Children's Home run by Partners in Care Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC010090 1 SC010090 Registered provider: Partners in Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and is registered to provide care for up to four children who experience social and/or emotional difficulties. Four children were living at the home at the time of the visit.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is overseen by a suitably qualified manager who was granted registration in July 2021.

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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: outstanding

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC010090 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/08/2021 Full Outstanding 26/11/2019 Full Outstanding 04/07/2018 Full Good 22/08/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC010090 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are cared for by staff who understand their individual needs. Children have developed positive and trusting relationships with staff, which means they feel safe and cared for. A professional said, ‘[Name of child] talks about how much he loves it there and feels at home.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff value education and support children to attend school every day. There is effective communication with schools to ensure that children are making progress and any barriers to learning are identified.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote the health and well-being of children. They support and encourage children to attend health appointments. Staff make sure that children access health assessments and treatment to meet their specific needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to maintain relationships with people that are important to them. This allows them to maintain their identity. One social worker said, ‘Staff are proactive in arranging family time; this has been challenging but they recognise the importance of maintaining relationships.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Consultation with children is embedded into daily practice. Children’s meetings are held every fortnight, and key-work sessions are regular. . Children say that they feel listened to and know that their views are taken seriously.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children access a range of activities, including fishing, paddleboarding and bowling. Children also enjoy an annual holiday. Photos are taken and presented in a variety of ways, including in the home and in memory books. This provides children with memories and a sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is a stable and consistent staff team identified to care for the children, and agency staff are no longer used. Children report that this makes their experiences within the home more positive. One child said, ‘It’s better as we know who is going to be caring for us.’

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

Safeguarding practices in the home are effective. Detailed and specific risk assessments are available. They are updated on a regular basis to reflect any changing needs. Staff understand children’s risks and vulnerabilities and know how to keep children safe.

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

The use of physical intervention in the home is low, and it is only used when de- escalation techniques have been ineffective. Records identify that children are not always spoken to by the manager following the incident. It is also unclear if staff are spoken to, as the records are not signed. Inspection report for children’s home: SC010090 4 Children discussed that they understand how to make complaints. One child spoke about a complaint that they had made, and they were happy that this was dealt with effectively. However, there was no recording of this complaint or of the outcome.

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

When children go missing from home, there are clear protocols in place for staff to follow. There is effective liaison with appropriate professionals and agencies. Staff will search for children to support their safe return home. Children have return home interviews, and risk assessments are updated appropriately.

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

Bullying is challenged effectively by the manager. Two children have been subjected to bullying at school. The manager ensured that this behaviour was responded to. One child said, ‘They will always sort things out.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has high expectations for the standard of care and support that children receive. Children’s progress is monitored, and the managers advocate on children’s behalf. This ensures that children get the specialist help they require.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Recruitment of staff has been effective, and there is now a full staff team in place. However, there are concerns that, on occasion, staff have commenced work without all the required checks being in place. This could place children at risk of harm.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have access to an in-depth training programme. The manager identifies training that is required to support the individual needs of each child. As a result, children are cared for by adults who understand how to meet their needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

External monitoring of the home by the independent person is completed monthly. However, reports are not sent to Ofsted in a timely manner, which restricts Ofsted’s ability to monitor the effectiveness of the home’s practice for safeguarding children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive support from the manager and deputy managers. There are good induction procedures in place and regular formal, reflective supervision sessions. These provide helpful opportunities for staff to discuss children’s progress. Inspection report for children’s home: SC010090 5

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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, 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 recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that all the required documentation is in place before a new member of staff commences employment. 31 May 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the behaviour management policy”) which sets out—

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Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to the children in the home.

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and 31 May 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: SC010090 6 has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b) (3)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to the registered person having a discussion with the child, records being signed and clear documentation identifying who has spoken to staff.

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must establish a procedure for considering complaints made by or on behalf of children.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 39 (1) (3)) 31 May 2023

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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

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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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a) (b) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to ensuring that reports that are produced by the independent person are sent to the regulator without delay. 31 May 2023

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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, Inspection report for children’s home: SC010090 7 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: SC010090 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Partners in Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2 The Calls, Leeds LS2 7JU

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Inspectors

Kayleigh Treanor, Social Care Inspector Nichola Croft, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC010090 9 regulates and inspects 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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