Lincolnshire Secure Unit

Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC042921 1 SC042921

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Registered provider: Lincolnshire County Council

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this secure children's home

This secure children’s home is managed by a local authority. It is approved by the Department for Education to restrict children’s liberty.

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Information about this secure children's home

The children’s home can accommodate up to 12 children aged between 10 and 17 years. It provides care for up to 11 children placed by the Youth Custody Service and one child placed by local authorities under section 25 of the Children Act 1989.

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Information about this secure children's home

There were 10 children resident in the secure home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this secure children's home

Admission of any child under section 25 of the Children Act 1989 who is under 13 years of age requires the approval of the Secretary of State.

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Information about this secure children's home

The commissioning of health services at this home is the statutory responsibility of NHS England under the Health and Social Care Act 2012. Education is provided on site in dedicated facilities.

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Information about this secure children's home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 2008.

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Information about this secure children's home

Date of last inspection: 16 November 2021

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Information about this secure children's home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC042921 2

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Information about this inspection

At these inspections, the inspector(s) evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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'. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC042921 3

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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The care of children

Children are well supported and the care they receive is making a positive difference to their lives. Children are encouraged to build positive relationships with staff, who are on hand to guide them and support them in a nurturing and trauma-informed way. One child said: ‘I get on with all staff and can go to any of them if I have a problem. They explain things and if someone is upset, they do their best to help them.’

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The care of children

Children’s needs are carefully assessed from the point of admission. These are detailed in each child’s plans and risk assessments. Plans are continually reviewed through a whole-team multi-agency approach. Staff know the children and are effective in delivering individualised packages of support. This includes good access to a range of health services, improved education provision and individually tailored interventions. A professional said: ‘I have nothing but praise for how [name of child] has been cared for. The staff team has been great with him, and he has made significant progress. I can safely say I have seen him flourish.’

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The care of children

Children spoke positively about their experiences at this home. They are provided with lots of opportunities to express their views about the home and contribute to their plans. Children told inspectors that staff listen and always do what they can to help. A professional said: ‘I feel confident that the multi-agency professional approach has worked with [name of child]. His needs and views are being considered and met as an individual. [Name of child] has shared that it feels like staff really do care and this is also evident in meetings when staff are clearly focused on his best interests.’

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The care of children

Overall, the standard of accommodation is good, with most areas being child- friendly, within the limitations of being a secure home. However, the communal lounges could be made to feel more homely.

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The safety of children

Children’s safety is given a high priority. The risks and vulnerabilities of each child are well documented. A trauma-informed approach is fully embedded throughout the home and underpins the strategies staff use to manage known and emerging risks.

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The safety of children

Children say that they feel safe and they have confidence in staff to keep them safe. External measures of control, such as physical restraint and single separation, are Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC042921 4 used proportionately and as a last resort. One child said, ‘If someone is upset, staff try to help them to calm down and only take hold if it is needed.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The principles of strong leadership and effective multi-disciplinary working are strongly embedded in the culture and ethos of the home. Managers and staff are aspirational and there is a good focus on providing children with opportunities to develop and progress. Care is pitched at an age-appropriate level and takes each child’s individual needs into account. It was heart-warming to see how staff had brought children’s toys and games into the home and how they had developed a play area for one particularly traumatised child. This is reflective of the commitment staff have to the children in their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff are very positive about their work and are highly complimentary about the support from managers. All staff receive regular, good-quality professional supervision, as well as clinical supervision that promotes resilience and well-being. Mandatory training is up to date, and managers recognise and nurture talent. This has resulted in some staff being promoted and will be highly important when the home relocates to larger, purpose-built premises.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Monitoring activity is strong and is effective in assuring good practice. Suitable action is taken to address shortfalls, including the one requirement and three of the recommendations raised at the previous visit. The remaining four recommendations relating to health and education have not been considered at this inspection. A further recommendation has been made following this visit in relation to the communal living areas.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/11/2021 Full Good 18/05/2021 Interim Sustained effectiveness 04/02/2020 Full Good 24/09/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC042921 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should develop communal living areas to make them feel more homely as is safely possible. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 15, paragraph 3.9)  Healthcare professionals work closely with staff across the secure setting in caring for children to achieve the best possible health outcomes. In particular leaders and managers should facilitate sufficient accommodation to enable health care professionals to work alongside care staff, in order to assess and meet children's health needs. (Healthcare Standards for Children and Young People in secure settings, June 2019, page 12, paragraph 1.3.2)  The ethos of the home should support each child to learn. In particular, leaders and managers should ensure that children receive impartial careers guidance to help them to prepare for their next steps in education, employment or training. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards',

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Recommendations

page 29, paragraph 5.18)  The ethos of the home should support each child to learn. In particular, leaders and managers should ensure that the starting points and learning support needs of children are identified accurately and in a timely way, when they arrive at the home. Staff should use this information to plan interesting and challenging learning activities. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 29, paragraph 5.18)  The ethos of the home should support each child to learn. In particular, leaders and managers should recruit staff so that the home can offer a full, balanced curriculum. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 29, paragraph 5.18) Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC042921 6

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Secure children's home details

Registered provider: Lincolnshire County Council

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Secure children's home details

Registered provider address: County Offices, Newland, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, LN1 1YL

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Inspectors

Paul Scott, Social Care Inspector Debbie Foster, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC042921 7 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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