Children's home run by Lytham Care Limited in Knowsley

Inspection report children’s home: SC482340 1 SC482340 Registered provider: Lytham Care Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home is registered to care for one child who may have emotional and/or behavioural needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager’s post has been vacant since April 2019.

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Information about this children’s home

The child’s views were sought during this inspection.

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Inspection date: 3 March 2020

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC482340 2

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has declined in effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the staff have supported two children to move on from the home. One child moved to a foster placement and the other to a larger home, owned by the same company. These moves were sensitively planned, taking into account the children’s wishes and feelings. Furthermore, introductory visits enabled the children to meet their new carers before they moved in, which helped them to settle.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff ensure that children are made to feel welcome and valued when they move into the home. The staff meet children before they move into the home and find out about their likes and interests. As a result, the children benefit from personalised care that is tailored to their individual needs and interests.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children make progress from their starting points. The staff’s collaborative work with schools and social workers is helping children to re-engage with their education and overcome the barriers to their learning, such as unsafe behaviour. Furthermore, children are linked to therapeutic services that support them to address their difficult feelings and experiences and this, in turn, improves their emotional well-being.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Inconsistent safeguarding practice is undermining the child’s welfare and safety. Some staff’s lack of vigilance and swift response to unsafe behaviours have led to situations when both the child and staff have been placed at risk of harm. On one occasion, a member of staff failed to report a potential child exploitation concern to the police. As a result, the police were prevented from investigating this matter.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Additionally, the staff’s recording of serious incidents is an area for improvement. The records sampled at the inspection did not provide sufficient information to enable a thorough review of an incident. This also highlights shortfalls in the manager’s monitoring of the home’s records and the staff’s safeguarding practice.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Although the use of physical intervention is rare, the manager’s oversight of such incidents is weak. As a result, any concerns or practice issues are not being promptly addressed. On one occasion, a child was restrained in a potentially unsafe area of the home. The potential negative impact on the child’s physical and/or emotional well-being was not duly considered. Additionally, a member of staff restrained a child despite not being suitably trained, as defined in the home’s statement of purpose.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some shortfalls that were found in safer recruitment practice are potentially undermining the child’s welfare and safety. In particular, the provider has not taken Inspection report children’s home: SC482340 3 sufficient measures to verify the reasons why an applicant’s previous employment had ended.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The interim manager has not undertaken a review of the quality of care provided to children. This does not demonstrate strong monitoring and review systems to ensure continuous improvements in the home. Additionally, the independent monitoring visit reports are not being sent to Ofsted in good time. Consequently, the regulator’s monitoring of the home has, at times, been hindered.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The responsible individual acknowledged the shortfalls identified at the inspection and demonstrated a commitment to making the necessary improvements. Inspection report children’s home: SC482340 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/05/2019 Full Good 25/09/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/11/2017 Full Good 17/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC482340 5

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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, the 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12(1), (2)(a)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

This is specifically in relation to: the staff’s inconsistent safeguarding practice; poor recording of serious incidents; and informing the police of potential child exploitation concerns. 27/03/2020

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13(1)(a)(b), (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This is specifically in relation to improving the manager’s monitoring of the home’s records and the manager’s evaluation of the staff’s safeguarding practice and physical interventions. 27/03/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. The requirements are that full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32(1), (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This is specifically in relation to verifying why previous employment that involved working with children or vulnerable adults has ended and if the applicant has been subject to any disciplinary procedures. 27/03/2020 Inspection report children’s home: SC482340 6 The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (‘a quality of care review’) at least once every six months. (Regulation 45(1)) 27/03/2020

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Recommendations

 The registered person is responsible for ensuring that all their staff have been adequately trained in the principles of restraint and any restraint techniques appropriate to the needs of the children the home is set up to care for as defined in the home’s Statement of Purpose. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraphs 9.57)  Records of restraint must be kept and should enable the registered person and staff to review the use of control, discipline and restraint to identify effective practice and respond promptly where any issues or trends of concern emerge. The review should provide the opportunity for amending practice to ensure it meets the needs of each child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraphs 9.59)  Any individual appointed to carry out visits to the home as an independent person

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Recommendations

must make a rigorous and impartial assessment of the home’s arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children in the home’s care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.5) In particular, ensure that the independent visitor’s reports are sent to Ofsted in a timely way.

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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

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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: SC482340 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Lytham Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 400 Longmoor Lane, Fazakerly, Liverpool L9 9DB

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Pamela Constance

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Inspector

Marina Tully: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC482340 8 to 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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