Children's Home run by Lancashire County Council in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC440309 1 SC440309 Registered provider: Lancashire County Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by Lancashire County Council. It is registered to provide residential care for up to six children who have experienced adverse childhood experiences that have led to associated trauma and presenting complex behaviours.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since May 2020. The manager has the level 5 qualification in leadership and management.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Information about this children’s home

Ofsted last visited this home on 29 and 30 September 2021 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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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 30 July 2019 Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC440309 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/07/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 08/01/2019 Full Outstanding 09/11/2017 Full Outstanding 30/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC440309 3

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outstanding

This is the home’s first full inspection since July 2019. The home received an assurance visit in September 2020. Since the assurance visit, two children have left the home and three children have moved in. At the time of inspection, six children lived at the home.

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outstanding

Children are enormously positive about the care that they receive. Children informed the inspector that they feel confident to talk to any member of staff about anything. One child told the inspector, ‘Before I came here, I was on a bad path, but these guys have made me come away from that. They’ve convinced me to think of all the positives in my life.’ Another child said, ‘This is not a children’s home, we are a family.’

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outstanding

Children make exceptional, continued progress in key areas of their life. This is because of the close relationships they have with the staff and the consistent, individualised support that they receive from them. A social worker said, ‘I wish I could place all of my children here. I am always looking out for when they have a space.’ Consequently, children’s life chances are significantly increased.

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outstanding

Despite facing significant challenges, children’s self-esteem and confidence improve significantly. Children plan for further education and some children aspire to be police officers to serve the community, while others plan to care for children. A social worker said, ‘There is a very nurturing approach through all aspects of care for children in this home.’ Because of this, children make excellent progress socially and emotionally and have high aspirations for their future.

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outstanding

Children make extraordinary progress with their education. Staff and managers are extremely ambitious for the children and are not afraid to challenge for further improvements to ensure that individual needs are met. Children have education outcome trackers that managers review monthly to review progress, identify any additional needs and track targets from their personal education plans. Children are supported to prepare for exams and are aware of the pride from the team for their achievements. One education professional said, ‘They have such high aspirations for the children. They recognise what the long-term aims are, and put in small, measurable targets for each child to achieve.’

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outstanding

Staff support children with their health and well-being. Staff demonstrate an ability to seek specialist help when this has been necessary and have undertaken research to meet the specific needs of the children they care for. The multi-team approach means that children’s needs are effectively promoted.

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outstanding

Children make good progress with their independence skills. Staff and children work through the home’s ‘skills for life’ work pack. Managers are proactive in their Inspection report for children’s home: SC440309 4 research-informed approach; as a result, children are encouraged to take part in local pilot steering groups with leaving care teams. This helps children to gain further qualifications, helps build a portfolio for each child, and potentially helps with allocating properties for the children when they are 18 years of age. This innovative practice provides further support and reassurance to children during their transition to adult life.

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outstanding

Children’s views are central to the running of the home. Staff consult children in all aspects of their care and support them to take increasing control of decisions that affect them. Children confirmed that staff listened to them. This ensures that children feel that their views are valued and provides them with a degree of control.

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outstanding

Children are safe and said that they are safe. As a result of the close and nurturing relationships that children have with staff, they feel able to share their worries and concerns. Risk assessments are completed with the individual child in mind that give staff a real flavour of the child’s own understanding of each risk. Consequently, children feel supported and are protected.

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outstanding

Direct work is completed with children to address their individual needs. As a result, children make excellent progress. For example, one child has learned to feel positive about themselves and, consequently, has not become involved in criminal behaviours for almost six months. One social worker said about a child, ‘[child] is now able to recognise their own moods and needs. The child you see today compared to before they moved in, are two very different people.’

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outstanding

Staff de-escalate incidents exceptionally well, which means the need to physically intervene to keep children and others safe has reduced significantly. Staff and children work together through consultation discussions to develop strategies to help keep children safe. Managers provide analysis of this work and evaluate the lessons learned for the children. Children make safer choices and risks reduce in all aspects of their lives. Because of this, children are safer.

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outstanding

Managers recruit new staff safely. Staff are thoroughly vetted and assessed before any appointment is confirmed. These safe recruitment procedures make sure that children are protected by preventing unsuitable adults from working in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

A suitably qualified and experienced registered manager leads the staff team. He is supported by two experienced assistant managers. Managers have made improvements to practice since the last inspection and have met the one requirement raised at that time. As a result, Ofsted is provided with information of significant events. The registered manager keeps a good oversight of the service through his auditing tools and is able to drive improvement in the quality of care provided to children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC440309 5 The registered manager keeps children at the heart of all he does. He is inspirational and ambitious for children and ensures that the ethos floods across the entire staff team. Managers have a good knowledge of the children’s starting points and what they have accomplished since living at the home. This is echoed by staff. Management oversight and monitoring processes are highly effective. The registered

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

manager ensures that debriefs are completed following any incidents, providing the opportunity to discuss views of behaviours displayed. As a result, the registered manager has a good insight into the home’s strengths and areas of development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff enjoy working at the home and are positive about the support they receive from the registered manager. He is ambitious for the children and is influential in developing staff. Staff are appointed to be champions for the home; for example, one staff member is the equality and diversity champion, and provides information of guidance and updates to the team and children. Supervision sessions are regular and of high quality. These help staff to generate ideas and to reflect on their practice. New staff are well supported through a clear, effective induction process. This ensures that children receive high-quality care from skilled and well-informed staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The majority of staff hold the required level 3 diploma. A small number of staff are currently working to achieve this and plans are in place to ensure that they complete this within the required timescales. Staff are also provided with a wide range of training that informs their practice and meets children’s individual and diverse needs. This provides staff with the essential skills and knowledge for their roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager, along with the two assistant managers, have excellent relationships with partner agencies which ensures that children’s needs are met effectively. An example of this is consultation with the local exploitation team when one child showed signs of criminal exploitation. The registered manager also provides training to his team and partner agencies around the dangers of children who go missing and the preventative strategies in place. This has been recognised by senior leaders within the police force who visit the home to consult with the manager. Children and staff benefit from having a registered manager who strives to improve the lives of those he works with. Inspection report for children’s home: SC440309 6

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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 children’s home: SC440309 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Lancashire County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: PO Box 78, County Hall, Fishergate, Preston PR1 8XJ

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Inspector

Kev Brammer, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC440309 8 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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