Children's Home run by Lincolnshire County Council in Lincolnshire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC042950 1 SC042950 Registered provider: Lincolnshire 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 registered to provide care for up to six children with social and emotional difficulties. The home is owned and operated by a local authority.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is currently being led by an acting manager who is suitably qualified and experienced.

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Information about this 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

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: 11 February 2020

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC042950 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/02/2020 Full Good 05/12/2018 Full Outstanding 31/01/2018 Full Outstanding 01/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC042950 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive good-quality care and support from the staff team. Children make good progress in all areas of their development. Children feel listened to and supported. Children’s meetings take place monthly. These meetings encourage children to share their thoughts and ideas. For example, a meeting resulted in the home being redecorated and furnished to the children’s liking.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are happy and feel safe. They have good relationships with staff, whom they trust. Children enjoy spending quality time with staff, which strengthens their relationships. Many staff have worked at the home for a long time. This means that children receive consistent care and support from staff who know them well. Children are confident to discuss their concerns with staff. This means that children feel valued and enjoy a sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children’s attendance and engagement with education are variable. Some children have not been attending education. Staff work hard to support these children to reintegrate into school or an alternative education provision in line with their relevant plans. The staff team advocates to maintain education placements for children and will challenge barriers to education, if required. One child, who is awaiting a suitable school placement, engages with the staff in alternative education. Two other children have made significant progress at school in the past year, which has improved their self-esteem and confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are physically healthy. If appropriate, staff support children to manage diagnosed conditions and prescribed medication independently. The management of medication is safe and promotes the children’s independence. There is good communication with health professionals to promote good health outcomes for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff ensure that children have good life experiences. The home has use of a seaside caravan, which the children enjoy visiting. One child recently visited Harry Potter World, and another enjoys visiting historical sites. The manager is determined to enrich children’s lives by encouraging them to try different things. For example, one child plays for a local football team and another attends a local drama group. These experiences help build children’s confidence and provide social opportunities away from home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to keep in touch with people who are important to them. Staff provide supervision and transport for family time for several children. Positive family relationships have progressed for one child, who now spends time regularly with her family. Sibling relationships are very important to some children. The staff respect this and offer support to ensure that these relationships are nurtured. Inspection report for children’s home: SC042950 4

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

Staff are committed to ensuring that children know how to keep themselves safe. Children have trusted adults they can talk to about their concerns. The children have regular key-work sessions about safety in the community, online safety and the risks and opportunities presented by social media. Incidents of children going missing have decreased. Staff understand child protection well and know how to report any concerns. They work closely with professionals to inform risk assessments and behaviour management plans.

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

Incidents of challenging behaviour and the use of physical intervention have decreased. When this does occur, both children and staff are listened to and supported. Such incidents are reviewed by the manager. They are used as learning opportunities to identify the underlying causes and triggers to poor behaviour. The police have been called on some occasions due to children’s behaviour. The staff record the actions undertaken and any restorative practice to inform future care planning. The manager has a good understanding and oversight of all the incidents and reviews these.

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

Staff know each child well. They can identify children’s risks and vulnerabilities. This means that they can use strategies effectively to promote positive behaviour with children. These are reviewed regularly by the manager and adjusted in line with the changing needs and risks of children.

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

Some children have their own smartphones and access to the internet. Staff have a good understanding of online safety and the risks and opportunities for children when using social media. They appreciate that this is hugely popular with children and part of their everyday experience. The manager and staff are vigilant and act when they have any concerns regarding children’s online activities.

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

The physical environment is not always maintained to a safe standard. Some children have smoking equipment and may have smoked in their bedrooms. This is a fire risk. Additionally, potentially harmful chemical substances are not always stored safely, in a locked cupboard. These shortfalls have the potential to cause harm.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been changes to the management and staff team since the last inspection. The registered manager has been seconded to another post in the organisation. The acting manager was previously the assistant manager in the home. She is suitably qualified and experienced. The staff value her support and they feel listened to, as do the children. The manager has developed good relationships with the children and knows them very well. She is passionate and ambitious for the children because she understands their potential.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team is well trained. The preferred model of care is embedded in the team. Staff follow this methodology and this leads to consistency in their care practice. Inspection report for children’s home: SC042950 5 The manager accesses training for staff which is specific to the children’s needs. This results in good, individualised care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is ambitious for the home. She has introduced changes to positive effect since she was appointed. Areas of the home have recently been redecorated and furnished, providing a warm and welcoming living space. Children’s bedrooms are personalised and reflect their interests. Outside, the manager has plans to introduce a new sensory garden and a memorial space for children who have lost loved ones.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff work in partnership with other agencies. Feedback from involved professionals is excellent. Praise is given for effective communication and how well the children are supported. One professional from a school said: ‘We are impressed with their care and commitment to children.’ A parent was thrilled with the progress her daughter had made in the home. She gave credit to the whole team for supporting her daughter through the past year.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The organisation offers a comprehensive package of training to staff. Most of the team are qualified. New staff are enrolled on their residential childcare qualification following the successful completion of their probation. Induction plans for new starters are thorough. A new member of staff said that they were enjoying their job and felt supported. The manager and assistant manager offer regular supervision to the staff team, with the support of senior residential care staff. Inspection report for children’s home: SC042950 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 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

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to the safe storage of potential hazards in the home and ensuring that cigarette lighting materials are removed. 17 January 2022

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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: SC042950 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Lincolnshire County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: County Offices, Newland, Lincoln, Lincolnshire LN1 1YL

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Jeanette Mitchell-Fox

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Inspector

Rachael Sprigg, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC042950 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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