Children's Home run by Lancashire County Council in Lancashire

Inspection report children’s home: 1241782 1 Registered provider: Lancashire County Council Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to six young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural needs.

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Judgement at last inspection: good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the home’s last inspection, two young people have moved on to semi-independent settings. Both young people received a good level of support during and after their move to assist them through their transition.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person has been admitted to the home. The registered manager ensured that appropriate consideration was given to the young person’s needs before agreeing to offer him a place. A well-detailed impact risk assessment was completed, so that any risks relating to the young person’s care could be identified and managed. This addresses a requirement made at the last inspection.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Most young people continue to make good progress. Where young people face barriers to progression, the registered manager and staff identify this and work well with external professionals. This helps to ensure that young people have access to additional or Inspection report children’s home: 1241782 2 specialist support to meet their needs.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager and staff continue to demonstrate the ability to develop positive relationships with young people, particularly young people who have struggled to engage and have previously experienced multiple placement breakdowns. This enables young people to settle and make progress in areas that have previously been of concern. For example, a young person who had an extensive history of being missing in previous placements has reduced and eventually ceased his episodes of going missing since his admission.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection, a requirement was made regarding risk assessment and the development of risk management plans. The registered manager was able to demonstrate that this requirement has been suitably addressed. Young people’s risk assessments are well detailed and include clear guidance for staff in how to manage identified risks. The registered manager was able to provide good evidence of effective joint working with external professionals to help ensure that young people are protected from harm.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection, there were concerns identified about the mix of young people and the potential for some young people to negatively impact the progress of others. These concerns were also identified by the registered manager and consistently raised by the independent visitor who carries out monthly quality assurance checks at the home. Despite this, the provider failed to support the registered manager in addressing the matter. Due to some young people moving on to independence, the concerns have reduced. However, in allowing the situation to continue the provider failed to demonstrate effective leadership. Therefore, a requirement raised at the home’s last inspection in relation to leadership and management is repeated.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/06/2018 Full Good 08/03/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness 03/05/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report children’s home: 1241782 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

The leadership and management standard The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that— promotes their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 13 (1)(b)(2)(a)) 29/03/2019

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Recommendations

 Specifically relating to sanctions and staff debriefing; the registered person should ensure that all incidents of control, discipline and restraint are subject to systems of regular scrutiny to ensure that their use is fair and the principles as set out in 9.35 are respected. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.36)

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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: 1241782 4

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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

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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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’.

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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: 1241782 5 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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Inspector

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