Children's home run by Lytham Care Limited in Knowsley

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1234432 1

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Lytham Care Limited

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is run by a private provider. It provides care for up to two children who may have social and emotional difficulties or learning disabilities.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 7 September 2021. A suspension notice was issued on that date, with immediate effect.

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This monitoring visit

We subsequently visited the setting on 20 October 2021, 24 November 2021, 17 January 2022 and 15 February 2022 to carry out monitoring visits. The focus of the visits was to monitor and review the actions taken by the registered provider since the previous full inspection, and to check compliance with the suspension notice that was issued on 7 September 2021. These reports are published on the Ofsted website.

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This monitoring visit

On 11 April 2022, Ofsted imposed a condition that the provider must inform the chief inspector of its intention to accommodate children at the home at least three months before any child is accommodated. This was due to no manager or staff team being in post and the unsuitable conditions of the home environment.

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This monitoring visit

The provider submitted a request to have the condition lifted on 28 June 2022. At that time, however, a manager was not in post. An application to register the manager was received by Ofsted on 20 September 2022.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was to assess the progress made by the provider to recruit a suitable manager and sufficient staff and to ensure that remedial action has been taken to address the physical environment.

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This monitoring visit

No children are currently living at the home. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1234432 2 A new responsible individual has been in post since 14 February 2022. She has recruited a manager for the home, who has applied to register with Ofsted. The manager’s fit person interview was conducted on the day of this monitoring visit.

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This monitoring visit

A staff team has been recruited for the home. A new and experienced deputy manager has been employed and two senior care workers have transferred from other homes run by the provider. The rota shows that this provides suitable leadership to new care workers employed to work at the home. Safer recruitment practices ensure that new staff are safe to work with children. However, records of the verification of references do not clearly identify previous employers. This makes it difficult to cross-refer between recruitment documents. The responsible individual addressed this issue on the day of the visit.

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This monitoring visit

The training matrix reviewed was not up to date. However, evidence was provided to show that the staff team has undertaken mandatory training that includes some introduction to therapeutic care. The provider has arranged for further training in the trauma-informed model that will be used in the home. However, this has not yet taken place, and therefore the staff do not yet have the knowledge and skills to deliver the level of care described in the home’s statement of purpose. In addition, the statement of purpose does not include details of supervision for professionals who may be employed to provide therapy to children.

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This monitoring visit

Suitable supervision and appraisal systems are in place. The provider has introduced an electronic recording system that enables effective management monitoring and oversight of practice in the home.

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This monitoring visit

Remedial work to the physical environment is now complete. The home has been fully redecorated and furnished to make it a pleasant place for children to live in. There are suitable arrangements for staff to sleep at the home.

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This monitoring visit

A case review was held following this monitoring visit. It was decided that the provider has made appropriate improvements to provide care to children. The imposed condition has therefore been removed. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1234432 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/09/2021 Full Inadequate 10/03/2020 Interim Improved effectiveness 03/07/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 20/09/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1234432 4

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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 registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement ("the statement of purpose") which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (1) (3)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This is in relation to supervisory arrangements being included for staff who provide therapy to children. In addition, the statement of purpose should accurately reflect the care provided, based on the knowledge and skills of the staff team. 18 December 2022

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that training records are kept up to date for all staff. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)  The registered person should ensure that recruitment records, including verification of reference records, clearly identify previous employers as part of safer recruitment practice. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 59, paragraph 13.1)

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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. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1234432 5

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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, Fazakerley, Liverpool L9 9DB

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Rachel Springford

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Inspector

Karen Willson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1234432 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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