Children's Home run by Lancashire County Council in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC039248 1 SC039248

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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 offers accommodation for children and young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home also has two self-contained flats o give young people an experience of independence. These young people are included in the registered numbers for the home.

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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

At the full inspection on 19 and 20 June 2018, Ofsted judged this home to be inadequate. Ofsted held an urgent internal case review. The outcome of this review was that Ofsted issued an emergency suspension notice.

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This monitoring visit

An emergency suspension notice was issued to the provider on 21 June 2018. After a monitoring visit to the home on 8 September 2018, the suspension notice was extended further due to insufficient improvements at the home.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit demonstrated that the provider has undertaken a thorough programme of repair, redecoration and improvement in the home, both internally and externally. A new kitchen has been fitted, bedrooms have been redecorated and recarpeted and the home is now welcoming for children.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager, with senior manager support, has undertaken an action plan to address the concerns identified and requirements made at the full inspection. Regular team days have taken place that have provided staff with an opportunity to participate in reflective discussions and learn from previous incidents at the home. Staff and managers have discussed key areas, such as risk assessment and matching processes for children moving into the home. This has resulted in new guidance being issued to staff to ensure that practice is in line with the registered Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC039248 2 manager’s ethos, key areas of care practice are addressed and staff are up to date with procedures.

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This monitoring visit

The team has also benefited from individual one-to-one reflective sessions with an external consultant and as a result, individual training development plans are now in place. One member of staff said that as a result of the work undertaken by managers with the team, ‘The t eam are together and consistent and have an understanding of each other.’

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager has benefited from a period of mentoring with another registered manager from within the organisation. These mentoring sessions have provided the registered manager with an opportunity to develop good practice ideas. For example, one session focused on reviewing and analysing the records of young people in the home. Shortfalls were identified by the manager, and as a result, new guidance was issued, and a training session was held for the staff. Furthermore, the registered manager identified improvements for the monitoring and oversight of records by managers and this is included in the guidance.

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This monitoring visit

There has been a clear focus within the team on developing consistent boundaries and routines in the home and ensuring that clear behaviour management strategies are in place and followed. Staff have all undertaken further training in behaviour management as a team, which enabled a bespoke session to take place, focusing on areas that had previously led to serious incidents in the home. Team meetings have also taken place focusing on engagement with young people and building positive relationships. A key-worker booklet has been developed and shared with staff and plans are in place to invite professionals from outside agencies to future staff meetings to focus on issues relevant to the needs of children, such as children’s rights. A new handover book and daily routine schedule for staff have been developed to ensure that staff are sharing all relevant information, such as updates to plans, and assessments are being reviewed and shared with the team

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This monitoring visit

Guidance on reviewing and updating risk assessments has been produced by managers. This guidance has been delivered and shared with staff in team meetings. Reflection and discussion have taken place on risk assessments, in particular, the importance of clear strategies to manage and minimise risks. Staff have been given clear instructions on features of a good risk assessment, including the use of language and examples of poor practice and good practice.

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This monitoring visit

The admission procedure for the home has been reviewed and new guidance issued to all the staff. A thorough guidance document on the key features of a good impact risk assessment to promote the matching of children when considering admissions to the home has been developed by the registered manager. The document focuses on ensuring that the needs of children in the home are carefully considered alongside the children who are being placed. The guidance is also clear about steps to follow when the registered manager considers that a potential placement will have a detrimental impact on the child or other children in the home. The guidance also Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC039248 3 addresses the procedure to follow when concerns are identified relevant to children who are already living together. The new escalation policy sets out the procedures for managers to review the placements of children to ensure that their needs are

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This monitoring visit

Procedures for admissions to the home have been reviewed to ensure that all staff are aware of the expectations of staff in welcoming children who are moving into the home. The registered manager has focused on the emotional well-being of children moving into the home and has established resources for children and staff to provide support. The consultant psychologist based in the organisation has committed to providing input for staff with new admissions and to provide clinical input to the team to help to develop and establish plans for children. Furthermore, the statement of purpose has been updated to reflect that the home will no longer accept emergency admissions.

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This monitoring visit

Since the full inspection, there have been some changes to staffing at the home and a new deputy manager has started working at the home. The registered manager has delegated tasks between the members of the management team to ensure that he can have clear oversight and monitoring systems in place. The registered manager has undertaken a review with the independent visitor to ensure that independent visits and reports provide additional safeguards in ensuring the safety and well-being of children in the home. In addition, senior management will also undertake monthly visits and produce a report for the registered manager to strengthen monitoring and oversight arrangements and provide an opportunity for the manager to reflect and discuss any emerging themes or issues.

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This monitoring visit

Following this monitoring visit, the notice of suspension has been lifted.

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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 4

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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 5

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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

Louise Redfern, social care compliance inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC039248 6 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

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

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