Children's Home run by Lytham Care Limited in Knowsley

Inspection report for children's home: 2585541 1 Registered provider: Lytham 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 owned and managed by a private provider. The provider states in its statement of purpose that the home provides care for two children who may have emotional and/or social difficulties or learning difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager is not currently registered with Ofsted.

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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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2585541 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/08/2022 Full Good 07/09/2021 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children's home: 2585541 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is currently one child living in the home. Staff provide a warm and inviting home environment. When new to the home, children are welcomed sensitively. They are invited to visit prior to moving in. This helps them to settle in. Staff liaise with previous placements to get to know children before they move in. This helps staff recognise children’s anxieties and worries about moving into the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff spend time getting to know children and building positive relationships with them. Staff provide children with opportunities to engage in new hobbies and interests. However, this is not consistently reflected in children’s records.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff respect children’s relationships with family and those important to them. Staff support children to rebuild relationships with family members, and they are welcomed into the home to re-establish relationships in a safe environment. This helps children overcome anxieties related to spending time with family members.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff value children’s education. They understand the barriers to children’s engagement in academic learning. They are proactive in accessing educational provisions for children that are more suited to their needs. When children do not attend school, staff provide a clear structure for their day. They support children to engage in informal learning opportunities and activities. Boundaries are put in place, and the use of incentives encourages engagement when they do not attend school..

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager has recently introduced regular children’s meetings. This provides children with an opportunity to express their views and preferences. Staff take prompt action to meet children’s requests.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported well in preparing for independence. One child was able to make significant progress while living in the home. This enabled him to move on to independent living.

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

Staff have a good understanding of the child’s risks. They understand his vulnerabilities. They support him with warmth and empathy. Staff recognise children’s triggers and behaviours and implement support appropriately. They get to know children’s likes and interests to promote engagement.

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

Risk assessment documents and behaviour management plans include clear guidance and strategies for staff to follow. However, not all records are consistently reviewed or updated. This creates discrepancies among documents, which can lead to confusion for staff. Inspection report for children's home: 2585541 4 Positive behaviour is promoted through incentives. Staff implement clear boundaries and expectations with children. When incidents of challenging behaviour occur, staff work hard to educate children on the consequences of their behaviour and the related risks. Appropriate strategies are implemented to reduce further incidents. However, records do not consistently evidence the extent of work being carried out with children.

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

Staff work in partnership with professionals to manage and mitigate children’s risks. Information-sharing with agencies safeguards children both in the home and in the community . Staff access external agencies to work with children on specific risks and vulnerabilities. This is supporting children’s progress.

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

The child living in the home was missing at the time of the inspection. Staff were observed as actively looking for him and liaising well with other agencies to locate him. However, records do not consistently demonstrate the actions staff take when children are missing. Furthermore, staff did not follow the agreed protocol in respect of one child who had previously lived in the home. This led to a delay in staff reporting them as missing from care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection, there have been some changes in management. The deputy manager has taken over the role of manager and reports that he intends to apply to register with Ofsted. He demonstrated a good knowledge of the operation of the home and has established relationships with the staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager knows the child well. He is actively involved in the daily care provided to him. However, his oversight of the care being provided lacks evaluation and analysis. This limits his ability to reflect on incidents and identify any further support the child may require.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The child is cared for by a small staff team. Existing staff and consistent bank staff cover any shortfalls in the rotas. This provides the child with consistency and stability. The recruitment process of new staff is robust.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager addresses any practice issues with staff promptly through single- subject supervision sessions and team meetings. He is providing a positive working environment through support, reflective practice and transparency. Staff say the manager is approachable and trustworthy. They hold him in high regard.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The external monitoring of the home is good. The role of the regulation 44 visitor is valued and respected by the manager. The manager uses the feedback well. He welcomes challenge and responds promptly to recommendations made.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has formulated detailed development plans for the home. They include clear actions for moving forward. However, the regulation 45 report was not submitted to Ofsted within timescales by the previous manager. In addition, the statement of purpose had not been submitted to Ofsted following amendments. Inspection report for children's home: 2585541 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child; and

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that children’s records are reviewed and maintained to include up-to-date information and level of risk. In addition, ensure that they demonstrate the actions taken when a child is missing from home or at risk. 23 June 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

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each 23 June 2023 Inspection report for children's home: 2585541 6 child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home; and

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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)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that the manager provides evaluation and analysis in relation to his oversight of the care being provided to children.

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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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

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background; and

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect. (Regulation 6 (1) (2)(iv)(v))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that children’s records reflect the actions that staff have taken in providing care relevant to the child’s needs. 23 June 2023

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Recommendations

 The registered person must ensure that the regulation 45 report sets out the matters set out in the regulation at least once every six months. The generated report should be sent to Ofsted and the placing local authority of all children in the home who are looked after children. (Guide to Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 15.3)  The registered person must ensure that the statement of purpose is kept under review. This should include the staffing structure, experience and qualifications of staff and arrangements for supervision of staff practice. This should be sent to Ofsted within the required timescales. (Guide to Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.10) Inspection report for children's home: 2585541 7

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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: 2585541 8

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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

Claire Hobbs, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2585541 9 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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