Children's Home run by Guidance Care Limited in Blackpool

Inspection report children’s home: 2558681 1 Registered provider: Guidance Care Limited 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 a private provider. It was registered in March 2020 and provides care for up to three children irrespective of gender.

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Information about this children’s home

The home does not have a registered manager. An acting manager is currently overseeing the home who has applied to Ofsted for registration.

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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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Information about this children’s home

We last visited this setting on 24 March 2021 to carry out a monitoring 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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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report children’s home: 2558681 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children living in this home remain situated within their local communities, close to family and friends. They receive warm and nurturing care from a stable and consistent staff team, while having access to family and support networks. As a result, children are happy living in this home and are making good progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are engaging in education which meets their current needs. One child is undertaking a mechanics course while gaining additional qualifications in Mathematics and English. Another child is transitioning to mainstream school. This child has an adapted timetable which also allows him to gain work experience at the local kennels, which he enjoys. The education provided is in line with children’s needs, wishes and future aspirations. Because of this, children are engaging, and their attendance is good.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Not all children’s health needs are being met. One child requires further support with his sleep routines. He often stays up at night and sleeps in during the day. This has affected his behaviour and motivation to engage. Furthermore, professionals have identified that two children living in the home may require further health assessments. Steps have not been taken to secure these, investigate concerns further, and seek further medical advice in relation to these issues. This impacts children’s health and well-being and is likely to hinder children’s outcomes in the future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Positive relationships are promoted, and children are helped to spend time with those who are important to them. Children’s family members and friends visit the home and children have also stayed at friend’s homes overnight. This helps children to maintain support networks and friendships, which will help them in the future, and allows them to have similar experiences to their peers.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide children with clear and consistent rules and boundaries. Children are aware of these and accept them. Because of this, children know what is expected of them and their environment is predictable. This helps children to feel safe and secure in the home and helps to reduce incidents and anxiety.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have engaged in positive activities that support the local community. The home arranged a ‘bake off’ event in which professionals, neighbours and children’s families were invited to purchase items made by children and staff to raise money for a local charity. Children and staff also dressed up and participated in a ‘Santa dash’. At the time of the inspection, one child was actively collecting items for the local kennels to provide treats, toys and blankets for the dogs he works with. These activities help to provide children with a sense of pride and achievement and encourage positive engagement in the community. Inspection report children’s home: 2558681 3 Shortfalls were identified in relation to care planning. Impact assessments for children moving in to the home do not include sufficient information to establish whether children’s individual needs can be met. Furthermore, independence planning for children does not effectively assess children’s independence skills or

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

identify areas of need or focus. This has hindered children’s progress in this area and does not ensure that children are fully prepared to move on from the home.

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

Risk assessments available in the home are clear, comprehensive and include all known risks. They are regularly reviewed and updated, and demonstrate an overall decline in risk-taking behaviours for children. Children are safer and are receiving good help and protection.

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

There have been several occasions where children have been reported as missing from home. This is usually to spend additional time with family and friends. Staff are aware of the expectations on them when children are missing and respond proactively, in line with procedures. The positive relationships between staff and children help to ensure that children remain in contact when away from the home and that they do not stay away for long periods of time. As a result, the risk of harm to children is significantly reduced.

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

There have been two occasions where children have required immediate medical attention. Staff have responded quickly to incidents where children have been injured or have been at risk of physical harm and sought medical help and guidance. Monitoring and supervision have increased, where necessary, and children have been referred for further support and treatment when required. This supports children’s physical and emotional health and improves their safety.

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

Behaviour management in the home is good. Behaviour support plans in place include individualised preventative strategies to help children. Because of this, incidents in the home are infrequent and staff rarely need to physically intervene. When intervention has been necessary, staff use less-restrictive measures and guides to support children.

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

Recruitment of staff in the home is robust and the suitability of staff is assessed in detail. Those responsible for recruitment ensure that all necessary checks are carried out to a high standard and are verified. Because of this, discrepancies in information provided by potential employees are highlighted and investigated. This ensures that all those working with children are safe and suitable to do so.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

An acting manager is currently in charge of the day-to-day running of the home but is not yet registered. He has the necessary experience and qualifications for this role and has applied to Ofsted for registration. Children and staff are happy about the changes in leadership and feel supported by the new manager. Inspection report children’s home: 2558681 4 There have been no complaints made by children currently living in the home. Children feel listened to by staff and managers. They say that their views and wishes are considered, and they are confident in approaching staff with issues or concerns. Concerns raised by others have been thoroughly investigated and appropriately responded to by senior managers. This demonstrates transparency and is in line with appropriate safeguarding practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision and training. The team also have the required qualifications to care for children in this setting. The new manager is focusing on the development of the team, and longstanding staff members are being supported to obtain higher qualifications. This helps to provide children with skilled and qualified carers who are confident in their roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Shortfalls were identified in relation to the manager’s monitoring and review of documentation in the home. Children’s care plans do not include all the relevant and available information. This means that there have been some delays in meeting children’s health needs. Incident records are overseen and signed by the manager. However, they do not include sufficient evaluation to identify shortfalls in staff practice and use lessons learned to improve.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Improvements have been made to the home since the previous monitoring visit. Leaders and managers have taken action to meet the requirements and recommendation made at the visit. As a result, staff have enhanced their recording and reporting skills, children’s risk assessments have been strengthened, and managers have appropriately notified the regulator of any serious incidents. This demonstrates that staff and managers are keen to improve the home and the quality of care provided. Inspection report children’s home: 2558681 5

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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 health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that children’s plans include all known health needs. Where children require further intervention or assessment, take action to address this. 23 February 2022

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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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that monitoring systems in the home support the effective review of daily records, children’s plans and significant incidents to address shortfalls and improve the quality of care provided. 23 February 2022

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home. 23 February 2022 Inspection report children’s home: 2558681 6 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(b)(ii)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, assess the needs of children moving in to and out of the home. Ensure that children who are preparing to move out of the home have the necessary skills, understanding and knowledge to live more independently.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that children’s bedrooms provide a nurturing environment that is welcoming, supportive, and which provides appropriate boundaries in relation to their behaviour. Homes must also meet children’s basic day-to-day needs and physical necessities. Staff should seek to meet the child’s basic needs in the way that a good parent would. Specifically, take appropriate action to ensure that all children’s bedrooms are maintained to the necessary standards. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.7)

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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: 2558681 7

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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

Natalie Bennett, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2558681 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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