Children's home run by Lancashire County Council in Preston

Inspection report for children’s home: SC039689 1 SC039689 Registered provider: Lancashire County Council Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a local authority. It provides care for up to six children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a manager in post who registered with Ofsted in July 2019.

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Inspection date: 29 March 2022

Date of last inspection: 14 September 2021

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Inspection date: 29 March 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 29 March 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC039689 2

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At this interim inspection, Ofsted judged that it has maintained effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are currently five children living in the home. Since the last full inspection, one child has moved out of the home; this was a planned move. The manager and staff worked well with the child to support his move to live in supported lodgings. The manager and staff have stayed in contact with the child, who continues to make good progress living in his supported lodgings.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Another child moved in for a brief period, but this was not an appropriate setting to meet their needs. The manager and staff quickly ensured that they were able to move to a placement that would better suit their needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Most of the children are receiving education. There is significant support in place from staff to ensure that children are supported to attend education. Staff are creative in finding educational opportunities for children. This means children have purpose and routine and are learning useful skills.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Independence work is taking place with some children to help them learn to cook, clean, budget and manage their own self-care. This will help them to manage their future independence.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children’s case recording is much improved and so the previous recommendation has been met.. The inspector spoke with a social worker who said, ‘Communication is good; staff include me in daily case records.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is a stable group of staff; children can build relationships with them and feel supported. Children have fun with staff and have a say in planning the activities they do together.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children have their voices heard in relation to their care planning and day-to-day decisions, such as what meals to eat and how they would like the home and their individual rooms decorated.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The use of restraint has been appropriate, and following the incidents, the manager has reviewed the records and identified areas where practice could be improved. However, this analysis is not always consistent.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One child spoke to the inspector and stated that they felt safe and happy. However, they wanted the inspector to know that they did not feel there was sufficient staff to enable all the children to participate in activities. This happened particularly when Inspection report for children’s home: SC039689 3 another child required staff support to help them manage their behaviour. This requirement is restated, and a recommendation about staffing sufficiency has been added.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The use of restorative sanctions has not been effective. Staff have not been able to put sanctions in place that involve reparation following incidents where property has been damaged. This recommendation is restated.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some areas of the home are looking rather worn and outdated, such as the kitchen and the bathroom, and they would benefit from being modernised. Inspection report for children’s home: SC039689 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/09/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 20/08/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 24/04/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/08/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC039689 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 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;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 30 April 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

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on— 30 April 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC039689 6 feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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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)(b) (2)(f)(g)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that any sanctions used to address poor behaviour are restorative in nature, to help children recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves and others. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, the quality standards, page 46, paragraph 9.38)  The registered person should ensure that the areas of the home that are looking worn and outdated are improved. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 14 paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should plan staffing levels to ensure that they meet the needs of children and can respond flexibly to unexpected events or opportunities. Staffing structures should promote continuity of care from the child’s perspective. If children complain or give a view on how the staffing structure could be improved to promote the best care for them, appropriate action should be taken. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including

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Recommendations

the quality standards’, page 54 paragraph 10.15)

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Information about this inspection

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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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: SC039689 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

Cathy Wilkins, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC039689 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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