Children's home run by Lifetime Opportunities Limited in Bolton

Inspection report children’s home: SC060750 1 SC060750 Registered provider: Lifetime Opportunities Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private company. The home can provide care and accommodation for up to three children or young people who may have learning and/or physical disabilities.

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Inspection date: 3 March 2020

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 3 March 2020

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC060750 2

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people in this home are making progress and have good experiences. The manager and staff have high aspirations for them.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, one young person has moved into the home. The transition was well planned and included applying for a variation to the home’s registration conditions. The young person has settled well.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Both young people are supported with their health needs. Staff have helped one young person with exercises under the supervision and guidance of the occupational therapist. As a result of the consistent approach to encouraging the young person to carry out the exercises, the young person has notably improved mobility. Staff have regular contact with health professionals to create strategies which will push the young people to continue to develop their strength and agility.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person has made great progress in relation to receiving food and medication by eating rather than through tube feeding. The young person has begun to feed himself, which is a significant achievement. The staff ensure that he is provided with high calorie meals and are working to expand the range of food that he eats so that he can begin to taste various flavours. This has provided the young person with more independence. The manager is working with other professionals to ensure that his health is monitored. Meetings in the near future will consider the removal of his feeding tube.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The managers have challenged the authority when the services required by the young people have been at risk of moving to another provider. This has ensured that the care and support provided to the young people has remained consistent.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Both young people receive education appropriate to their level of learning. Staff ensure that routines are clear, which has supported both young people to have very good attendance. Staff support young people to continue learning in the home. One young person has recently taken mock GCSE examinations and, with the support of the staff, is studying for final examinations.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff use various methods of communicating with the young people that are appropriate to their abilities. One young person has begun to use an electronic tablet and the home’s staff use strategies that the young people like and enjoy encouraging them to reach goals. For example, one young person likes the quiz show ‘Tipping Point’ which the home has replicated showing his goals on discs cascading down the machine as he progresses towards meeting them. Inspection report children’s home: SC060750 3 Contact for young people with their families and friends is working well. The home supports young people to meet with those important to them when it is appropriate and safe to do so. Arrangements for one young person have been improved so that additional opportunities for visits have been created. The manager is working with social workers to increase the arrangements to additional family members. The home has supported another young person by advocating on their behalf to agree

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

contact with a couple who are very important to him. This is working well, and the young person looks forward to visits and days out with them.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The physical condition of the home is acceptable. It has everything that young people need to make it a comfortable home. Parts of the home are appropriately adapted with hoist rails so that young people can move easily around the home and get into and out of chairs when necessary.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The previous requirements and recommendations made at the last inspection have been met. There is a repeated requirement made under Regulation 44 at this inspection but in relation to a different aspect of the regulation.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Monitoring of the care being provided requires more analysis. The independent visitor’s reports are factually repetitive, rather than an analysis of what effect something might have on young people living in the home. The reports do not clearly contain the visitor’s opinion on whether the home promotes young people’s well-being and whether young people are effectively safeguarded. The reports are not consistently submitted in time.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The review of the quality of care provided by the manager has not been received by Ofsted. The manager had prepared the report but could provide no evidence that it was sent. The report referred to an incorrect reporting period and it does not currently demonstrate how the quality of care has been monitored, reviewed or evaluated and it does not contain the feedback and opinions of the young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The location risk assessment is now due for annual review and the statement of purpose needs to be updated to reflect the current staffing position and to make the content clear so that it reflects all the areas in Schedule 1 of the regulations.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

These deficiencies in the oversight of documentation must be addressed, but there is little effect on the quality of care being provided to the young people. Inspection report children’s home: SC060750 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/05/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 09/10/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 22/11/2017 Full Outstanding 02/01/2017 Interim Not judged Inspection report children’s home: SC060750 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 registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (‘the statement of purpose’) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (1)(3))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the statement of purpose includes all aspects of Schedule 1, including an up-to-date staff list and that a copy of the updated statement is sent to Ofsted. 03/05/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit (‘the independent person’s report’) which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to—

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the content of the visitor’s report includes analysis of the factual information provided to the visitor. The visitor must also clearly include their opinion on whether children and young people are effectively safeguarded and whether the conduct of the home promotes 03/05/2020 Inspection report children’s home: SC060750 6 their well-being. Reports should be received by the end of the following month from the date the visit takes place.

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Requirement Due date

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.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed. (Regulation 45 (1)(2)(4)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the quality of care review is submitted to Ofsted on time. The review should include an evaluation of the manager’s opinion on the quality of care and that it contains feedback from the young people who live in the home. 03/05/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises used for the purposes of the children’s home at least once in each calendar year taking into account the requirement in Regulation 12 (2)(c) (the protection of children standard). (Regulation 46 (1)) 03/05/2020 Inspection report children’s home: SC060750 7

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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: SC060750 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Lifetime Opportunities Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Windsor House, Bayshill Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL50 3AT

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Inspector

Mark Broomhead, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC060750 9 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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