Children's home run by Lytham Care Limited

Inspection report for children's home: 1256658 1 Registered provider: Lytham Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is run by a private company. It provides care for two children who may have emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager went on maternity leave on 4 October 2021.

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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

Date of last inspection: 26 January 2022

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: declined in effectiveness

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

At the interim inspection on 26 January 2022, inspectors found significant shortfalls in the protection of children and leadership and management of the home. These shortfalls were affecting the quality of care and protection that children were receiving. Therefore, Ofsted issued two compliance notices, in relation to regulation 12, the protection of children standard, and regulation 13, the leadership and management standard. Inspection report for children's home: 1256658 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/01/2022 Interim Declined in effectiveness 19/10/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 06/02/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness 10/07/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home: 1256658 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are happy living at this pleasant and comfortable home. They have a strong sense of belonging. Children have been involved in the design and refurbishment of the lounge and their bedrooms. The house reflects their interests and tastes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive high-quality care that meets their personal needs and circumstances. This provides children with stability and enables them to make progress in every aspect of their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff make sure that children actively take part in the decisions affecting their lives and the arrangements for their care. Children enjoy warm and trusting relationships with staff. They can talk to staff openly and know that their views are taken seriously. Managers and staff respond appropriately to children’s wishes and feelings and complaints.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children spend time with significant people in their lives. Staff work effectively with children, families and social workers to repair and sustain important relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff help children to understand the importance of education. They encourage and support children’s learning as any good parent would do. They encourage children to do well and celebrate their achievements. Children take part in full-time education or paid employment and voluntary work. Their attendance is very good and they are making significant progress. Managers and staff work together with education providers to provide children with individualised support to meet their individual learning needs and aspirations. Any barriers to children’s progress are identified and addressed quickly. Staff have used incentives to make sure that a child gets to school on time. They have also supported another child to re-engage with their college course and to get qualifications in first aid.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have opportunities to take part in activities they enjoy, learn new skills and find out about the world around them. Staff support children’s talents in cooking and their interest in finding out more about their heritage and culture.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have healthy diets and are physically active. Staff help children to have healthy lifestyles and learn how to look after their own health needs. Staff help children to improve their personal and dental care. They make sure that children get the medical advice, assessment and treatment that they need. This includes receiving support with their emotional health.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff support children to prepare practically and emotionally for adult life, in line with their plans. Staff make sure that children develop confidence and skills in cooking, shopping and managing their money and a household. They also make sure that children get support from personal advisers to think about and prepare for their future. Inspection report for children's home: 1256658 4

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

Children said that they feel safe living at the home. Staff understand children’s vulnerabilities and know what they must do to protect children from harm. Staff are trained in safeguarding and understand their responsibilities for keeping children safe.

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

Staff use the home’s whistle-blowing policies when they have concerns. Any allegations about staff are reported to the local authority designated officer without delay and addressed in line with child protection policies. Managers identify areas of poor practice and make sure that improvements are made in supporting children.

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

Managers and staff actively and continually assess the dangers for each child and follow up-to-date plans effectively to manage and reduce the risk of harm. Children are now safer from the risks of alcohol and substance misuse, exploitation, social media and harmful relationships. Children do not go missing from home.

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

Staff are vigilant and recognise the signs that children may be at risk of harm. Staff take appropriate action when they have serious concerns about children’s safety. They work well with social workers and the police to understand and manage risks to children’s safety effectively. Social workers and other professionals are satisfied that managers and staff are protecting children from harm.

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

Staff have the skills and confidence to help children understand about healthy and safe relationships and to know how to keep themselves safe from abuse and exploitation. Staff help children to recognise unsafe situations and to make positive choices about their safety and ask for help. Children tell staff when they are worried or feel unsafe.

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

Children are developing a sense of emotional security. Staff understand the impact of children’s experiences on their development and relationships. Staff provide children with emotional warmth and clear boundaries and expectations that help children feel safe.

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

Managers and staff understand that children may communicate their feelings through their behaviour. Staff think about what is happening in the child’s life at the time and what they can do to help. A child said, ‘Staff have got me sussed. They know when something is wrong without me saying. They notice. They ask if I’m worried about something. I say no, but they know something is up. They give me time and the chance to talk.’

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

Staff use clear and effective communication and their positive relationships with the children to deal with any problems constructively. Staff listen to children’s views about the best ways to help them when they are upset or angry. Staff follow children’s suggestions to resolve problems and help children feel safe enough to talk about what is worrying them. Inspection report for children's home: 1256658 5 Staff use suitable measures to help children learn about safe and socially acceptable behaviour. The manager evaluates the use of these measures to make sure that they are suitable and effective.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A new responsible individual and a permanent manager are providing clear, accountable and effective leadership. The manager is confident and understands her role and responsibilities. She has applied to Ofsted for registration. The new management arrangements are making sure that staff provide safe and effective care for the children living at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and responsible individual have improved the quality of children’s care and protection since the last inspection in January 2022. They have addressed the serious shortfalls in safeguarding practice, the management of risks to children’s safety and the leadership and management of the home. Children are living in a well-organised and safe environment. Consequently, it is Ofsted’s view that the compliance notices in relation to the protection of children and leadership and management have been met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

In addition, the manager and responsible individual have put measures in place to address the other requirements made at the last inspection. This means that children’s wishes and feelings are responded to appropriately; behaviour management records are evaluated and used to improve practice; records now show the actual hours managers and staff are working at the home; and the safety of the location of the house has been reviewed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and responsible individual have responded appropriately to children’s concerns about the gender of staff supporting them at night. Children said that this was no longer a problem and if they were worried at any time they can talk to the manager. The staff arrangements are considered carefully, and the manager makes sure that children feel safe and comfortable with who is caring for them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children are looked after by adults who they know well and like. There are sufficient suitable staff employed at the home to meet children’s assessed needs and provide them with continuity of care. Safer recruitment procedures are followed which minimise the potential risk to children from unsuitable adults.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager provides staff with the right support, training and guidance to provide children with high-quality care and protection . Staff complete a thorough induction and relevant training to make sure that they have the necessary skills and knowledge to meet children’s needs. Since January 2022, staff have completed training in safeguarding, awareness of child abuse and neglect, completing risk assessments, key work with children and autism spectrum disorder. Additional training has been organised in managing behaviour, recording and reporting and trauma-informed practice. Inspection report for children's home: 1256658 6 Regular practice-related supervision with the manager and team meetings provide staff with the chance to reflect on their practice, children’s progress and learning from training. However, some supervisions only take place for 30 minutes. This does not allow the staff and manager to have an in-depth discussion about children’s care

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The introduction of a new electronic recording system is having a positive impact on the quality of the information staff write about children. Children’s records provide a clear picture of their experiences and progress and how staff are putting plans into practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager uses the electronic system to monitor the quality of care provided and have oversight of staff practice. She uses the system effectively to understand what is working well and to identify shortfalls and make improvements. However, the manager’s weekly quality assurance report would benefit from in-depth evaluation and analysis of her findings. Inspection report for children's home: 1256658 7

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Recommendations

 The registered person should make sure that the manager’s oversight and monitoring of children’s welfare and records includes a detailed evaluation and analysis of the findings and areas for improvement. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.23)  The registered person should make sure that the length of staff supervision meetings is sufficient for an in-depth discussion of staff’s performance, reflection on the children in their care and learning and development. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)

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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: 1256658 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Lytham Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 400 Longmoor Lane, Fazakerly, Liverpool L9 9DB

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Rachel Springford

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Inspector

Nick Veysey, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 1256658 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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