Children's Home run by Guidance Care Limited in Blackpool

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2558681 1

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Guidance Care Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private company and provides care and support for up to three children who can no longer live at home.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since August 2020.

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This monitoring visit

Due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, the home has not been inspected since it registered in March 2020. This visit was carried out because of information contained within the independent person’s reports of the service. In particular, Ofsted has not been made aware of a number of serious incidents that have occurred. Also, to follow up on the safeguarding notification received in November 2020. This was a virtual visit that was conducted with the registered manager.

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This monitoring visit

During the visit, it became apparent that Ofsted has not been notified of several significant incidents in the home. Specifically, these relate to a child’s involvement with the police, children smoking cannabis in front of the staff, and a child who was found to have a knife in their bedroom. This does not promote transparency.

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This monitoring visit

The manager accepts that Ofsted should have been notified of all these events. He has spoken to the new responsible individual, who has also questioned why this has not taken place. New systems are being implemented to ensure that this does not happen in the future.

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This monitoring visit

The records pertaining to these incidents contain conflicting information. Ultimately, the severity of incidents and the action taken by staff are unclear. In addition, key- worker records do not reflect the actual conversations had with the children. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2558681 2 Specifically, one record states that a child set fire to their bed. The independent person describes this as a serious incident, yet the records do not provide a clear picture of the event or action taken. Following a discussion with the manager, this was not as serious as it was first thought to be. This is not helpful to the children when they read their records now or in the future.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s risk assessments are not routinely updated following a significant incident and contain information that is no longer relevant. As a result, the risk assessments do not reflect the children’s current risk or actions taken by staff to reduce these. This does not help to protect the children from harm.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement Not previously inspected Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2558681 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child's relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to the quality of the children's risk assessments and the staff's roles in keeping children safe. 14 May 2021

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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

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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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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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child — is instigated; or concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or 14 May 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2558681 4 there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e))

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff are aware of the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. Information about a child should be recorded in a way that will be helpful to them when they read their records. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards' page 62, paragraph 14.4) Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2558681 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: Guidance Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 172 Mains Lane, Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire FY6 7LE

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Inspector

Chris Scully, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2558681 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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