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

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC039087 1 SC039087 Registered provider: Care Afloat Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This service is owned by a private organisation and provides care for one child. Care is provided on a narrowboat which travels the canal network. The organisation offers an education service and therapeutic support from an external contractor. The service is run by an experienced and qualified manager who has been registered with Ofsted since 2017. Due to COVID-19, at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers carried out under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) on 17 March 2020. We returned to routine SCCIF inspections on 12 April 2021.

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This monitoring visit

No children have lived on the narrowboat since the provider took the decision to temporarily close the service in December 2021. This decision was in response to the need to maintain staffing levels in other parts of the organisation.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has notified Ofsted in good time of the intention to reopen this service. The purpose of this visit was to ensure that the narrowboat is ready to accommodate children.

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This monitoring visit

The manager and staff, all of whom are experienced and qualified, have returned to their substantive posts on the narrowboat. A new member of staff has been recruited, making the team complete.

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This monitoring visit

No changes have been made to the accommodation, which is well maintained, cosy and fit for purpose. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC039087 2 One requirement and one recommendation was made at the last full inspection on 9 March 2020. These have not been considered as part of this visit. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC039087 3

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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 for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC039087 4

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Statutory requirement

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

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (2)(f)) 30 April 2020

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Recommendation

 Staff should be familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC039087 5

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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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 for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC039087 6 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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