Children's Home run by Exceptional Care Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1278022 1 Registered provider: Exceptional Care Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is privately operated and provides care for up to four children who may have social and emotional difficulties. At the time of the inspection, four children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2021.

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This monitoring visit

On 27 and 28 September 2023, Ofsted inspected the children’s home and judged it to be inadequate. Compliance notices were issued under regulation 12, the protection of children standard, and regulation 13, the leadership and management standard. The purpose of this visit was to monitor the provider’s progress in meeting the compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

The manager is not currently working in the home. Interim management arrangements are in place.

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This monitoring visit

Staff now understand their roles and responsibilities in keeping children safe. Since the last inspection, staff have completed training so that they understand sexually harmful behaviour and how to respond to this. Staff have accessed training and had reflective discussions about the children’s emotional needs. This supports staff to have the knowledge and skills to care for the children.

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This monitoring visit

Improvements have been made to children’s plans. Plans include children’s known risks and clear strategies for staff to keep children safe. Staff have important discussions with children to support them to understand their own risks. This supports children to keep themselves safe. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1278022 2 Managers now challenge shortfalls in staff practice to ensure that staff understand what is expected of them. When concerns about staff conduct are identified, managers investigate this thoroughly. This means that staff are supported to deliver consistent care to children. One member of staff said, ‘The expectations of staff are clear now.’ They explained that this has developed their confidence in caring for the children.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have taken steps to ensure that there is no smoking in the home or in the premises. Managers have identified support for children and staff to stop smoking or vaping. This promotes a culture in which smoking is not accepted and staff set a positive example to children.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s complaints are taken seriously and acted on. Children receive a response to complaints they have made. As a result, they understand how their views have been considered. This enables children to contribute to decisions made about their care and means that they feel valued. Two children told the inspector that the care they receive had improved. One child said, ‘It’s got better here; at least staff all say the same thing now.’

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This monitoring visit

Developments have been made to the manager’s monitoring systems. For example, the manager has introduced new monthly auditing tools. New processes ensure that there is management oversight of all safeguarding matters and the quality of care that children receive. Handover arrangements and induction processes have also been improved. This means that staff will have all the necessary information before they work with the children.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have taken the necessary steps to ensure that the compliance notices issued are met.

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This monitoring visit

A further unannounced full inspection will take place to continue to monitor the quality of care provided. The other requirements raised at the last inspection will be considered as part of the next inspection. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1278022 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/09/2023 Full Inadequate 20/07/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1278022 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 education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to leaders challenging placing local authorities when children’s education needs are not met and ensuring that, when children do not have an identified school place, staff deliver learning in accordance with the child’s agreed plans.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was not considered at this visit and so is reinstated. 30 November 2023

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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

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 understand how the child’s views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child; 30 November 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1278022 5 keep the children’s guide and the home’s complaints procedure under review and seek children’s comments before revising either document. (Regulation 7 (1)(c) (2)(a)(iii)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that staff understand children’s views about the care they receive. In addition, it relates to keeping the complaints process under review.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was not considered at this visit and so is reinstated.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1278022 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Exceptional Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Exceptional Care Limited, Malthouse Business Centre, Southport Road, Ormskirk L39 1QR

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Inspector

Sally Griffiths, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1278022 7 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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