Children's Home run by Longdon Hall School Limited in Staffordshire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC478001 1 SC478001 Registered provider: Longdon Hall School Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care for up to four children who have suffered early childhood trauma. A private company owns and operates this home. It was registered in July 2014.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager was registered in July 2020.

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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 25 February 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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC478001 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/06/2019 Full Good 25/07/2018 Full Good 03/07/2017 Full Good 02/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC478001 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are currently four children living in the home. Children make very good progress in the important areas of their lives. Staff understand children’s starting points and celebrate their progress and achievements. Furthermore, staff capture children’s memories through memory books and children take these with them when they leave the home. This helps children feel welcome and develop a sense of belonging in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff and children share positive relationships. The inspector observed interactions, which were good humoured and respectful between staff and children. Children spoke positively about the staff and management team. One child stated that staff are ‘nice and kind’ and that the home is ‘outstanding’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to make progress in their education. Most children make very good progress from their starting points. For example, one child had not attended school for over two years before moving into the home. Staff identified a local provision to support her needs. As a result, the child’s engagement and attendance levels improved. An education professional, for another child who had previously refused to attend school, commented that staff ‘have worked hard to overcome the difficulties, resulting in fantastic attendance at school’. This support helps children to make progress and understand the importance of engaging with their education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Transitions into and from the home are well managed. Risk assessments help managers to understand whether staff can meet a child’s needs alongside children already living in the home. Staff talk to children about things that are important to them. Also, the home’s children’s guide provides important information about the home. When children leave the home, staff prepare children effectively and provide them with memories of their time in the home. As a result, children feel supported during important moments in their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children know how to complain and raise concerns about the home. On occasions, when complaints have been made, the manager has responded both efficiently and effectively to resolve the issues. Consequently, children feel that they are listened to and their views are taken seriously.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to develop independence skills and they involve children in their own planning. The registered manager uses imaginative and creative sessions to engage the children. For example, he invented his own ‘scavenger hunt’ for children to participate in within the local community. This helps children to learn and develop independence skills while having fun.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home’s environment is well maintained and furnished to a good standard. There are photos of children in place and children’s bedrooms are personalised and Inspection report for children’s home: SC478001 4 suitable to their interests and needs. This homely feeling means that children feel valued, respected and settled.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Professionals comment positively on the care children receive. Staff communicate effectively with the important people involved in children’s lives. For one child, one professional stated that, ‘Our young man is very settled and happy here, he is making terrific progress, and this is down to their parenting, care and guidance.’

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

Children become safer as a result of living in this home. Staff ensure that there are clear boundaries and expectations for children, which help to keep them safe. Also, staff ensure that restrictions and safeguarding strategies do not hinder children’s development or independence. Consequently, the number and severity of significant incidents with children reduces and some children make significant progress.

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

Staff respond effectively to safeguard children at risk of exploitation and who go missing from the home. They work with partner agencies to share important information and intelligence. This information is used to inform risk assessments and leads to actions that safeguard children. For one child, the support provided by staff has resulted in a significant reduction in missing-from-home incidents.

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

Staff take immediate action when children share sensitive information related to their experiences. Also, managers work well with the relevant professionals and investigations are completed efficiently. These actions help to reassure children and protect their welfare.

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

Children receive help from staff to address individual risks and behaviours relevant to them. For example, staff listen to children about their emotions and provide reassurance when children feel anxious. Children respond well to this support and there has been a significant reduction in incidents requiring the use of physical restraint. Furthermore, this direct work helps children to review and reflect on their behaviour.

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

Staff do not always assess risks to children effectively. On two occasions, poor communication between staff, and an inability to assess a situation, led to poor decision-making. This meant that one child went missing from the home late at night. On another occasion, a child was able to meet up with a peer unsupervised, which was not agreed in their plan. These shortfalls have the potential to compromise children’s safety.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is suitably experienced and leads the home effectively. He is ambitious and a real advocate for children. He places children at the heart of what he does and promotes their safety and well-being. He has high expectations and strives to ensure that children are supported to make progress in all areas of their lives. He is supported by an ambitious deputy manager who is keen to learn and Inspection report for children’s home: SC478001 5 develop. As a result, the management team provides a consistent approach across the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children speak positively about the support that they receive from the registered manager. One child informed the inspector that, ‘The manager is the best we have ever known, and he treats us all like we are his own children, and we love him.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel well supported in the home. They describe the management team as approachable, supportive and that they have high expectations. Supervision and appraisals are completed regularly, and they are used to develop and improve staff practice. The management team challenges poor practice and takes action when necessary. Consequently, the registered manager has created a comfortable home where children enjoy living and staff enjoy coming to work.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are suitably trained and equipped with the skills to meet the needs of the children in the home. Also, the registered manager uses team meetings and supervisions to further develop and upskill staff. For example, specific workshops have been completed with staff in matters relating to child exploitation, missing- from-home incidents and whistle blowing. This helps staff to improve and has a positive impact on the care received by children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The management team has a good oversight of the home. It uses both internal and external monitoring systems to identify areas for improvement. For example, the registered manager has developed progress reports to track children’s progress. Also, newsletters are used to celebrate children’s progress. These systems help to improve the quality of care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has submitted an up-to-date version of the home’s statement of purpose. However, this does not contain sufficient detail in relation to the health professionals providing therapeutic support to children. This shortfall prevents the regulator and professionals from having clear and up-to-date information on the support received by children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC478001 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

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; and

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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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(v))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the provider should ensure that staff understand and follow risk assessments which have been put in place to keep children safe. Furthermore, the provider should ensure that risk assessments provide clear guidance and strategies for staff to follow. 17 February 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement ("the statement of purpose") which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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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))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the provider should ensure that the home’s statement of purpose is updated to include an accurate reflection of the home. This refers to staffing and details of the clinical teams providing support to the home. 17 February 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC478001 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 for children’s home: SC478001 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Longdon Hall School Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Atria, Spa Road, Bolton BL1 4AG

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Inspector

Dean Wilton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC478001 9 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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