Children's Home run by Lytham Care Limited in Knowsley

Inspection report children’s home: 2585541 1 Registered provider: Lytham Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This provider states in its statement of purpose that it provides care for up to two children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager voluntarily resigned on 3 September 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers on 17 March 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

We last visited this setting on 9 December 2020, to carry out an assurance visit. The report is published on the Ofsted website.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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inadequate

There are serious and/or widespread failures that mean children are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded, and the care and experiences of children and young people are poor and they are not making progress.

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report children’s home: 2585541 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

Not previously inspected Inspection report children’s home: 2585541 3

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inadequate

Children’s overall experiences are compromised by inadequate safeguarding practice and serious shortfalls in leadership and management. The staff could not demonstrate the journey for children or their progress, due to poor recording systems.

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inadequate

Children’s plans do not always include up-to-date and accurate information. Furthermore, some information in children’s plans is contradictory. For example, in one child’s plans there is conflicting information in relation to the time that she can spend in the community. This means that staff cannot provide consistent and safe care for children.

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inadequate

Children’s emotional well-being is affected by the inconsistent staffing in the home. Records demonstrate that children are upset when staff leave their jobs at the home. Staff told inspectors that one child is upset because staff have left and new staff are working at the home. One member of staff said that the child has been eating less at home and in school.

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inadequate

Children are offered support from external agencies. For example, there is drug and alcohol support for one child who misuses cannabis. However, the child does not want to attend any appointments with this service. Managers and staff have not considered any further support systems that may be available to support the child.

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inadequate

One child’s bedroom is not maintained to a clean and acceptable standard. The child’s bedroom is extremely messy with unclean bedding. There is also a health risk to the child caused by leftover food and drinks in the child’s bedroom.

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inadequate

The sleeping accommodation for the staff does not provide them with privacy or enable them to supervise children safely at night.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Inspectors found serious shortfalls in safeguarding practice. These shortfalls are significantly compromising the children’s welfare and safety. There is an inconsistent approach to risk management, which means that children are not safe.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Children’s risk management plans are ineffective because the strategies for reducing risk have not been reviewed or amended in a timely manner. Children’s risk assessments do not include clear direction or the agreed strategies in place for staff to follow when a child engages in risk-taking behaviour, such as going missing from home and misusing drugs and alcohol. Inspection report children’s home: 2585541 4 Care plans and risk assessments do not support staff in keeping children safe or provide detailed strategies and preventive measures for staff to follow to protect children from harm. Although some children’s risks and vulnerabilities are identified in their plans, risk assessments were last updated in May 2021. This is despite there being concerns arising from missing-from-home incidents, use of social media and drug and alcohol misuse incidents.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

The staff are unable to manage safeguarding concerns to reduce the risk of harm to children. Staff have not appropriately managed concerns that a child is at risk from substance misuse and on social media. For example, inappropriate images were found on a child’s mobile phone. These included extreme sexual images; photographs of the child smoking unknown substances, possibly including cannabis; and inappropriate photographs of the child. Staff returned the mobile phone to the child without thoroughly assessing how to manage the risks associated with the inappropriate images and any other potential risks.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Furthermore, staff do not follow the strategies included in the child’s risk assessment in respect of mobile phone and internet use. Staff do not take the child’s mobile phone away from her, despite this being included as a protective measure in her risk assessment. Staff told inspectors that they understand the risks posed by social media, but are unable to get the child to give them her mobile phone.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Staff do not consistently follow children’s plans when they are missing from home. On one occasion this was because there were not enough staff to go out and look for the child. This meant that the child was at risk of harm because staff did not know where she was and who she was spending time with.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

As a result of the staff’s lack of professional curiosity, children have been left at risk of harm in the community. For example, staff give one child lifts to different locations, but they do not show any professional curiosity about who the child is meeting or give due consideration to her age and any safety concerns.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leadership and management arrangements in the home are poor and ineffective. The registered manager left the home on 3 September 2021, and the responsible individual for the organisation left on 28 August 2021.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

No interim arrangements have been put in place to ensure that there is effective leadership and management oversight. The current directors do not have the skills or knowledge to provide staff with informed advice on managing risks and keeping children safe. Furthermore, there is not a consistent team of staff in place to ensure that children receive continuity of care and the protection that they need.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Children are not looked after by a settled and consistent staff team. This means that children are not always supported by staff who know them well and who understand their needs. Children’s case records still include the names of staff who have left the home, and current staff have not signed and dated records. Inspection report children’s home: 2585541 5 It is not clear who is currently working at the home. Therefore, the provider could not demonstrate if all staff are qualified and have the necessary skills and training to meet children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Suitable checks have not been completed on staff to demonstrate safe recruitment. For example, the provider has not obtained full references for new staff or addressed previous disciplinary issues in respect of one member of staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff are not receiving supervision in line with the statement of purpose. This means that staff do not have opportunities to reflect on children’s progress, how they support children and their own learning and development. Therefore, leaders and managers are not evaluating the staff’s practice, learning and suitability to continue to work at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The immediate action taken by the provider during the inspection has not assured Ofsted that the staff are able to keep the children safe and meet their needs. Therefore, Ofsted has made the decision to suspend the service with immediate effect. Inspection report children’s home: 2585541 6

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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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

The provider needs to ensure that all staff know the children’s individual needs and how to meet these needs. 1 December 2021

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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—

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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; 1 December 2021 Inspection report children’s home: 2585541 7 have each child understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies.

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

The provider needs to ensure that staff understand children’s risks and follow strategies in children’s risk assessments.

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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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes in the statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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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; 1 December 2021 Inspection report children’s home: 2585541 8 ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

The provider needs to ensure that a registered manager is in post who can lead and manage the home in line with the statement of purpose. This includes overseeing incidents and record-keeping, and implementing monitoring and review systems to ensure that staff are continually meeting children’s needs and keeping them safe.

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Requirement Due date

Furthermore, the provider needs to ensure that all staff have the skills and experience to meet children’s needs.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the home a statement (“the statement of purpose”) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (1) (3)(a)(b)) 1 December 2021

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Requirement Due date

An organisation may only carry on a home if—

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Requirement Due date

each director of the organisation, except for a director who is the responsible individual, who is involved in the carrying on of a home by that organisation satisfies the requirements in paragraph (6); and

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Requirement Due date

the organisation has notified HMCI of the name, address and position in the organisation of the responsible individual.

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of good integrity and good character; 1 December 2021 Inspection report children’s home: 2585541 9 full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2;

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit to carry on the home; and

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Requirement Due date

the individual is financially fit to carry on the home.

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character; and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of the matters in paragraphs 1 and 3 to 6 of Schedule 2.

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Requirement Due date

satisfy the requirements in paragraph (5)(a) to (c); and

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Requirement Due date

have the capacity, experience and skills to supervise the management of the home, or the homes, in respect of which the responsible individual is nominated. (Regulation 26 (4)(i)(ii) (5)(a)(b)(c)(d)(6)(a)(b) (7)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

Employ an individual to work at the children’s home;or

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purpose of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)) 1 December 2021 Inspection report children’s home: 2585541 10 This is particularly in relation to reference checks. The provider needs to ensure that these checks address any safeguarding and disciplinary issues.

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Requirement Due date

ensure that each employee completes an appropriate induction.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (1)(a) (4)) 1 December 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c)) 1 December 2021

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Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4. (Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

The provider needs to demonstrate all hours that all staff have worked on rosters, including the registered manager. 1 December 2021

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. Inspection report children’s home: 2585541 11

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Lytham Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 400 Longmoor Lane, Fazakerley, Liverpool L9 9DB

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Inspectors

Catherine Fargin, Social Care Inspector Jessica Higginson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2585541 12 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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