Children's Home run by Lonsdale Care Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report children’s home: 1183605 1 Registered provider: Lonsdale Care Ltd

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to take up to three children from 8 to 17 years of age irrespective of gender. The home provides care and accommodation for children who may display anti-social behaviours and/or emotional difficulties and moderate learning disabilities.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The current manager was registered with Ofsted on 29 February 2016 and holds the relevant qualification.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

p.1

outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

p.1

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.

p.1

outstanding

Date of last inspection: 21 February 2018

p.1

outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: improved effectiveness

p.1

outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 1183605 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/02/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness 01/06/2017 Full Good 24/01/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 21/06/2016 Full Requires improvement Inspection report children’s home: 1183605 3

p.2

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that, in line with their individual health plans and the ethos of the home, children are offered advice, support and guidance on health and well-being. Staff should have the relevant skills and knowledge to be able to help children understand, and where necessary work to change negative behaviours in key areas of health. In this instance, drugs and tobacco. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.18) In particular, clear assessments and plans are in place to reduce this risk-taking behaviour.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children make outstanding progress living here. The home is warm, calm and inviting and it is reflective of the children living there. The ethos of the home is based on good relationships with children, their families and other professionals that help and support the children.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children have excellent relationships with the staff. Children receive care and support that is consistent and child-centred. Children respond well to this. They trust staff and know that their home is a safe and supportive place to live. One child referred to the home as her home and said, ‘I love living here. It is better than any care home I have ever lived in and I would like to stay forever.’

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff encourage children to identify individual interests. Staff support them to develop these further. Children speak fondly of this and recognise that this helps them. They feel supported to try new things and develop new skills.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Access to a variety of new opportunities helps children grow in confidence. In addition, they enrich their outcomes and provide children with good childhood memories. One child said, ‘I thank everyone at [name of home] for making my journey special... I have made some real memories for life.’

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children benefit from clear routines and boundaries, which has a positive impact on their progress. They see the link between good routines and their health and well-being. Furthermore, they want to live happier and healthier lives. This area of practice would be further enhanced by having clearer assessment, planning and monitoring in place for children that smoke cigarettes.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Prior to coming to live here, children did not attend school regularly and they did not like it. They now all attend full-time and have excellent attainment and attendance. Children enjoy their education and feel enthused by their achievements. Furthermore, they have Inspection report children’s home: 1183605 4 a desire to reach their goals and achieve good outcomes in everything that they do.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children who have moved into the home have done so in a planned way. This is also evident for children that have moved on from the home. The transition arrangements are child-focused and to an excellent standard.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The quality of practice is to an excellent standard. Practice is informed by good assessments, clear planning and continuous monitoring and review.

p.4

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

Staff help children to feel safe. They offer a warm, nurturing and trusting environment, where children can grow and develop. Consequently, children feel safe and risk-taking and challenging behaviours reduce. Children invest in the home and enjoy living here.

p.4

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

Staff are clear about their roles and responsibilities. Staff manage safeguarding concerns effectively and in a timely manner. They work within policies and procedures to keep children safe and records are clear.

p.4

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

Staffing levels are good. Children have access to excellent levels of support. Staff are sensitive and insightful into the needs of the children. Assessments and plans are excellent. They reflect the child’s needs and risks and enable staff to keep children safe.

p.4

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

Children are encouraged to meet new friends and staff support them to take age- appropriate risks. This enables children to explore risks in a safe way. This increases their confidence and they learn to make good independent decisions. Staff help children to understand their behaviours and support them to manage and regulate these.

p.4

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

Staff recognise the value in working in a multi-agency way. Staff will seek help, guidance and services from other professionals to ensure that children have the correct help and support that they need.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers are passionate about their work, and they deliver the highest standard of care and support for children. Managers lead by example, and they ensure that children have a positive experience living here.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers support and empower staff to develop their knowledge and skills. As a result, staff grow in confidence and competence, and have high expectations of themselves and each other. Consequently, the standard of practice is consistently high.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff have regular supervision and day-to-day communication and support is excellent. Staff receive effective training that enhances their practice and improves the experiences and outcomes for the children.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Parents and professionals speak highly of the home and of the progress that children Inspection report children’s home: 1183605 5 make. One parent said that the communication with the home was very good. They said that their child was ‘doing absolutely brilliant’ and that he is in the ‘best place he’s ever been’.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers and staff are strong advocates for the children. They are extremely committed and always do their best for the children.

p.5

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.

p.5

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: 1183605 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 14 Meadowbarn Close, Cottam, Preston, Lancashire PR4 0AG

p.6

Inspector

Lisa Gregoire-Parker, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1183605 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.

p.6

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspector

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

p.7