Children's home run by Care Afloat Ltd in West Lancashire

Inspection report children’s home: SC039087 1 SC039087 Registered provider: Care Afloat Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private organisation and can accommodate up to one child who may be experiencing a period of difficulty or crisis.

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Information about this children’s home

Accommodation is provided on a narrowboat that travels the canal network. The organisation offers an education service and therapeutic support from an external contractor.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in November 2017.

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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: SC039087 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/03/2020 Full Good 08/01/2019 Full Good 07/11/2017 Full Good 05/01/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC039087 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children have been admitted to the home since it reopened in February 2022. Both were emergency admissions that required quick decisions with limited information. The manager was able to describe in detail how she had come to the decision that the placement could meet the needs of each child. However, no record of this is maintained. Furthermore, it is not custom and practice to inform the local authority when a child from outside the local authority is admitted to or discharged from the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from a flexible programme of support that this type of service can offer. Care plans are bespoke and consider past experiences. Crisis and chaos are quickly replaced by stability and calm.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to establish positive routines that provide opportunities for success. The effectiveness of this approach is evident in the positive progress that children make. A social worker said: ‘The standard of care was exceptional. There was a clear trauma-informed approach, which helped [name of child] to address past experiences. This was the first placement out of three others where [name of child] was able to build routines, understand and respect boundaries, and receive educational and therapeutic support.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff recognise the importance of positive relationships and are skilled at establishing these quickly. The nature of the service provides purposeful opportunities for children to have fun and develop a more positive outlook on life. A child spoke with enthusiasm about learning how to navigate the boat and work the locks on the canal network, which will become part of an accredited award. The child said: ‘I have only been here a week and it has been great. The staff really care and being here has made me want to change and make better choices going forward.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff recognise the importance of helping children rebuild relationships and maintain contact with the important people in their lives. They are responsive to each child’s situation and work hard to overcome barriers, such as fragile relationships and distance. A social worker said: ‘Contact was supported with care and diligence. The placement was willing to make many adjustments to ensure [name of child] could have quality contact. This was helpful when making decisions about her long-term future.’

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

Children are suitably protected by a range of safeguarding policies, procedures and risk assessments. This includes processes that consider the individual features associated with living on a narrowboat, such as safety on the water and mooring at different locations. Inspection report children’s home: SC039087 4 The manager understands and takes seriously her safeguarding role and responsibilities. Good links are maintained with social workers and external safeguarding professionals and agencies. These were used well when responding to an incident that involved a child going missing, being arrested and a restraint-related allegation. The right action was taken in relation to each aspect of the incident, including learning lessons and making improvements to practice.

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

Risk management plans are detailed and contain age-appropriate strategies that are understood and implemented by staff. Known and emerging risks are a constant topic of conversation and are the focus of key working and direct work. This helps children to develop an understanding of their own behaviours and make better choices about keeping themselves safe. Consequently, children are much safer from the dangers of going missing from home, child sexual abuse, and criminal exploitation.

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

Staff take a patient and tolerant approach to supporting children to manage their behaviour. Supported by therapists, they offer good emotional support and make use of positive relationships and de-escalation techniques to minimise the need for physical intervention, which has only been necessary on one occasion. A social worker said: ‘I had the opportunity to work with a range of different staff who all embodied a trauma-informed method of working. Everyone was supportive of [name of child].’

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

Medication records do not include accurate information about the administration requirements of one child’s medication. This has not posed any actual risk to the child, partly because they have refused to take their medication, which staff are failing to record.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is run effectively by a suitably qualified and experienced registered manager. The manager is also registered for a second solo home and splits her management time between the two homes. She has the support of an extremely competent deputy manager. Together, they provide strong leadership and are effective in modelling a child-centred approach that is fully embraced by the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children benefit from the care and support of a largely experienced staff team with a diverse range of interests and skills. The recent recruitment of staff has provided additional flexibility in how the service can be delivered.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

All staff spoke with enthusiasm about their work and a pride in what the children achieve. One staff member wrote: ‘I think that our service is one of the best in the company. We offer our children a unique experience where they can relax and be themselves. Our team is committed to them. I look forward to coming to work each shift.’ Another wrote, ‘I am proud to say many of the children who have been placed with us will still contact us to pass on how they are doing or to seek advice.’ Inspection report children’s home: SC039087 5 New staff are inducted well, and all staff receive regular and purposeful supervision. Staff express a confidence in the manager and are highly complimentary about how she supports them professionally and personally.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have access to a range of training opportunities. However, some mandatory refreshers are overdue, and several staff are yet to complete needs-led training in working with children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and children at risk of child criminal exploitation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a good understanding of what the service can offer the children. She maintains good oversight to ensure that care practice is responsive to the needs of each child. Internal monitoring is generally strong, and identified areas for improvement are addressed quickly. These processes are further strengthened by monthly visits from the independent visitor, who applies a high level of scrutiny when assessing the conduct of the home. This process could be strengthened by improving consultation and better evidencing how parents and staff have contributed to this process. Inspection report children’s home: SC039087 6

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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, the 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 care planning standard is that children receive well- planned care from the home and have a positive experience of admission and transition processes.

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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

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that when assessing the suitability of any child’s admission to the home, a detailed record of how their needs have been considered and can be met is maintained. 24 August 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify, without delay, the local authority for the area in which the children’s home is located of every admission of a child into the home and every discharge of a child from the home. (Regulation 41 (1)) 24 August 2022

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a)) 24 August 2022

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Recommendations

 The registered person must ensure that medication records include accurate information about the administration requirements of each child’s medication, and Inspection report children’s home: SC039087 7 when prescribed medication is refused. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.15)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff complete or refresh any outstanding mandatory training, and that staff are trained in working with children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and children at risk of child criminal exploitation. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)

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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: SC039087 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Care Afloat Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 158-160 Birkrig, Digmoor Parade, Skelmersdale WN8 9HP

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Michael Fletcher

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Inspector

Paul Scott, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC039087 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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