Children's home run by ABC Care and Education Ltd in Lancaster

Inspection report children‟s home: SC443765 1 SC443765 Registered provider: ABC Care and Education Ltd

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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 is owned by a private company. It is registered to accommodate three young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It offers emergency, medium- and long-term placements. The registered manager has been in position since June 2018

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children‟s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children‟s home: SC443765 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/06/2017 Full Good 22/02/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 14/09/2016 Full Good 27/06/2016 Full Inadequate Inspection report children‟s home: SC443765 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

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained— the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (“the Level 3 Diploma”); or a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma. The relevant date is— in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1st April 2014, 1st April 2016. (Regulation 32 (4)(a)(b)(5)(a)(b)) 31/03/2019

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Recommendations

 When a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority must provide an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 45, paragraph 9.30) Inspection report children‟s home: SC443765 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people share good relationships with staff. They know that staff care about them and respect their individuality. Because of this, young people know that they are accepted regardless of their differences. They generally settle quickly into the home and gain a strong sense of belonging there. Young people are fully involved in their placement planning. They are able to express their preferences and what is most important to them. For example, one young person‟s wish to spend more time with his family pet has been recognised as important in reducing stress and improving his general well-being. Consequently, the dog is a regular visitor to the home, staying over each weekend with the young person. Staff are proactive in supporting young people‟s learning. For some, this involves practically supporting young people in the education environment, while, for others, this involves learning new skills to support their independence. This builds confidence and

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

resilience and promotes young people‟s self-esteem. Both young people currently living in the home have been successful in gaining interviews for more than one college and have been able to choose their preferred college courses. Young people‟s health and well-being is a priority to staff. Young people‟s routine health needs are well managed and supported by local healthcare services and professionals. Staff promote young people‟s independence, encouraging them to make their own appointments. Staff offer practical support and encouragement to make sure that these are kept and followed up. Staff are knowledgeable and sensitive in supporting young people‟s emotional needs. This includes helping young people to establish their own identity and self-worth. Young people are treated with respect and dignity, which is highly valued. One young person commented, „They are always really honest with me. I value that. They really care, they

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

listen to me and really support me well.‟ Parents and professionals are very satisfied with the standard of care that young people receive. They can identify the progress and positive experiences that young people enjoy. A parent commented, „He has made tremendous progress, he is like a different kid. His confidence has gone through the roof.‟

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

Young people‟s placements are carefully planned. Pre-placement risk assessments show clear consideration of how well staff can meet young people‟s needs, the potential for conflicting needs and young people‟s likely compatibility. Once in placement, young people‟s individual risk assessments are regularly reviewed and updated. These provide staff with the necessary information that they need to understand young people‟s risks and how these should be managed. Staff are trained in child protection and are knowledgeable of the safeguarding issues Inspection report children‟s home: SC443765 5 that increase young people‟s vulnerabilities. With their knowledge and experience, staff support and educate young people in keeping themselves safe. Young people‟s risk-taking behaviours, such as self-harming and substance misuse, significantly reduce during their time at this home. Working with local therapeutic and

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

advisory services, staff encourage young people to talk about their feelings and experiences. This helps them explore other ways to manage their feelings and behaviours. The quality of relationships that staff share with young people contributes to this success. Although young people feel safe and settled in this home, they do on occasion go missing from the home. When this occurs, staff work in cooperation with police and placing authorities to ensure that young people return quickly to the safety of the home. However, following a missing from home incident, independent return home interviews, that are the responsibility of the placing authority, are not routinely taking place within the required timescale. This creates unnecessary delay for young people should they wish to raise a concern with someone independent of the home. Staff are consistent in the rules and boundaries that they set in the home. This ensures

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

that young people know what to expect of staff and what is expected of them. Staff are trained and skilled in behaviour management. They successfully use learned techniques to de-escalate any potential conflicts. Physical intervention is rare, further reducing young people‟s risk of harm. The home‟s recruitment process is robust. Safer recruitment practice is understood and adhered to, to ensure that young people are only cared for by adults deemed safe to do so. Staff are vigilant in checking all visitors‟ identity and credentials prior to inviting them into the home. This measure helps to ensure that young people‟s safety is not compromised while at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has been in post since June 2018. She is working towards a level 5 qualification in children‟s residential care leadership and management. She is well supported by a deputy manager. Together, they are committed to providing a highly person-centred service that will positively nurture young people and support them to achieve good outcomes. Managers and staff have a thorough understanding of young people and their individual needs. They understand the importance of celebrating cultural differences and diversity to help young people learn tolerance, acceptance and the importance of inclusion. Staff say that they enjoy working in this home and feel well supported. They have regular supervision, team meetings and positive training opportunities. An annual appraisal process also promotes staff development and ensures that care practice meets the standards expected in the home‟s statement of purpose.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are suitably qualified or working towards a recognised qualification. However, not all staff working towards this qualification have completed this in the required two-year timescale. This is contrary to the regulatory requirement. Inspection report children‟s home: SC443765 6 Staff work collaboratively with parents, social workers and other professionals to ensure that young people achieve good outcomes. One social worker said, „It‟s what he wanted. Having been here before, he knew he had good relationships with the registered manager and staff team. He asked to return to this placement. The support he has received has been very significant.‟ Internal and external monitoring processes work effectively to scrutinise care practice and inform the home‟s development planning. Ofsted receive regular monthly reports from the home‟s independent person. In addition, the manager provides a six-monthly

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

review report of her monitoring activities. These reports are evaluative and provide Ofsted with good insight into the home‟s performance between inspections.

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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: SC443765 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: ABC Care and Education Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 5 Leyburn Road, Lancaster, Lancashire, LA1 2HZ

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Christopher Kennedy

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Inspector

Gillian Walters, social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: SC443765 8 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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