Children's home run by Lily Residential Services Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2672242 1 Registered provider: Lily Residential Services Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is managed by a private provider. The home provides care for two children with social and emotional needs. At the time of this inspection, two children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2022, when this home was registered.

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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: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2672242 2

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Recent inspection history

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children’s home: 2672242 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This is the first inspection of the home. Children experience positive relationships with the manager and care staff. These relationships contribute to children feeling safe and making progress. Children experience stability from an established manager and core staff team. There has been minimal disruption when staff have been away with sickness or on holiday. Dedicated team members cover these shortfalls to avoid the use of unknown agency staff in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has lived at this home for over a year. This is a significant period of time, providing stability for the child, and therefore this was celebrated. The other child moved to this home a short time ago and has settled well, with the sensitive support of the staff team. The manager encourages all staff to be child-focused and to put the safety and well-being of children at the centre of their practice.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are comfortable in the home and have a sense of belonging. The strength of relationships enables them to talk and laugh with the adults who care for them. One child commented that this home is the best home that they have lived in. Social workers and other professionals are very complimentary about the quality of care. A social worker said that they have seen a positive difference in a child since living here, with a massive reduction in behaviours that challenge, despite having boundaries they are required to follow. Another social worker was equally positive, describing how the team cares about the child so much and how the child says this is their home, not a placement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported well to engage in education. One child achieved seven GCSEs and is now attending college. For children without a school place, a tutor provides individual support while the manager is persistent in her communication with other professionals to secure a new school as soon as possible.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children express their views, wishes and feelings in several ways. Children were observed doing this and records clearly capture their voices. Many photos are taken to contribute to the children’s memories of their time living at this home. However, these have yet to be displayed in a format accessible to children. Such memories are important for children to view currently, not just when they move on.

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

Staff are aware of the measures they need to take to keep children safe. Children have gone missing from this home, and incidents increased during the summer months. Incidents are now decreasing, however, there are significant concerns when one child is not in the home at the agreed time. Staff remain curious and active in arranging the child’s safe return. Through the positive relationships that have developed between children and staff, children are supported in creating their own safety plans. Inspection report for children’s home: 2672242 4 The manager is tenacious in her aim to disrupt the pull of friendship groups who lead children into risky and anti-social behaviour. To gather information about the current safeguarding issues in the community, the manager attends regular meetings with a network of professionals who are involved in the care and protection of children.

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

Children are cared for by a team who are trained in safeguarding and understand the impact of childhood trauma and attachment. As a result, there has not been any use of restraint, and no complaints or allegations have been made against the manager or staff. Clinical supervision is provided to the team each month, where staff discuss the most suitable approach to children’s presenting behaviours.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The experienced manager is leading the team well. She has high standards and is motivating the team to provide good-quality care for children. With the manager’s skills and previous positive inspection findings Ofsted has approved her as the registered manager for a second home for two children, located two streets away. This management arrangement is working well, with the support of a deputy manager across the two homes. The shortfalls identified at this inspection relate to the structure and storage of records and to date have had minimal negative impact on children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Records are generally complete and provide accurate details. The failing is that some records are not stored together to provide a chronology of events. For example, when a child has been missing from the home, the records about the child’s return and any independent return home interview are separate and not always cross referenced. This hinders the manager’s ability to monitor these events effectively in full. Similarly, records compiled when recruiting staff were found in more than one file and the known risks to one child were listed in two documents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A training matrix to confirm that staff have undertaken relevant training was not fully up to date at the time of the inspection. These records are in process of being transferred to an improved matrix.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has ensured that effective consideration of children’s needs has led to a calm and safe environment for children to live together. Staff members spoken to during the inspection report that they enjoy their work, and they feel supported and are trained to do it well. Staff receive supervision to discuss their work and their professional development. These meetings are held regularly and records made. However, the records are not consistent in quality, and some could be improved by giving staff members tasks to assist with their learning. Inspection report for children’s home: 2672242 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that records can be easily accessed by anyone with a legitimate need to view them and are produced in a legible form. Ensure that records are stored as one document and not in separate places. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 14.2)  The registered person should ensure that supervision records are consistent in quality and consider ways to further assist staff in their development. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.3)  The registered person should ensure that the home’s records on each child represent a significant contribution to their life story. Staff should keep and encourage children to keep appropriate memorabilia of the time spent living at the home and help them record significant life events. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.5)

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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 for children’s home: 2672242 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Lily Residential Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Spirare Ltd, Mey House, Bridport Road, Poundbury, Dorchester DT1 3QY

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Michael Felstead

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Inspector

Clare Davies, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2672242 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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