Children's home run by Lioncare Ltd Operating as The Lioncare Group

Inspection report children’s home: 2483691 1 Registered provider: Lioncare Ltd Operating As The Lioncare Group Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The children’s home is privately owned. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to six children who may have social, emotional and mental health difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered since 15 November 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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 2483691 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/05/2021 Full Good 18/02/2020 Full Good 19/12/2018 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: 2483691 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children living in the home currently are settling in and developing positive relationships and routines with staff as the home has undergone a period of transition. The previous group of children have all left in quick succession. Some of these moves were planned and some were unplanned due to risks being presented. Most children who have left remain in contact with the staff. One child wrote individually to members of staff to thank them for the care they had received. This showed that staff in the home had made a meaningful impact on the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children moving on have mostly done so positively. One child who left the home in an unplanned move has maintained regular contact with staff since leaving. One child moved to another home after a five-month period of planning, and another child moved to a semi-independent placement. One child has returned to live with family and another child has moved to a more specialist placement designed to better cater for their needs. Feedback from one child’s social worker was positive. They said, ‘I will be forever grateful to them, as will [child]. I would not hesitate in putting another young person with them.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both children in the home have been carefully matched, and transitions have been completed at a pace that supports each child. Staff have visited the children at school and at their previous placements. Careful consideration is given to children’s interests and risks. One child who is planning to move in the next few months is already making links with staff and children to ensure that they fit in seamlessly with the children already living in the home. This enables children to prepare for their move to a new home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have good school attendance. One child who has only recently moved in is being supported by the provider’s school to receive their education at home. A careful transition plan has been put in place to enable the child to start to attend school from September.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children like living at the home and enjoy the activities on offer. Staff are knowledgeable about children’s plans, their risks and the things they like to do.

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

During an unsettling period earlier in the year, there has been a high number of children going missing from home, incidents of physical intervention, and complaints from children. Leaders attribute this to the dynamics of the group and the loss of significant staff who have moved from the home. Since this time, the group of children has changed, managers have reflected on past events and implemented changes, and some new staff have been inducted into the home, which is having a positive impact on the children’s experiences. Inspection report children’s home: 2483691 4 When children go missing from home, staff respond swiftly and follow children’s missing-from-care plans. Staff take steps to locate children as quickly as possible. When children return, staff are supportive and explore with them the reasons why they have gone missing and use this information to update the child’s risk assessment.

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

On one occasion when a child left the home distressed, they were followed by a member of staff. The child went to the beach and entered the sea during the change of tide. The member of staff attempted to reassure and support the child but was unsuccessful. As an emergency measure, the member of staff risked their own safety to save the child before the coastguard and ambulance arrived. This shows a depth of care to a child’s welfare.

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

When children display behaviour that is not socially acceptable, staff provide bespoke support. Group consultancy meetings and reflective debriefs help to identify triggers to behaviour. This has led to staff being aware of children’s sensory needs and led to improvements in practice. For example, staff have become aware of one child’s difficulties to changes in their routines.

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

When behaviours become unsafe, staff are trained in physical intervention. Staff are clear that this is only used as a last resort.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders have taken learning from past incidents to help to improve children’s care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children know how to complain and can exercise their rights. Each of the complaints made by children are managed effectively, whether this be about the conduct of staff, the dynamics of the group or internal policies.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Allegations against staff are reported quickly, and external agencies are used to investigate if necessary. Leaders have taken learning from allegations. For example, this has led to changes in staff and staff receiving additional training.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Despite improvements in many areas of the home, management monitoring of records is not yet effective. Oversight of staff training, shift planning documents and the completion of one recent complaint outcome has left some avoidable gaps.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are positive about the provider’s internal qualification and the impact this has on their role. Staff feel supported in supervision and able to reflect on practice. This helps them in supporting children in their care. Inspection report children’s home: 2483691 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 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

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

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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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (2)(h)) 31 August 2022

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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 children’s home: 2483691 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Lioncare Ltd Operating As The Lioncare Group

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Lioncare House, 58a Livingstone Road, Hove, Sussex BN3 3WL

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Inspector

Matt Nicholls, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2483691 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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