Children's Home run by Lifetime Opportunities Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC411046 1 SC411046

p.1

Lifetime Opportunities Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private provider. It provides care for up to three children who may have learning difficulties, autism spectrum disorder and/or display challenging behaviour.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 2013.

p.1

This monitoring visit

This visit took place to review the steps taken by the provider to meet the compliance notices that were served on 7 January 2022.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The manager has liaised with the placing authority to ensure that children’s plans are up to date. One child has a pathway plan, but the child does not yet have a transition plan from the placing authority. The manager has demonstrated that she has taken reasonable steps to obtain the plan. This is hindering the smooth transition of the young person from the home.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The manager has been supported to obtain documents that were missing from children’s files. Some documentation had been stored electronically and could not be evidenced at inspection. Children’s records are now up to date and access to information is significantly better. Managers in the provider’s other settings have worked together to agree a more efficient system for record-keeping. This has reduced duplication of recording and will be introduced in March.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Children’s individual care plans have been updated. Strategies in relation to physical contact have been updated, and staff have been given a consistent message in how to use them.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Staff have completed training in relation to safeguarding. Staff’s knowledge and understanding are tested through a practical application of that knowledge, including Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC411046 2 what steps an individual should take if they were to become aware of a safeguarding concern in the home.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The process for the administration of medication has been reviewed. New forms have been developed which improve the quality of recording and the ability to have oversight of the process. Checks will take place daily and will feature in the manager’s daily audit routines. Staff have completed training on the administration of medication and received individual training from managers. A regulator review of staff’s competency to administer medication, together with regular supervision, will ensure that staff keep their knowledge up to date.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Children’s plans have been reviewed. These plans now have clear goals and the children’s progress towards those goals. The manager has introduced targets which are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timebound. Key workers review the children’s progress weekly and monthly, and they analyse the information to determine whether different strategies are required or whether new goals need to be set to support progress.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Oversight of the home has improved. The manager is now on site more frequently while still retaining responsibility for managing another home. The manager has considered how she can be best supported and is liaising with senior leaders to agree how this can be delivered effectively. The structure across both homes has been reviewed, and the provider is actively recruiting assistant managers to support the manager to have oversight of both homes.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Following the visit, a case review was held. The compliance notices were considered to have been met. The requirements set at the previous inspection were not considered at this visit and will considered at the next full inspection. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC411046 3

p.2

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 04/01/2022 Interim Declined in effectiveness 22/06/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 04/02/2020 Full Good 20/09/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC411046 4

p.3

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

p.4

Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

p.4

Requirement Due date

supply HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed. (Regulation 45 (1) (4)(a)) 4 February 2022

p.4

Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

p.4

Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (c)) 4 February 2022

p.4

Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

p.4

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC411046 5

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Lifetime Opportunities Limited

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Windsor House, Bayshill Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL50 3AT

p.5

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Shona Wands Alderson

p.5

Inspector

Mark Broomhead, Social Care Regulatory Inspection Manager Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC411046 6 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.

p.5

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.6

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6