Children's Home run by Lonsdale Care Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: 1183605 1 Registered provider: Lonsdale Care Ltd 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 provider. It provides care for up to four children of either gender.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered by Ofsted in May 2020.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 2 November 2021

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1183605 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/11/2021 Full Outstanding 05/02/2020 Full Outstanding 25/01/2019 Full Outstanding 21/02/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: 1183605 3

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outstanding

Children thrive in this nurturing environment. Children enjoy caring and trusting relationships with staff. Staff are invested in the children and have a good understanding of their needs. Staff spend considerable amounts of time talking and listening to children. As a result, children feel valued and have a deep-seated sense of permanence and belonging.

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outstanding

Transitions in and out of the home are carefully planned. Children who are new to the home settle quickly and are happy. Social workers said that the children have said that the ‘staff are great’ and that they want to remain here, as they feel safe.

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outstanding

A child who has recently moved into their own home wrote, ‘I was totally against living here 100%, and if you told me in two years I would be grateful for living here, I wouldn’t have believed you. You are people I can rely on and trust to make sure things turn out, each member of staff taught me something different and we are all one big family. ’

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outstanding

Children are at the heart of everything that the staff do. Children are instrumental in planning their support, the activities, and choosing the menus. They are confident to attend meetings and speak to professionals. Therefore, children understand the plans for them and can influence any decisions made.

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outstanding

Staff are highly effective advocates for children. They challenge professionals when children do not receive the right support. Staff work in partnership with schools and other professionals to secure the right school for the children. This means children can engage in their learning and make progress.

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outstanding

Children are aspirational for their futures. Older children have chosen career paths and are actively pursuing courses that will help them achieve this. Other children are exploring a range of opportunities to help them decide what they want to do in the future.

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outstanding

Children enjoy an extensive range of meaningful and fun activities. Several children attend the army and sea cadets and thoroughly enjoy this, as well as the opportunities this has afforded them. Children have attended overnight camps and sea voyages. This has significantly enhanced their confidence and self-esteem.

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outstanding

Children are encouraged to be as independent as possible. They complete a range of household tasks, such as clearing the table, helping to do their laundry and cooking meals.

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outstanding

One child lives in the annex. He has a comprehensive independence plan, which is helping him to prepare for the next stage in his life. He is positive about his future Inspection report for children’s home: 1183605 4 and is anxiously awaiting the outcome of a job interview. This has been possible because of the encouragement he has received from staff.

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outstanding

Children live in a warm, welcoming, family home. Their photos proudly adorn the walls of the home. Children’s individuality is reflected in their bedrooms. This gives children a real sense of pride in their home.

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outstanding

Children have a strong sense of safety and well-being. They told the inspector that they feel safe and are safe here. Children said that they know that the staff care about them and want them to be happy. They feel confident to talk to staff about anything that may be worrying them. This is because they know that the staff care and will help them to resolve any issues.

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outstanding

Risk management strategies are effective and are created with the children. This means the children know and understand the plans in place to keep them safe. Ultimately, the risks for children have dramatically reduced since they have lived here.

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outstanding

Staff are not risk averse and consciously help children to take the next steps towards independence and moving on in their lives. Children are now confident to travel to college independently, to meet their friends at the cinema and spend time away from the home. This is a massive achievement, which has been carefully orchestrated by staff to build the children’s confidence and self-esteem.

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outstanding

Incidents of children being missing from the home are extremely rare. However, when this does occur, staff take effective action. They actively search for the children and ensure that all professionals are notified. This means children are located quickly and return home safely.

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outstanding

Children behave well. They are respectful to staff, their friends and visitors. Children can reflect on their behaviour and talk to the staff about this and learn from their mistakes. This is because of the strong relationships children have with staff.

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outstanding

Staff recruitment and vetting procedures are robust and ensure that children are cared for by suitably vetted people. This means children are protected from harm.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is led by a passionate and inspirational manager. His passion for improving outcomes for children is infectious and permeates throughout the staff team. He leads a highly committed staff team that shares his values and ethos. As a result, the manager and the staff make a dramatic impact on the lives of the children living here. Inspection report for children’s home: 1183605 5 Staff said that they feel empowered because of the support they received from the manager, as he wants them to be the best that they can be. Staff receive regular support, training and guidance which means that they can meet the ever-changing needs of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff said that the support that they receive to complete their training is phenomenal. One member of staff said, ‘It is a pleasure to work here.’ Another member of staff said that the manager ‘would go to the ends of the earth to protect, nurture and provide for the children.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and registered individual have a keen oversight of the setting and any areas for development. The manager and staff use research-informed practice to bring about change for children. For example, staff take children to seminars on knife crime to help children to understand the potential impact of this on themselves and others. Record-keeping is meticulous and contributes effectively to the children’s life-story work.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and staff believe that education is key to each child’s success. This is not limited to school. Staff are proactive in helping children to complete online courses around subjects such as food hygiene, first aid, child sexual exploitation, and gang culture. This raises children’s awareness of the world around them and builds their emotional resilience.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Internal and external monitoring is robust, which means that nothing is missed. Staff welcome the oversight of the independent person as it helps them to reflect on their practice and consider any changes that are required.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Multi-agency working is a key strength of the setting. The manager and staff are tenacious when it comes to seeking the right support for the children. Their commitment to the children is recognised by professionals, who said that the manager and staff work tirelessly to improve the outcomes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Social workers said that the children talk fondly of the setting and refer to the staff as ‘their family’ and say that this is their home. Consequently, staff are seen as important and positive people in the children’s lives. Inspection report for children’s home: 1183605 6

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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: 1183605 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 34 Broadacre, Caton, Lancaster LA2 9NH

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Inspector

Chris Scully, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1183605 8 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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