Children's Home run by Partners in Care Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC441717 1 SC441717 Registered provider: Partners in Care Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private provider. In this home, care is provided for up to four children of either gender.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is overseen by an experienced manager who gained registration in September 2018.

p.1

Inspection date: 30 March 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Inspection date: 30 March 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC441717 2

p.1

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children are happy living in this home. They enjoy being around staff and one another, and benefit from strong, positive relationships in the home. Furthermore, children are supported to spend time with those who are important to them and have access to external support networks and positive friendship and community groups.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children continue to attend and engage in their stable education placements. They have good attendance levels and are achieving. Children are healthy. They have good routines, healthy eating habits, and participate in regular exercise.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Improvements have been made to children’s experiences of moving into the home. Well-planned moves and detailed transition plans have helped staff and managers understand children, form relationships, and ensure that children’s needs can be met prior to moving in. This improves care planning and ensures that children have positive experiences of moving into the home.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Risk assessments and procedures in place to manage children’s risk-taking behaviours have improved since the previous inspection. They accurately reflect risk levels and provide staff with relevant information and clear guidance. This ensures consistency from staff and increases children’s safety. Unfortunately, the manager has not fully assessed the possible risks children may pose to one another inside of the home. For the children living here, this is necessary to ensure that there is an agreed plan to ensure all children remain protected from potential harm. Subsequently, a requirement was made, and the manager was asked to take action to address this within a short timescale.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There were two occasions where one child had been missing from home for significant periods of time. Ofsted had not been notified of these incidents and, as such, was unable to effectively review and monitor the action taken by manager’s in response. This is not transparent or safe practice and has the potential to hinder children’s help and protection.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

In the relation to the missing-from-home incidents above, shortfalls in staff practice were identified at the time of the inspection. Weaknesses in the manager’s monitoring and review of these incidents means that no action was taken to address these issues with staff. This does not demonstrate that the manager is using lessons learned to inform and improve practice in the home. Inspection report for children’s home: SC441717 3 There are significant shortfalls in external monitoring. Independent person reports are not regularly received by the regulator. This is not in line with regulation and prevents the required monitoring and review by Ofsted. Additionally, reports that have been received do not often include consultation with children. Missed opportunities to gather the views and opinions of children mean that reports are limited, and that children are not regularly afforded the opportunity to speak with, or

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

raise potential issues with, an independent person.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Recruitment for the home remains ongoing, although staffing has improved. The manager has ensured that children have key team members on each shift, which provides them with continuity of care. Agency staff have been utilised, but those working in the home know children well. The manager’s ability to complete duties remains hindered by the necessity for her to complete shifts in the home. This has contributed to shortfalls in overall oversight and monitoring in the home.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has demonstrated an improved response to complaints. Children are regularly reminded of procedures and this has encouraged them to raise complaints and grumbles with staff and managers. Complaints raised by children have been minor; however, processes have been followed and issues quickly and effectively resolved. This shows children that their opinions matter and that their thoughts and feelings are well considered. Inspection report for children’s home: SC441717 4

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/08/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 20/06/2019 Full Good 08/02/2019 Interim Declined in effectiveness 19/04/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC441717 5

p.4

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

Specifically, assess the potential risks children may pose to one another in the home. 4 April 2022

p.5

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—

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

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)(h))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, review all incident records to address shortfalls or weaknesses within staff practice. 13 May 2022

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

p.5

Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation; 13 May 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC441717 6 an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

p.5

Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

p.6

Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child —

p.6

Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

p.6

Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e))

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

p.6

Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

p.6

Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to—

p.6

Requirement Due date

upon request, the local authority for the area in which the home is located;

p.6

Requirement Due date

the registered provider and, if applicable, the registered manager; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

the responsible individual (if one is nominated). (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a) (7)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)) 13 May 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC441717 7

p.6

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.

p.7

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: SC441717 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Partners in Care Limited

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2 The Calls, Leeds LS2 7JU

p.8

Inspector

Natalie Bennett, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC441717 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.

p.8

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.9

Inspector

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

p.9

Inspector

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

p.9