Children's home run by Lancashire County Council in Preston

Inspection report children’s home: SC035459 1 SC035459 Registered provider: Lancashire County Council

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides residential short-stay care for up to six young people who have learning disabilities and/or physical disabilities. The home is run by a local authority.

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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 outstanding

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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

Date of last inspection: 27 September 2017

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC035459 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/09/2017 Full Outstanding 26/01/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 13/09/2016 Full Outstanding 01/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC035459 3

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Recommendations

 Regulation 45 sets out requirements for the registered person to have a system in place which allows them to monitor the matters set out in the regulation at least once every six months. The review should enable the registered person to identify areas of strength and possible weakness in the home’s care, which will be captured in the written report. The report should clearly identify any actions required for the next 6 months of delivery within the home and how those actions will be addressed. The whole review process and the resulting report should be used as a tool for continuous improvement in the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, Page 65, paragraph 15)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people receive outstanding care and support. Managers and staff take time to develop in-depth understanding of young people’s needs and the things that are important to them. As a result, young people’s care is highly individualised and responsive to their needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people enjoy coming to the home and have happy experiences there. One young person commented, ‘The staff here are very friendly to me. It’s a place where I can be happy and chill out.’ Community participation is strongly encouraged. A parent said, ‘Without this home [x] wouldn’t get the chance to grow in confidence and have lovely trips out.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people’s daily lives are enhanced by the care they receive at the home. For example, staff have worked very closely with healthcare professionals and a young person’s parent to enable him to undergo a highly beneficial but complex medical procedure. A healthcare professional confirmed that this would not have been possible without the support from the home and said, ‘This has been teamwork at its very best, and the difference made to this young person and his family will be huge.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The strong commitment to inclusion is a particular strength of this home. A staff member commented, ‘What I like best is that every young person has a voice and is listened to.’ Staff develop clear understanding of each young person’s unique way of communicating. Young people’s care plans include comprehensive information about how they may express themselves. This could include the use of symbols, vocal sounds or non-verbal gestures. Staff take time to engage with young people in a meaningful way and ensure that they are encouraged and supported to express their thoughts and feelings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Managers and staff have provided an outstanding level of support to young people new Inspection report children’s home: SC035459 4 to the service and those moving on from it. Highly effective and at times, innovative methods have been used to ensure that young people’s transitions are successful. An external professional commented, ‘In my view, they are exceptional. I am consistently impressed by the level of support that they provide to young people in transition. Young people know that they are not on their own and this is empowering for them.’

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

Young people receive safe and effective care. Young people, their parents and external professionals express high levels of confidence in the home. A parent commented, ‘I am always more than happy with her being there. As a parent of a challenging child, I have no reservations whatsoever about recommending the home and all the staff to other parents.’

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

Risk assessment and risk management processes are highly effective. Managers ensure that staff receive specialist training to assist them in providing safe support. For example, staff have taken part in comprehensive training in relation to one young person’s complex healthcare needs.

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

Managers and staff demonstrate a good understanding of young people’s rights. Some positive work has recently taken place with outside agencies to ensure that the rights of one young person to enjoy increased independence are promoted, while ensuring that his best interests and capacity to make specific decisions are properly considered.

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

Staff have a highly developed understanding of young people’s emotional responses and behaviours. They work closely with young people to identify triggers to challenging behaviours and how young people can be best supported during times of anxiety or distress. The success of staff in assisting young people to develop safe and appropriate behaviours has led to staff working alongside some parents to help them in developing ways to support their children at home.

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

Incidents that require staff to physically restrain a young person are very rare in this home. On the rare occasion that they do occur, the registered manager carries out an in-depth analysis of the incident and ensures that all staff have the opportunity to reflect on the incident. An action plan is then developed to ensure that all possible measures are taken to avoid a reoccurrence.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

This home benefits from excellent leadership. There is a manager in place who has been registered since July 2012. He leads a management team that has high expectations and aspirations for young people. As a result, the home has consistently achieved outstanding ratings over several years.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Feedback from young people, their parents and external professionals is consistently outstanding. A social worker commented, ‘I can’t commend this home highly enough. They are kind, professional, knowledgeable as well as happy, friendly and welcoming. Inspection report children’s home: SC035459 5 The only thing I would change would be to have more homes like this one.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff team is highly motivated and very proud of the service. This is reflected in the consistently low staff turnover that the home experiences. One staff member commented, ‘The thing that I like most about working here is the ethos and culture of the place. It very child-centred and the child is at the forefront of everything we do.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive training that is carefully planned in line with young people’s needs. Supervision is highly effective and carefully planned. For example, supervision is provided on a more frequent basis for staff who key work with young people experiencing significant events, such as transition.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager uses internal monitoring effectively to ensure that young people’s experiences and progress are monitored. The registered manager constantly seeks feedback and looks for areas to develop. This means that young people benefit from a constantly improving service.

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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

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: SC035459 6

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Marie Cordingley, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC035459 7 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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