Children's Home run by Frances House Ltd in Lancashire

Assurance visit report: SC403462 1 SC403462

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private company. It is registered to care for up to five children with emotional and/or behavioural needs.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a permanent registered manager in post who is qualified to level 5.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 10 December 2019

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Inadequate

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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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Findings from the visit

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit. Assurance visit report: SC403462 2

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The care of children

Young people say that they are happy living in the home. They say that they have trusting relationships with staff and that they have ‘good banter’. Each young person has a key worker of their choice, who they say they can talk to about anything.

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The care of children

Contact with family and friends is promoted in line with young people’s plans. Staff listen to young people’s views about their contact plans and arrange for young people to have advocates where this is appropriate. This ensures that their voice is heard and taken into consideration. Young people are supported to engage in work which is designed to help rebuild and strengthen their family relationships so that they have the future opportunity to return home. Contact arrangements are informed by government guidance and restrictions relating to Coronavirus.

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The care of children

Staff welcome the involvement of external agencies in young people’s care. They work alongside agencies such as child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS), social care and Healthy Young Minds. This joined-up working promotes progress and positive outcomes for young people.

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The care of children

Detailed and proactive direct work with young people is an area of particularly good practice in this home. Staff ensure that young people are educated about issues pertinent to themselves as well as wider issues. Difficult topics are broached with sensitivity and pragmatism. This ensures that young people are well equipped with the knowledge and skills to navigate their way through the complexities of being a teenager in care.

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The care of children

Educational outcomes are mixed for the current cohort of young people. However, staff work hard to ensure that young people have access to education that they are motivated to attend and is appropriate to their needs.

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The care of children

Previously, there were concerns raised in relation to the use of closed-circuit television (CCTV) within the home. The CCTV policy has now been updated to reflect that the provider has taken the decision not to use CCTV in the home. This promotes young people’s dignity and privacy.

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The safety of children

There is a comprehensive risk assessment and contingency plan in place relating to Coronavirus. The document is specific to this home. It has been updated by the manager following changes to government guidance and restrictions within the local area. Young people are educated and reminded constantly about how to keep themselves safe and what the current restrictions mean, in practice, for them.

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The safety of children

Staff do copious amounts of work with young people to educate them about their specific areas of risk. This can be as individual sessions, group sessions or online training. Documents reflect how well the young people have understood the information and its implications for them. Staff often do online research to source Assurance visit report: SC403462 3 resources and information that will further promote young people’s understanding of risk.

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The safety of children

Missing-from-home incidents are reducing. When young people do go missing, records reflect that staff proactively search for them. They also contact their family and friends to try to locate them. Independent return interviews are always undertaken, which gives young people the opportunity to express the reasons why they go missing. Young people understand that by reducing the number of times they go missing they are safer as a result.

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The safety of children

Young people in the home are generally settled and there are few behaviours of concern. Positive behaviour is encouraged and rewarded.

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The safety of children

Young people sometimes smoke cannabis. Staff combine joined-up working with drug and alcohol services with direct work on substance misuse to ensure that young people are fully aware of the risks.

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The safety of children

Incidents have occurred in which police have been involved which have not been notified to the regulator under Regulation 40. While staff have taken appropriate action to ensure that young people are safe, the incidents should be notified, and a requirement is made to reflect this.

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Leaders and managers

Managers have created a calm, warm and welcoming home which is running smoothly due to good organisation. Managers know the young people well and consider their care and needs as their top priority.

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Leaders and managers

Staff report a positive team ethos where everyone works consistently. They say that morale is high. Staff have access to good levels of support from managers as well as extensive training.

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Leaders and managers

Managers are committed to constant improvement. They have good monitoring systems in place so that they can identify areas for development. Records are of a high standard. They are detailed and well organised.

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Leaders and managers

Parents and external agencies feel positive about the care given to young people. One parent was especially complimentary about how much staff care for her child and how well they look after him.

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Leaders and managers

Managers, staff and young people are all coping well with the ever-changing guidelines, rules and restrictions relating to COVID-19. Managers ensure that everyone is kept well informed with the latest information. Assurance visit report: SC403462 4

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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 notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 73 Albert Road, Colne, Lancashire BB8 0BP

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Pamela Forrester

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Inspector

Charlie Bamber, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC403462 5 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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