Children's home run by Lioncare Ltd Operating as The Lioncare Group in Epping Forest

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC014235 1 SC014235

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Lioncare Ltd. operating as The Lioncare Group

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The children’s home is privately owned. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to seven children who have social, emotional and mental health difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted on 25 February 2016.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was undertaken in response to increased notifications to Ofsted in relation to allegations against staff and an escalation of children’s presenting behaviours. This visit was undertaken remotely due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. During this visit, inspectors spoke with four members of staff, the registered manager, the responsible individual and four external professionals and received feedback from three children. Inspectors reviewed a range of documents as part of this visit.

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This monitoring visit

A review of the process for the management of allegations within the home shows that safeguarding procedures are appropriately followed. There is effective working with statutory agencies, including prompt sharing of information with relevant professionals and the designated officer. This ensures transparency and timely responses to allegations. The staff team and managers consistently follow and implement safeguarding procedures.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s individual needs are well understood by staff, who support each child based on knowledge of their individual vulnerabilities and behaviours. Risk management plans provide staff with detailed strategies of how to respond to each child’s presenting needs. The regular review and update of these plans ensures that emerging risks are identified. However, there was relevant information missing from one child’s plan in relation to a known risk. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC014235 2 Feedback from children and their allocated social workers was unanimously positive about the support, guidance and reassurance provided by staff.

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This monitoring visit

Children are confident to express their thoughts and feelings. There is an established culture in the home where children’s opinions are encouraged and valued. Staff help children to develop their knowledge and strategies of how to keep themselves safe. Children know how to raise any concerns they may have.

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This monitoring visit

Learning from incidents is comprehensive and thorough reviews are undertaken by the senior leadership team. This results in changes to organisation-wide systems to improve the monitoring and standard of practice in the home.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been valued by staff. There has been increased support for staff emotional well-being in recognition of the impact of the pandemic. The responsible individual has provided detailed contingency planning in response to COVID-19. They have also provided additional direct support to the staff team. Staff have shown their commitment to supporting children to maintain contact with their families.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 09/12/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 07/05/2019 Full Good 12/09/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 02/10/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC014235 3

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Recommendations

 Staff should be familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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Recommendations

In particular, ensure that identified risks are included when reviewing risk management plans for each child.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Lioncare Ltd. operating as The Lioncare Group

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 58a Livingstone Road, Hove, East Sussex BN3 3WL

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Inspectors

Maria Lonergan, Social Care Inspector Paul Taylor, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC014235 4 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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