Children's Home run by Lytham Care Limited in Knowsley

Assurance visit report: SC454035 1 SC454035

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private company. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for five children. The provider took the decision to close the home in April 2020 and no children have lived at the home since that time.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 11 February 2020

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Declined in effectiveness

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Information about this visit

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), Ofsted suspended all routine inspections in March 2020. As part of a phased return to routine inspection, we are undertaking assurance visits to children’s social care services that are inspected under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF).

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Information about this visit

At these visits, inspectors evaluate the extent to which:  children are well cared for  children are safe  leaders and managers are exercising strong leadership.

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Information about this visit

This visit was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000, following the published guidance for assurance visits.

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Information about this visit

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills is leading Ofsted’s work into how England’s social care system has delivered child-centred practice and care within the context of the restrictions placed on society during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Information about this visit

Ofsted carried out an urgent on-site visit to the home in April 2020. This visit took place in response to concerns raised with Ofsted by a number of sources. This included information from the police about safeguarding practice in the home and information sent to Ofsted by the provider. The information raised concerns in connection with the safeguarding and protection of children, inconsistent staffing Assurance visit report: SC454035 2 and the lack of reporting of significant incidents in response to concerns shared with Ofsted. As a result of the visit, two compliance notices were issued, under regulation 12, the protection of children, and regulation 13, leadership and management. Following the visit, the provider made the decision to close the home for a period of time.

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Information about this visit

A monitoring visit was carried out in July 2020. However, the provider could not demonstrate that sufficient action had been taken to meet the notices. Both notices were re-issued. The home has remained closed

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Findings from the visit

We identified no serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit.

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The care of children

The provider has worked hard to improve the home environment. New staff have been recruited and extensive training has been undertaken with the staff team to ensure that they understand their roles and responsibilities in caring for children safely. A new manager has been recruited and registered with Ofsted in September 2020.

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The care of children

The home has undergone extensive refurbishment. Rooms throughout the home have been decorated and soft furnishings have been purchased to match the décor. The manager and responsible individual recognise that the size of the home and rooms may be intimidating and imposing to children, and, as a result, have spent time trying to ensure that the home is warm, welcoming and safe for children.

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The care of children

All staff have completed training on the needs of children, attachment theories and key working. Managers have discussed care practices with staff individually and as a group to reassure themselves that staff understand their roles and responsibilities in caring for children.

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The care of children

A previous complaint from children stated that there was not always enough food available for them to readily access. The manager is aware of this issue and is also aware of the need for adequate food to be available at all times. The current dining furniture is insufficient to accommodate staff and children, but the manager is aware of this and has ordered additional furniture.

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The care of children

Closed-circuit cameras are in place at the home. Arrangements exist to remove all internal cameras to protect the privacy of children.

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The safety of children

Assurance visit report: SC454035 3 Leaders and managers in the home have undertaken a full induction with all staff to ensure that they have the skills and knowledge to meet the needs of children. This included looking at risk-taking behaviour such as self-harm and substance misuse. Managers provided staff with scenarios and asked them to identify risks and consider the strategies and actions that they would need to take to keep children safe. Staff informed inspectors that they found the opportunity to reflect on situations useful, and they were able to clearly evidence their learning.

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The safety of children

In addition, managers have reviewed the risk assessment process. The new process will ensure that plans contain relevant, specific information for children that is individual to each child’s needs and behaviours. Managers have also reviewed systems to ensure that risks and strategies are updated after incidents or where new information is identified. Staff have used shadowing opportunities in the provider’s other homes to test the new risk assessment process to ensure that they are aware of how this system and documents work in practice. Staff reflected positively about this opportunity.

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The safety of children

Managers have facilitated workshops, using role plays, for staff to develop their understanding of restorative justice approaches. Staff were able to demonstrate to inspectors how this training has enabled them, as a team, to look at restorative approaches to children’s behaviours. They gave examples of how they have used this, and positive reinforcement, during their period of working in other homes.

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The safety of children

As a result of these improvements and developments the compliance notice under regulation 12 is met.

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Leaders and managers

A new manager has been recruited and registered with Ofsted. The registered manager is experienced in residential childcare and working with children with complex needs. She has yet to complete the required qualification, but this is under way.

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Leaders and managers

The responsible individual has recruited an operational manager. The operational manager will provide an extra layer of support to the management team as well as providing additional oversight and monitoring across all the provider’s homes. The registered manager told inspectors that this has been beneficial. In particular, the manager reflected that the regular group meetings for all the registered managers in the organisation provides an opportunity to share new ideas.

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Leaders and managers

The manager has recruited a new staff team, including a deputy manager. Managers are clear about the ethos and vision for the home. Furthermore, the deputy manager understands her role in supporting the day-to-day management of the home, in particular, when the manager is off for any reason.

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Leaders and managers

Staff recruitment files did not fully contain all the information required under schedule 2 and safer recruitment processes. For example, gaps in employment history were not fully explained or accounted for. A requirement has, therefore, been Assurance visit report: SC454035 4 raised in respect of this and the registered manager is reviewing all recruitment information for staff.

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Leaders and managers

Leaders and managers at the home have updated the internal monitoring and reviewing systems. This will improve the manager’s oversight of care practice. A new handover process has been developed. The system will ensure that before each shift begins staff will have the opportunity to discuss each child and consider each child’s care needs and risks.

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Leaders and managers

As a result of this action the compliance notice under regulation 13 has been met.

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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

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only— employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3)

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 32 (1)(2)(a)(b)(3)(d)) 13/10/2020

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 400 Longmoor Lane, Fazakerley, Liverpool L9 9DB Assurance visit report: SC454035 5 Responsible individual: Pamela Constance

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Inspectors

Michelle Edge, Social care regulatory inspection manager Jessica Forshaw, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC454035 6 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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