Children's home run by Life Change Care Limited

Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children or young people who have emotional or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager is experienced and suitably qualified to manage the children’s home.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: Not previously inspected

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Not previously inspected

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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: 2543640 2

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The care of children

Children live in a beautifully decorated and furnished home. Children told the inspector that they feel well cared for by the staff team and that positive relationships with staff meant that they always had someone to talk to. Parents and social workers said that young people have trusted relationships with staff, which has allowed staff to support children with any challenges and helped children to make progress.

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The care of children

Children are actively involved in their care planning. Children are listened to, and their views are always considered. This is a strength of the home. The use of creative key-work sessions and children’s meetings has allowed the staff team to work in an honest and transparent way with children, helping children to reflect on their interaction with others.

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The care of children

Children are flourishing at school and engage in extra after-school sessions and tuition to improve their attainment. Children engage in a range of activities with staff, such as walking staff’s dogs and looking after their own pet. Photo albums capture memories of the times when children have been on holiday with staff.

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The care of children

Children are in good health. The home liaises with agencies to support and meet young people’s healthcare needs. This has included working with children’s psychologists and therapists on a weekly basis. This multi-agency work has been key in helping children to regulate their emotions and understand social situations. As a result, children have made progress in building positive peer relationships.

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The care of children

Children are supported to have frequent contact with their family. During COVID-19, children’s time with their families has been promoted using technology and social distancing in the community. Communication with families is positive, and everyone involved works to the agreed plan for children.

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The care of children

The home operates with an all-female staff team. The manager should identify and include in their statement of purpose how the team will support children with relationships with people of a different gender.

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The safety of children

Social workers, parents and other professionals said that children are safe living at the home. Equally, children told the inspector that they felt safe and would know whom to speak to if they felt staff didn’t keep them safe. Staff demonstrated a good understanding of safeguarding, whistleblowing and allegation management.

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The safety of children

The staff team implements structured routines and boundaries, which has helped maintain day-to-day consistency for children. Children are involved in choosing their own sanctions as appropriate to their behaviour. The senior team reviews all sanctions to ensure that they are proportionate and effective. Assurance visit report: 2543640 3 Staff understand how to communicate effectively with children and help them to regulate their emotions. They teach children how to take responsibility for their actions. Since the home opened, there have been no serious incidents or use of restraint in the home. This reflects the positive relationships staff have developed with children.

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The safety of children

A robust COVID-19 risk assessment is in place and demonstrates the home’s proactive approach to safely managing risks associated with the pandemic. Children’s written plans are amended to reflect any restrictions on daily activities and family contact in relation to government guidance.

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The safety of children

Risk assessments and behaviour management plans are comprehensive, with up-to- date chronologies. The plans are written from the perspective of the child and include strategies that children feel help them to manage their behaviour effectively. As a result of this, risks for children are reduced.

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The safety of children

Where CCTV is used in the external grounds and buzzers are used on children’s bedroom doors, signed consent from parents or social workers has not been obtained. The use of the monitoring devices is not included in children’s risk assessments or care plans. Furthermore, there is no evidence that a regular review of the monitoring takes place or that staff have clear guidance in relation to implementing and responding to buzzers.

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Leaders and managers

The senior team prioritises effective multi-agency working. This is mirrored in the staff team’s practice and as a result, children receive consistent care from a dedicated staff team.

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Leaders and managers

Staff told the inspector that they always feel supported by the manager and the senior team. They receive regular practice-related supervision and individual monthly clinical supervision from external therapists, to equip them with the skills to support children. Staff team morale remains positive following the impact of COVID- 19, and this has contributed to the stability of the team.

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Leaders and managers

Team meetings are regular and focus on key issues for children and staff. For example, the senior team completed a piece of work with staff in relation to resilience and the impact on the consistency of care for children. The senior team addresses any shortfalls in staff practice quickly and promotes appropriate professional boundaries.

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Leaders and managers

There have been no complaints received from children. The manager has ensured that positive pieces of work have been completed with children, from a multi-agency approach, to resolve any concerns that children may have. For example, children have access to a ‘sparkle box’ to post letters to the manager and the clinical psychologist when something is concerning them. Assurance visit report: 2543640 4 Staff have completed training specific to children’s needs to enhance their knowledge. However, allocated mandatory online training has not been completed by staff within suitable timescales. The registered manager and individual staff have equal responsibilities to ensure that training is completed on time.

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Leaders and managers

The review of the quality of care report does not meet regulatory requirements. It does not evidence or consider feedback in relation to the quality of care that young people are receiving in the home from local authorities, staff and parents, and in relation to children being able to make changes and improve outcomes.

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Leaders and managers

The manager and deputy complete a thorough monthly monitoring of the home to ensure that there is robust oversight and monitoring of the home’s operation. All documents are reviewed regularly to enable the manager to improve staff practice and outcomes for children.

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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 may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children;

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Requirement Due date

the child’s placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance. (Regulation 24(1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, in relation to children’s social workers and/or parents consenting to the use of CCTV in external grounds and buzzers on children’s bedroom doors, children’s documentation should explain the reason for the use of this monitoring or surveillance and this should be regularly reviewed. 29 January 2021

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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; 29 January 2021 Assurance visit report: 2543640 5 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

the system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45(2)(a)(b)(5))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, that feedback from children and everyone involved in the children’s care is reflected in the quality of care report. This is to enable the registered manager to evaluate the quality of care provided to children effectively and use any trends and patterns identified to improve the service.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs and should understand the key role they play in the training and development of staff in the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11) Specifically, that the registered manager and individual staff members ensure that allocated mandatory online training is completed within suitable timescales.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that whenever possible, staff in day-to-day contact with children should include staff from the different gender groups. Where the home’s Statement of Purpose makes it explicit that the home uses staff of one gender only, clear guidance will need to be in place and followed as to how children are enabled to maintain relationships with people of a different gender. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.22) Assurance visit report: 2543640 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Life Change Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Room 205, B1 Business Centre, Empire Way, Burnley, Lancashire BB12 6HA

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Inspector

Cheryl Field, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: 2543640 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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