Lincolnshire Secure Unit

Inspection report children’s home: SC042921 1 SC042921 Registered provider: Lincolnshire County Council Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This secure children’s home is managed by a local authority. It is approved by the Department for Education to restrict young people’s liberty. The children’s home can accommodate up to 12 young people aged between 10 and 17 years. It provides for up to 11 young people placed by the youth custody service and one young person placed by local authorities under section 25 of the Children Act 1989. Admission of any young persons under section 25 of the Children Act 1989 who are under 13 years of age requires the approval of the Secretary of State.

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Information about this children’s home

The commissioning of health services in this home is the statutory responsibility of NHS England under the Health and Social Care Act 2012. Education is provided on site in dedicated facilities.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 15 January 2019

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Information about this children’s home

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

At the last inspection, a statutory requirement relating to recruitment processes was Inspection report children’s home: SC042921 2 made. This requirement has been met. Managers have demonstrated an understanding of safe recruitment practice and have robust systems in place. They have used risk assessments effectively. One concern about a potential employee was identified through pre-recruitment vetting. This was appropriately referred to the designated officer. Managers will be disseminating any learning from this experience.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Four of the recommendations made at the previous inspection related to the education provision and will be assessed at the next full inspection of the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Recommendations made at the last inspection about the home environment, decisions about separating children, staff supervision, independent monitoring of the home and record-keeping have all been addressed in full.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Inspectors observed positive relationships and friendly, warm interactions between staff and children. Children have good routines. These routines are underpinned by clear expectations and consistent use of incentives. Children are offered, and are supported to engage in, a range of fun and purposeful activities.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children have a number of opportunities to influence their care arrangements. Children know how to make complaints, they contribute to children’s meetings and they are invited to a monthly focus group. The focus group has, for example, encouraged discussions about the use of sanctions. Children also contribute to a monthly home newsletter, which is child centred and useful as a tool for positive reinforcement.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The environment is homely, comfortable and decorated according to children’s preferences. Maintenance systems are excellent, and there is good communication between the facilities team and care staff. Prompt repairs support children to respect their environment.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers have reported any safeguarding incidents appropriately to placing local authorities, the relevant designated officer and Ofsted. Staff and managers have adhered fully to child protection procedures.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been one allegation of peer-to-peer harm, which has been investigated. A recommendation is made for managers to review with staff how they support children to build friendships that are safe and have appropriate boundaries. This should include reviewing the information shared with children about developing relationships when they are moving into the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff focus on encouraging and supporting children to self-regulate and control their own behaviours. Any use of physical restraint is carefully reviewed, and this review informs practice. Children’s plans are amended where appropriate. Staff are supported to reflect on their practice after each incident of restraint.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are effective responses to children who self-harm. Children have specific plans that are sensitively monitored by the health and social care team. Staff support children to follow their own plans so that incidents of self-harm reduce. Inspection report children’s home: SC042921 3 The home has a dedicated member of staff who supports resettlement and transitions. This work is a significant strength. It links closely to the development of independence skills for children. The work includes supporting visits to placements, identifying work placements, and maintaining contact after a child has moved on. There has been positive feedback from children, family and professionals about the difference this work is making for children and families who are anxious about change. One family member wrote a poem to thank staff for the difference this work made to family relationships and their child’s prospects.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are receiving supervision in line with the home’s policies. Managers have worked with the health team to develop a training programme and supervision tool to support the use of reflective practice in supervision. This is not yet embedded, but staff and managers have been very positive about the training.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers respond appropriately to recommendations from independent monitoring of the home. External monitoring is supplemented by a range of internal monitoring mechanisms. Good-quality monitoring systems ensure that managers have an accurate understanding of children’s progress and are addressing areas for development.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/01/2019 Full Good 04/09/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness 20/02/2018 Full Good 31/10/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recommendations

 Children should be in full-time education while they are of compulsory school age, unless their personal education plan contained within the care plan or other relevant plan states otherwise. The home must aim to support full-time attendance at school unless the child’s relevant plan indicates this is not in their best interests (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.14). In particular, teachers should employ an effective range of strategies to support and challenge young people to attend and engage in learning activities so that they improve their attitudes to education.  The ethos of the home should support each child to learn (‘Guide to the Inspection report children’s home: SC042921 4 children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 29, paragraph 5.18). In particular, ensure that teachers are provided with the challenge,

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Recommendations

direction and support they need to improve swiftly the quality of their teaching so that young people achieve their potential.  The ethos of the home should support each child to learn (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 29, paragraph 5.18). In particular, ensure that leaders and managers provide young people with a broad curriculum that enables them to participate in well-planned activities through which their achievements can be recognised and, wherever possible, accredited.  The ethos of the home should support each child to learn (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 29, paragraph 5.18). In particular, leaders and teachers should ensure that practical learning activities are undertaken in well-managed environments that develop good work- related skills, attitudes and behaviours.  Staff should be skilled in understanding the range of influences that friendships

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Recommendations

can have and should encourage those with a positive impact and discourage those with a negative impact. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 38, paragraph 8.8)

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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

Inspection report children’s home: SC042921 5 Unique reference number: SC042921

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Lincolnshire County Council, County Offices, Newland, Lincoln LN1 1YL

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Inspectors

Cathey Moriarty, social care inspector Paul Scott, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC042921 6 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

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