Children's home run by Lancashire County Council in Preston

Inspection report children’s home: SC035439 1 SC035439 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 accommodate up to six children or young people who may have emotional or behavioural needs.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a manager in post who has been registered with Ofsted since October 2018.

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Inspection date: 5 March 2020

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 5 March 2020

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC035439 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

Since the last inspection of the home, young people have experienced good outcomes. Those young people who have left the home have done so in planned transitions, which have been well supported.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The needs of young people who have joined the home have been carefully considered before they have been offered a place. In addition, the manager has carried out effective matching exercises to help ensure that new young people do not have a negative impact on those already living in the home. As a result, the current group of young people are well settled and enjoy good relationships with staff and each other.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people who currently live in the home are making good progress in areas such as education and are growing in self-esteem and confidence. For example, a young person who was close to losing his school placement at the point of his admission is now achieving full attendance and has recently been nominated for an award by his school for improved engagement and behaviour.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers and staff have developed care planning to achieve a more child-centred and individualised approach. In addition, positive developments in direct work are assisting young people to express their feelings and wishes and have more meaningful involvement in their own care planning.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All managers and staff are aware of their responsibility to protect young people from abuse. Safeguarding concerns are quickly identified and addressed. The manager maintains clear records of all action taken in response to any safeguarding concerns, which generally demonstrate appropriate liaison with external professionals. However, in one example, there was a delay in notifying the appropriate agency, which was not in line with safeguarding procedures.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, there have been good improvements in risk management practice. Risk assessments are well detailed and regularly reviewed in line with significant incidents or new information. Risk management guidance is clear and helps staff to ensure that young people’s safety and well-being are consistently promoted.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been no incidents of young people going missing from the home since the last inspection, despite some young people having a history of doing so prior to their admission. This demonstrates very positive progress and means that young people are safer on a day-to-day basis. External professionals have identified this Inspection report children’s home: SC035439 3 and are planning to meet with the manager to explore this improvement and identify good practice that can be shared with other services.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has experienced some staff turnover and changes to the management team. This has been well managed and the impact on young people has been minimal. The manager has taken the opportunity to develop the team and has developed workshop-style training and group supervision.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has taken appropriate actions to address requirements made at the last inspection. In addition, internal processes to monitor quality and safety have been reviewed and improved. Effective monitoring helps to ensure that areas for development are quickly identified and addressed and therefore supports the ongoing improvement of the service. Inspection report children’s home: SC035439 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/04/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/08/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 08/02/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness 19/07/2017 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC035439 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, 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

Policies for the protection of children The registered person must prepare and implement a policy which— is intended to safeguard children accommodated in the children’s home from abuse or neglect; and sets out the procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect. The procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect must, in particular— provide for liaison and co-operation with any local authority which are, or may be, making a child protection enquiry in relation to a child accommodated in the home; provide for the prompt referral of an allegation about current or ongoing abuse or neglect in relation to a child to the placing authority and, if different, the local authority in whose area the home is located; describe how and to whom staff are to report, without delay, any concern about abuse or neglect of a child. (Regulation 34(1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(f)) 17/04/2020

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Recommendations

 Registered persons should seek to involve the local authority and other relevant persons whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.4) Inspection report children’s home: SC035439 6

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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: SC035439 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

Marie Cordingley, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC035439 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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