Children's home run by Lancashire County Council in Preston

Inspection report children‟s home: SC035459 1 SC035459 Registered provider: Lancashire County Council 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 breaks for up to six young people who have learning disabilities and/or physical disabilities. The home is run by a local authority. The manager has been registered with Ofsted since July 2012.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 17 to 18 December 2019

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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: 5 December 2018

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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

05/12/2018 Full Outstanding 27/09/2017 Full Outstanding 26/01/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 13/09/2016 Full Outstanding Inspection report children‟s home: SC035459 3

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Recommendations

 Please see Regulation 23. Medicines must be administered in line with a medically approved protocol. Where the home has questions or concerns about a child’s medication, they should approach an expert such as a General Medical Practitioner, community pharmacist or designated nurse for looked-after children. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.15)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people are making excellent progress. They enjoy well-planned short breaks that improve the quality of their lives. Young people receive highly individualised care tailored to meet their complex needs. One parent said, ‘It’s a fantastic place. [Young person’s name] loves it there. She always has a big smile on her face when she knows she’s going there.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people receive consistent care from an experienced and skilled staff team. Staff have an excellent understanding of how young people communicate and process information. Many of the young people do not use verbal communication to express their needs. However, staff expertly interpret young people’s behaviours, body language and facial expressions. This maximises young people’s participation, choice and control.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff are committed and enthusiastic about providing young people with positive, interesting and exciting activities when they visit the home. One parent said, ‘My son has really come out of his shell since he started going there. He used to be very quiet, but staff have encouraged and supported him and now he’s made new friends and grown in confidence.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people‟s care plans are extremely detailed and highly personalised. They reflect each young person‟s individuality, interests and complex needs. These plans enable staff to meticulously plan and prepare for each young person‟s stay. For example, rooms are personalised and low stimulus environments are created to reduce young people‟s anxieties.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people’s introductions to the home are sensitively planned and taken at the young person’s pace. The manager ensures that the appropriate resources, knowledge and training are in place prior to the young person’s first overnight stay. As a result, young people settle quickly into the nurturing environment. One social worker said, ‘One of the best things about [name of home] is that they [the staff] really take time to really get to know the young people. They do numerous tea visits, home visits and school observations.’ Equal care is taken with the planning of young people’s transition to adult Inspection report children‟s home: SC035459 4 short-break services.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people make continued progress because of their visits to this home. Staff support young people to become more independent and learn new skills. Staff have successfully introduced routines that help young people to feel safe and settled. For example, one young person is now able to sleep in a bed for the first time. One social worker said, ‘[Young person’s name] really enjoys his time there and gets on brilliantly with staff and the other young people. He has been supported to develop his confidence and independence. It has been like a “home from home” for him for many years.’

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

Young people are safe and protected from harm. They receive a high level of supervision and support that is in line with their complex needs. Parents have a high level of trust and confidence in the staff team‟s ability. One parent said, „The staff do absolutely wonderful work. They know [young person‟s name] well and I trust them completely. I know that he is absolutely safe there.‟

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

Young people‟s care is sensitively and carefully planned. As a result, young people are settled and content during their stays. Incidents that require staff to use physical interventions to manage situations are extremely rare as staff are skilled in de-escalating situations safely and effectively.

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

Staff have an in-depth knowledge of the young people’s individual risks and vulnerabilities. Detailed care plans ensure that staff use consistent approaches and adhere to familiar routines. This helps young people to feel secure and less anxious. Care plans are live documents and are kept under constant review and adapted as staff learn more about young people. One parent said, ‘My son is definitely less anxious while he’s there. He loves his time there and he is all smiles.’

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

The staff team demonstrates a high level of understanding of young people‟s individual complex health needs. There are comprehensive health plans in place that give staff clear instructions. This means they are able to respond to young people‟s health needs safely and effectively.

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

Robust risk assessments ensure that disability is not a barrier to participation or social inclusion. Risks are balanced and managed to ensure that young people have the opportunity to pursue their interests and access activities in the local community. For example, young people enjoy activities such as bowling, meals out and walks in the park.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home benefits from excellent leadership. The manager is passionate about supporting young people to fulfil their potential. He has high expectations of the staff team members and they share his commitment to securing the best outcomes for young people. Inspection report children‟s home: SC035459 5 The manager is a visible presence in the home and plays an active part in the care of young people. He has a comprehensive knowledge of the young people and is quick to adapt the service to respond to their changing needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has developed strong partnerships with social workers, schools and health professionals. This ensures that the young people get the right support to meet their needs. Professionals consistently speak highly of this service. One social worker said, ‘I am fully confident [young person’s name]’s needs are being met there. The staff really understand her complex needs and they treat her as an individual.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The management team has robust and effective systems in place to monitor the quality of care provided to young people. It demonstrates a commitment to continuous learning and service improvement. In addition, the management team members seek feedback from young people and stakeholders to identify areas for future development. Young people are listened to and encouraged to play a part in the development of the service. For example, young people have recently been involved in reviewing the accessible guide to the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff team members are very experienced and skilled. They benefit from a comprehensive training programme that equips them with the skills they require to undertake their roles. The manager has embedded a culture of ongoing professional development and staff enthusiastically embrace new knowledge and learning. Additional specialist training has been sourced for staff that is aligned to the complex needs of the young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff feel valued and supported by the management team. One member of staff said, ‘I am listened to and encouraged to develop. I know as a team we make a difference to the young people and their families.’ Morale is high and there is high staff retention. This means that young people can build relationships with staff over time and parents report that they value this. One parent said, ‘Staff have been there for a long time and have huge amounts of experience and that is really reassuring.’

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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 Inspection report children‟s home: SC035459 6 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 7

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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

Sophie Thomson: social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: SC035459 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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