Children's Home run by Lancashire County Council in Lancashire

Inspection report children’s home: SC039248 1 SC039248 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 one of several operated by a local authority. The home offers care and accommodation for up to six children and young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home also has two self-contained flats to give young people an experience of independence. These young people are included in the registered numbers for the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager’s post is vacant. A new manager is in post and she intends to submit her application to register with Ofsted.

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Inspection date: 10 March 2020

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

A relative of a child living at the home made a complaint. An unannounced visit was carried out in response to this complaint and to monitor the progress made by the home since the last inspection. Ofsted was satisfied that enough measures had been taken to address the shortfalls identified in the complaint raised by the relative. No further enforcement action was taken following this monitoring inspection. Inspection report children’s home: SC039248 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 in effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home has had a further period of being unsettled following the last full inspection. Children’s progress and experience have been variable, with some children making good progress, while other children have had a less positive experience.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Poor admission decisions in autumn 2019 had a significant impact on the children already living at the home. There was an increase in children going missing from the home and in other risks. The dynamics between the children were troubling and the staff struggled to manage children’s behaviour. At times, this would have been a difficult place for children to live in. Some of the children’s placements were ended because this was not the right home for them, and staff had been unable to meet their needs or always keep them safe.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff were also experiencing a period of change. The home’s registered manager resigned from his post in November 2019. A new manager has led the home for several months now. Fundamental changes have been made in response to the requirements and recommendations made at the full inspection. An example of this is a change in the home’s recording systems. New recording processes have improved efficiency and management oversight. Management monitoring systems have been trialled and then remodelled to ensure that children are better protected and their needs are met.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is evidence of good-quality direct work being carried out with children. Admissions to the home are subject to greater scrutiny. Impact risk assessments help leaders and managers to identify risks and decide whether the home can meet the child’s needs. Consideration of the potential impact of a new admission on children already resident in the home has led to the home’s resources being used in creative ways. This has meant that a child in need of a placement can receive a service without this having a negative impact on the other children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Management oversight of physical interventions has improved. However, one example was found where the reason why staff needed to restrain a child was not clear. A recommendation has been made to ensure that the reasons for staff using physical intervention are clearly recorded.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The requirements and recommendations made at the full inspection have been met. Leaders and managers have worked hard to address the shortfalls. However, while improvements are evident, this work needs to continue as the progress made could come undone quite easily. Inspection report children’s home: SC039248 3 Staff work hard to ensure that the home is welcoming and homely, even though the building is large and a little institutionalised in appearance. Staff have been supported to manage the changes in the home since the last inspection and to reflect on their practice. The stability of the staff team helps children to build positive relationships with staff members. One child spoke very positively about the staff, and she was particularly complimentary about the cooking. The use of agency staff has reduced. Inspection report children’s home: SC039248 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/07/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 05/02/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 19/06/2018 Full Inadequate 26/07/2017 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC039248 5

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Recommendation

 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 that it meets the needs of each child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.59)

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Recommendation

This specifically relates to the need to demonstrate whether other behaviour management strategies were tried before staff felt it necessary to use physical restraint, particularly if the reason given for why a restraint was needed is not clearly recorded.

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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: SC039248 6

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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

Corrinne Barker, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC039248 7 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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