Children's home run by Lytham Care Limited in Knowsley

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC482340 1 SC482340

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Lytham Care Ltd

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home provides care and accommodation for one child who may have emotional and/or behavioural needs or special educational needs.

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Information about this children’s home

There is currently no registered manager at the home.

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This monitoring visit

This visit is in response to concerns about the safety of the child living in the home. Furthermore, Ofsted received a complaint raising concerns about the leadership and management of the home.

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This monitoring visit

The visit was carried out in line with Ofsted’s procedures for monitoring services during the current COVID-19 (coronavirus) lockdown and suspension of routine inspection activity.

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This monitoring visit

Inspectors found that the child is no longer living in the home. Prior to the child being supported to move to a new home, he had not been spending time in this home. Staff have been proactive in their response to this, following the safety plans in place for the child and escalating and sharing their concerns to the relevant partner agencies. This supported the local authority to take swift action to safeguard the child.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager left her post in January 2021. A senior manager took over the day-to-day management of the home. A recent whistleblowing complaint was made to Ofsted. The complaint identified concerns in the leadership and management of the home and identified shortfalls in the sufficiency and support for Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC482340 2 staff and reported that this had had a negative impact on the child living at the home.

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This monitoring visit

Records demonstrate that there have been staff shortages in the home. Consequently, the child received care from a number of different staff. This did not enable the child to develop positive relationships with all staff.

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This monitoring visit

Furthermore, records demonstrate that staff have not had regular formal supervision, and there is no evidence of any supervision with agency or casual members of staff who have worked at the home. Furthermore, there are gaps in the training records of staff, and it is not clear whether agency staff and casual staff have had training to meet the needs of the child whom they have been caring for, in particular training on child exploitation. This does not ensure that staff have the opportunity to reflect and develop their practice or ensure that they have the skills and knowledge needed to keep children safe.

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This monitoring visit

The responsible individual responded appropriately to the complaint and had investigated the concerns raised. Staff reported that they feel valued and supported by the responsible individual.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 03/03/2020 Interim Declined in effectiveness 15/05/2019 Full Good 25/09/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/11/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC482340 3

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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 positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop the understanding and skills to recognise or withdraw from a damaging, exploitative or harmful relationship.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to ensuring that direct work with children takes place and helps them understand risk and how to keep themselves safe. 14 April 2021

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

mutual respect and trust; 14 April 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC482340 4 an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same.

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(d)(e)) 14 April 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 27 (1)(a)) 14 April 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC482340 5

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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 address: 400 Longmoor Lane, Fazakerly, Liverpool L9 9DB

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Pamela Constance

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Inspector

Jessica Forshaw, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC482340 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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