Children's home run by Life Change Care Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2720360 1 Registered provider: Life Change Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a private children’s home which provides care for up to three children. Children living in this home may have a range of social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children lived in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

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

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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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.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2720360 2

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improvement to be good

The home registered with Ofsted in July 2023. Since this time, staff have been getting to know the children who live there. This inspection found some good working practices. However, a significant incident has affected a child’s sense of security and trust.

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improvement to be good

Staff are developing an understanding of the children and their behaviours. However, not all children have trusting relationships with staff.

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improvement to be good

Children’s educational provision is not yet adequate. At the time of the inspection, neither child was attending school. Children are not making satisfactory progress. The manager advocates to meet children’s educational needs. Children have educational planners in place to support routines during school hours. However, on the first day of inspection, one child remained in bed until 11.30 am. The other child was bored in the afternoon. Staff fail to effectively implement plans. This results in children seeking staff attention using disruptive behaviour.

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improvement to be good

Children are in good health and receive specialist clinical support. When this support is not effective, the manager reviews plans. He takes appropriate actions to ensure that children receive support to meet their personal needs.

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improvement to be good

Staff talk with children and have focused sessions to help children understand their behaviours. However, children do not consistently receive support that encourages open discussion. This fails to ensure that the child’s voice has been heard.

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improvement to be good

This inspection was undertaken due to an anonymous complaint to Ofsted. The complaint raised concerns about the provider’s safeguarding practice. This inspection identified a significant safeguarding incident. The provider held an event for staff, their families and the children. At this event, a member of staff failed to display professional conduct. They verbally abused a child. This has led to the child feeling angry and let down by their carers.

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improvement to be good

Following this event, the provider failed to seek advice or submit a referral to the local authority safeguarding officer. Ofsted was not advised of the serious incident. The provider was aware of the complaint and undertook an internal investigation. This fails to follow statutory procedures and shows a lack of transparency with external agencies.

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improvement to be good

Staff speak to family and friends and search known areas to locate children when they are missing. Staff follow safeguarding procedures to keep children safe. They Inspection report for children’s home: 2720360 3 talk with children to help reduce incidents of children going missing from home. Staff alter their ways of working if their approach is not effective.

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improvement to be good

Staff track and evaluate children’s risks. This supports care planning, which promotes opportunities for children to progress and engage. One child discussed recently achieving more free time in the community.

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improvement to be good

Staff help children to develop strategies to manage their feelings and emotions. Staff and children work together to reach the child’s chosen goals. Staff regularly review incentives to ensure that they are achievable and effective.

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good

The registered manager understands the home’s strengths and weaknesses. He has plans in place to promote improvements. He is working with the staff team to embed a culture of mutual respect, openness and trust.

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good

The manager does not hold records of complaints on the children’s files. The manager has failed to ensure that the child’s voice and feelings are at the forefront of complaints. This results in children not feeling heard or protected by those caring for them.

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good

The staff and manager have regular supervision, including clinical supervision. Supervision sessions include reflection on staff practice and well-being. As a result, staff feel supported. This approach means that managers have oversight of the staff’s strengths and weaknesses.

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good

Staff said that the manager is helping them to develop their skills and understanding of trauma-informed parenting. This will support improved delivery of care. The staff team is working towards developing trusting relationships with children. Children say they like the staff who are currently looking after them. Inspection report for children’s home: 2720360 4

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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, 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.

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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

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(v)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, to ensure that staff are clear about professional boundaries and their duty of care to children. When this does not happen, effective action should be taken to protect children from harm. 30 November

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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

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;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on— 30 November Inspection report for children’s home: 2720360 5 feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(g)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, that lessons from significant incidents are reflected in changes in working practice, to ensure that the delivery of care is in line with the statement of purpose.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child’s respect and trust;

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Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children;

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Requirement Due date

are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(viii)(ix)(x))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, that all staff provide care as described in the statement of purpose and as stated in the child’s care plans. 30 November

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Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

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Requirement Due date

engage with them; and 30 November Inspection report for children’s home: 2720360 6 take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

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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

help each child to express views, wishes and feelings

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Requirement Due date

is given appropriate advocacy support. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(ii)(b)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager must ensure that children are provided with an independent advocate, and are supported with complaints and helped to understand the outcomes of investigations.

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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))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must maintain records of complaints. 30 November

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to,

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(c)(e)) 30 November Inspection report for children’s home: 2720360 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: 2720360 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Life Change Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Pennine View, Off Trafalgar Street, Burnley, Lancashire BB11 1TQ

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Inspector

Sally Hallwood, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2720360 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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