring visit

A fire safety inspection was completed by the fire service on 13 July and found that the home had adequate safety. Recommendations were made to the provider as part of this visit to further improve safety, and these are currently being actioned.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager is working with senior managers to address requirements and recommendations from the previous inspection, and there are no further requirements or recommendations from this visit.

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This monitoring visit

A further monitoring visit will be completed before the urgent suspension notice expires in September 2018.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 19/06/2018 Full Inadequate 26/07/2017 Full Good 31/01/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 24/10/2016 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC039248 3

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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. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC039248 4

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Lancashire County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: PO Box 78, County Hall, Fishergate, Preston PR1 8XJ

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Inspectors

Jessica Forshaw, social care inspector Marie Cordingley, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC039248 5 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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