Lincolnshire Secure Unit

Inspection report for secure children’s home: SC042921 1 SC042921 Registered provider: Lincolnshire County Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this secure children’s home

This secure children’s home is managed by a local authority. It is approved by the Department for Education to restrict young people’s liberty.

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Information about this secure children’s home

The children’s home can accommodate up to 12 children aged between 10 and 17 years. It provides for up to 11 children placed by the youth custody service and one child placed by local authorities under section 25 of the Children Act 1989.

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Information about this secure children’s home

There were 12 children resident in the secure home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this secure children’s home

Admission of any child under section 25 of the Children Act 1989 who is under 13 years of age requires the approval of the Secretary of State.

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Information about this secure children’s home

The commissioning of health services at this home is the statutory responsibility of NHS England under the Health and Social Care Act 2012. Education is provided on site in dedicated facilities.

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Information about this secure children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 2008.

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Information about this secure children’s home

Due to COVID-19, at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers carried out under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) on 17 March 2020. We returned to routine SCCIF inspections on 12 April 2021.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

Children’s education and learning requires improvement to be good Children’s health good How well children and young people are helped and protected good Inspection report for secure children’s home: SC042921 2 The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The secure children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for secure children’s home: SC042921 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/05/2021 Interim Sustained effectiveness 04/02/2020 Full Good 24/09/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 15/01/2019 Full Good Inspection report for secure children’s home: SC042921 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are skilled at quickly developing strong and supportive relationships with children. Staff know the children well, listen to them and promote their welfare.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Regular group meetings and individual sessions take place so that children can share their views about their care and experiences in the home. Senior managers ensure that children receive timely feedback on any issues that they raise. This gives children confidence that they are valued and enhances their sense of self-worth.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand how important it is for children to maintain significant relationships in their family and home community. The case management team ensures that children’s families receive the support and information they need. As a result, families have a better understanding of their child’s circumstances, experiences and potential future outcomes. One parent said, ‘The staff have helped me to understand what is happening to [the child] so now I can help him better.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff carefully consider the support that children will need when they leave the home. This work is led by the resettlement officer, who engages well with a range of agencies when children are moving to another secure setting or returning to the community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child, who has recently returned to live in the community, was very positive about living in the home and the support she continues to receive from the resettlement officer. She said, ‘The staff are just amazing. My life has changed 100% for the better because of them. I’m happy now and I didn’t think I would ever be again.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The case management team ensures that children’s needs are well understood, and that each child has access to the specialist services that they require. However, care planning records do not always demonstrate that children are consulted about their care needs or that they have given their views about their plans. In addition, staff and managers are not consistently escalating concerns when some placing authorities do not provide up-to-date statutory plans for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Group work and individual intervention work is delivered effectively. Staff use a range of tools to address issues such as offending behaviour and healthy relationships. Children develop a better understanding of the impact of their behaviours and how they may be influenced by others. However, records of this work do not consistently set out the purpose of the work or capture the difference it has made. Inspection report for secure children’s home: SC042921 5

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Children’s education and learning: requires improvement to be good

Children attending education are generally well behaved and are respectful of their peers. A number of children are making significant progress in their education, often experiencing educational success for the first time in their lives. However, planning and teaching is not of a consistently good quality.

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Children’s education and learning: requires improvement to be good

Initial assessment of children’s abilities does not always accurately identify children’s starting points or individual learning support needs. This can delay the provision of additional learning support for children who may need this.

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Children’s education and learning: requires improvement to be good

There is currently a reduced curriculum due to long-term staff absences and unfilled vacancies, exacerbated by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Children are not currently able to attend lessons in art, music, or food technology. Although the headteacher has made concerted attempts to engage with careers advisory services, children do not have access to independent careers information and advice.

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Children’s education and learning: requires improvement to be good

Some children do not achieve good school attendance. Absence is not always accurately recorded. Some children have been undertaking interventions with care staff and having children’s meetings during the school day rather than participating in lessons.

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Children’s education and learning: requires improvement to be good

Children who do not attend education are set work to do in their residential unit. However, they are allowed to engage in social activities, play games or watch television when they should be completing this work. This does not instil an understanding of the value of education or support them to reach their potential.

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Children’s education and learning: requires improvement to be good

The head of education and recently appointed deputy have a reasonably accurate view of the quality of provision, the appropriateness of the current curriculum and of the areas that need to be improved. Leaders are taking well-considered steps to improve both the content of the curriculum and the effectiveness of its delivery, to provide more relevance. For example, opportunities for children to work towards achieving accredited qualifications have been established and more vocational options are available.

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Children’s health: good

Children are treated with dignity and respect by healthcare staff who work hard to gain the trust of children. Staff seek and listen to children’s views.

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Children’s health: good

The Children’s Health Assessment Tool is well embedded into practice. All health assessment work is conducted in a timely manner so that any health needs are addressed quickly. Assessment is undertaken by a skilled multi-disciplinary team and children are referred for specialist provision when this is needed. As a result, children have improved general health and, for some children, specific health needs have been better identified and treated. Inspection report for secure children’s home: SC042921 6 The mental health team provides tailored interventions for children. Staff help children reduce anxieties and have a better understanding of their behaviours through the use of tools such as personalised self-sooth boxes and therapeutic letters. The letters are particularly effective for children leaving the home because they affirm their progress and achievements.

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Children’s health: good

All staff are trained in trauma-informed practice, which supports children to feel safe and enhances their emotional health and well-being. However, the effectiveness of this approach would be strengthened by healthcare staff supporting staff throughout the secure setting with supervision and reflective practice.

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Children’s health: good

All health staff receive regular managerial and clinical supervision and have good access to training to aid personal development.

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Children’s health: good

The flexibility of the service is hindered because there is currently insufficient space for all healthcare staff to be in the home at the same time. Leaders and managers are exploring options to address this issue.

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

Safeguarding concerns are identified, assessed and responded to effectively. Information is shared promptly with key professionals, such as placing social workers and the designated officer. The open, transparent safeguarding culture protects children.

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

The groupwork and individual work that is undertaken with children enables them to better understand how to keep themselves safe and the consequences of unsafe behaviour.

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

Children feel safe, have trusting relationships with staff, and are confident to report any concerns that they might have. Managers ensure that any concerns or complaints are responded to thoroughly. Children receive clear feedback about the outcome of their complaints.

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

The use of measures of control, such as restraint and separating children from the group, is fair and proportionate. Staff and managers review every incident and carry out a debrief. This helps them to learn lessons and improve practice. Staff also consult with children about behaviour management approaches. Behaviour management strategies have been adapted and improved following feedback from children. By engaging with children in this way, staff empower children to make important decisions about their care.

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

Risk assessments are comprehensive and give staff a clear understanding of children’s vulnerabilities. Risk management plans are regularly updated to inform staff of new issues that might increase risk to children. Inspection report for secure children’s home: SC042921 7

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is experienced and qualified. He is well regarded by the staff team, partners and professionals who value his very child-centred approach.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers and senior staff support staff well. As a result, staff are resilient and there is a good rate of staff retention. Staff receive regular supervision that helps them to reflect on and improve their practice. Managers recognise and nurture talent within the staff team. Effective performance management processes ensure that any poor practice is quickly identified and addressed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a well-organised training programme. Staff have been provided with training in all aspects of care and have a clear understanding of how to meet each child’s needs. Staff are either qualified or, if new to the role, are undertaking the relevant qualification.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A range of effective monitoring and quality assurance systems ensures that leaders and managers know the progress children are making. This means that staff can direct targeted work when children need extra support and respond quickly to emerging needs. The clear understanding of children’s progress also enables staff to celebrate and reward children’s achievements, encouraging continued success.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager and senior leaders are aware of the current challenges in the home’s education provision. They are working constructively with education leads and external agencies to urgently address weaknesses and improve oversight of children’s attendance, participation and progress in education. Inspection report for secure children’s home: SC042921 8

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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 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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(2))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that children’s participation in education is promoted and that leaders and managers have effective oversight of this. 10 January 2022

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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. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. In particular, ensure that the quality of records relating to group work and direct work with children is improved. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)  The registered person should ensure that any placing authority provides complete and current plans for each child, including care plans and personal education plans. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.5)  The registered person should ensure that children are encouraged by staff to see the home’s records as ‘living documents’, supporting them to view and contribute to the record in a way that reflects their voice on a regular basis. In particular,

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Recommendations

ensure that children’s views are recorded in their care and support plans. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 58, paragraph 11.19)  Healthcare professionals work closely with staff across the secure setting in caring for children to achieve the best possible health outcomes. In particular, leaders and managers should facilitate sufficient accommodation to enable healthcare professionals to work alongside care staff, in order to effectively meet children’s health needs. (‘Healthcare Standards for Children and Young People in secure settings June 2019’, page 12, paragraph 1.3.2) Inspection report for secure children’s home: SC042921 9  The ethos of the home should support each child to learn. In particular, leaders and managers should ensure that children receive impartial careers guidance to help them to prepare for their next steps in education, employment, or training.

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Recommendations

This recommendation is repeated from the full inspection November 2020 (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 29, paragraph 5.18)  The ethos of the home should support each child to learn. In particular, leaders and managers should ensure that the starting points and learning support the needs of children are identified accurately and in a timely way when they arrive at the home. Staff should use this information to plan interesting and challenging learning activities. (‘Guide to the children’s regulations, including the quality standards’, page 29, paragraph 5.18)  The ethos of the home should support each child to learn. In particular, leaders and managers should recruit staff so that the home can offer a full, balanced curriculum. (‘Guide to the children’s regulations, including the quality standards’, page 29, paragraph 5.18)

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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 for secure children’s home: SC042921 10

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Secure children’s home details

Registered provider: Lincolnshire County Council

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Secure children’s home details

Registered provider address: County Offices, Newland, Lincoln, Lincolnshire LN11YL

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Inspectors

Cathey Moriarty, Social Care Inspector Barnaby Dowell, Social Care Inspector Jo Stephenson, Social Care Inspector Malcom Fraser, HMI Further Education and Skills Gary Turney, Health and Justice Inspector, Care Quality Commission Inspection report for secure children’s home: SC042921 11 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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