Children's Home run by Lincolnshire County Council in Lincolnshire

Inspection report for children's home: SC042950 1 SC042950 Registered provider: Lincolnshire County Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and operated by a local authority. It is registered to provide care for up to six children with social and emotional difficulties. The home’s aim is to provide a safe, nurturing and homely environment.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since 17 January 2023.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 18 October 2022

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC042950 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/10/2022 Full Good 09/12/2021 Full Good 11/02/2020 Full Good 05/12/2018 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children's home: SC042950 3

p.2

improvement to be good

The relationships between children are in a period of transition and, at times, staff are not able to manage all situations safely. Although children sometimes get along well, at other times there can be a shift which results in some children being bullied and not feeling safe. There have been some serious incidents, when children have witnessed staff being hurt. For example, on one occasion, some children rang the police because they were worried for their own and staff’s safety.

p.3

improvement to be good

At times, children misuse substances. The manager is not yet scrutinising these incidents with the depth that is required. It is not clear what substances or what amounts children are using. When it is known where children may be obtaining substances, the manager has not effectively prevented children being able to access them. Additionally, it is a risk that children are, at times, vaping in their bedrooms.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children like staff very much and actively seek them out to spend time with them. Staff provide children with lots of nurture and praise. Children go to staff and sit on their knee or give them a hug. After school, children are excited to get home and tell staff about their day. Although many of the staff team are relatively new in their roles, all staff work hard and show tremendous commitment to children.

p.3

improvement to be good

Although not all children have a school place, the manager is advocating strongly on their behalf. Children who attend school are making progress. One child has two jobs, and this signifies a huge success. Other children attend extra-curricular activities, which enhances their overall development.

p.3

improvement to be good

There is a strong emphasis on supporting children with their independent living skills. One child has been supported to go on a caravan holiday with staff. On this holiday, the child was responsible for cooking, budgeting, cleaning and planning activities. This holiday went well, and staff praised the child for how well they had done. Children who have moved on from the home have generally remained in touch with staff, and they have had positive outcomes.

p.3

improvement to be good

Overall, the manager responds well when there are indicators that a child may be at risk. However, the manager’s oversight of incidents is not yet of a good enough standard. For example, when children have disclosed information to staff, this has not been consistently recorded in the child’s words. The manager is not always aware when children have shared significant information with staff. This is necessary so that immediate safeguards can be put in place to protect children. Inspection report for children's home: SC042950 4 At times, children cause damage to the home and break items, which have then been used by children to harm themselves and others. Broken items are not consistently removed in a timely way. There is a pattern of children harming themselves. For some children, this is a new behaviour that has started since coming to live at the home.

p.3

improvement to be good

There are several serious incidents that Ofsted has not been notified of. Despite this shortfall, the manager has shared relevant safeguarding information with children’s social workers, which has helped to keep children safe. External agencies are positive about the care being provided to children.

p.4

improvement to be good

Although staffing levels meet organisational requirements, on occasion, staff have struggled to respond effectively to children’s behaviours. At times when children may be targeting certain staff, staff have not always been able to swap shifts. This is necessary to defuse the situation and protect staff from harm. When several children have been involved in behavioural incidents at the same time, staff have on occasion struggled to divide their time effectively.

p.4

improvement to be good

When children’s behaviour has been unsafe and restraint has been deemed necessary, there have sometimes not been enough staff to restrain children safely. On these occasions, staff have acted appropriately and have withdrawn. However, this risked the child’s behaviour escalating.

p.4

good

The manager is committed to her role and has excellent relationships with all the children. Children seek her out and like to spend time with her. Children are confident to tell her what they think, and they ask for her advice. Although the manager’s knowledge of the children’s backgrounds is good, there are aspects that could be improved and may support improved care planning.

p.4

good

The manager’s decision-making is not always recorded in a way that is evidence- based. For example, the manager changed one child’s safety plan, however, it was unclear how the risks had changed. There was a lack of reference to other sources of information, which was necessary to fully establish whether it was appropriate for the safety plan to be changed and relaxed. This was necessary to keep all children safe.

p.4

good

Staff are overwhelmingly positive about the leadership and management. It is recognised that the home is in a period of transition, and it is testament to the staff that they are working hard to try and improve outcomes for children.

p.4

good

Staff supervisions take place regularly and staff performance is reviewed monthly. Supervisions are generally of good quality, however, when staff have raised concerns about staffing issues, the details have not been recorded in the supervision document. Furthermore, it is unclear what action the manager intends to take to resolve these staffing issues. Inspection report for children's home: SC042950 5 Overall, the manager follows safe recruitment practices for staff, however, it is not yet documented whether staff Disclosure and Barring Service checks are clear or not. This is more of a recording issue than an issue of safety.

p.4

good

There were no shortfalls in medication practice and therefore the previous requirement in relation to this has been met. Inspection report for children's home: SC042950 6

p.5

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

p.6

Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

p.6

Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

p.6

Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

p.6

Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

p.6

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand, in a way that is appropriate according to the child’s age and understanding, personal, sexual and social relationships, and how those relationships can be supportive or harmful;

p.6

Requirement Due date

help each child to develop the understanding and skills to recognise or withdraw from a damaging, exploitative or harmful relationship; are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own 20 August 2023 Inspection report for children's home: SC042950 7 feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same;

p.6

Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children;

p.7

Requirement Due date

understand and communicate to children that bullying is unacceptable;

p.7

Requirement Due date

have the skills to recognise incidents or indications of bullying and how to deal with them;

p.7

Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(x)(xi)(xii)(xiii)(b))

p.7

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered person taking steps to address relationship difficulties between children. All children should be supported to feel safe alongside the other children in the home.

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

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;

p.7

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

p.7

Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

p.7

Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

p.7

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; 20 August 2023 Inspection report for children's home: SC042950 8 take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare;

p.7

Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

p.8

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;

p.8

Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are located so that children are effectively safeguarded;

p.8

Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health;

p.8

Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(c)(d)(e))

p.8

Requirement Due date

The specifically relates to the registered person critically assessing how group dynamics may be impacting on children’s risk-taking behaviours.

p.8

Requirement Due date

The environment should be free from hazards. Whenever possible, damaged items should be removed swiftly, out of reach of children.

p.8

Requirement Due date

Children’s substance misuse should be closely monitored. Steps should be taken to reduce health and environmental risks. When children raise current or historical concerns, these should be recorded in the child’s words whenever possible.

p.8

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—

p.8

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 20 August 2023 Inspection report for children's home: SC042950 9 lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

p.8

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

p.9

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

p.9

Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

p.9

Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

p.9

Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received;

p.9

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)(a)(b)(c)(f)(g)(ii)(h))

p.9

Requirement Due date

The registered person should improve their managerial oversight and evaluation of children’s care and safety plans. Decision-making should be clearly recorded.

p.9

Requirement Due date

The home requires timely maintenance. This is to ensure that the environment remains safe and free from hazards.

p.9

Requirement Due date

When staff are unable to adequately meet children’s safety and well-being needs, contingency plans should be put in place to ensure that staff can access additional practical support. This may be when staff are injured or are being targeted by children.

p.9

Requirement Due date

When staff raise concerns or practice issues about other staff, this should be recorded clearly in supervision records. Action taken by the manager should be recorded.

p.9

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

p.9

Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation; 20 August 2023 Inspection report for children's home: SC042950 10 an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

p.9

Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

p.10

Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child —

p.10

Requirement Due date

is instigated; or concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

p.10

Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e))

p.10

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff understand that who we are and where we come from is recognised in good social work practice, for example, through undertaking life-story work or other direct work. Staff in children’s homes should play a full role in work of this kind. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.14)  The registered person should, as set out in regulations 31-33, be responsible for maintaining good employment practice. They should ensure that recruitment, supervision and performance management of staff safeguard children and minimise potential risks to them. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)

p.10

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: SC042950 11

p.10

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Lincolnshire County Council

p.11

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Lincolnshire County Council, County Offices, Newland, Lincoln LN1 1YL

p.11

Inspectors

Andi Lilley-Tams, Social Care Inspector Ellen Monk, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC042950 12 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.

p.11

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.12

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.12

Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.12