Children's Home run by Lancashire County Council in Lancashire

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1241782 1 Registered provider: Lancashire County Council

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A local authority operates this home. It is registered to provide care for up to six children with social and emotional difficulties. There were five children living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2016.

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Inspection date: 7 December 2023

Date of last inspection: 25 October 2023

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Inspection date: 7 December 2023

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1241782 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

At the time of this inspection, five children were living at the home. One child was receiving support in a family member’s home. One child has recently moved to another service.

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Findings from the inspection

The home has experienced a period of crisis resulting in an increased police presence at the home. This inspection took place to explore the circumstances leading to police intervention, including the safety and well-being of the children living in the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Following the admission of a sixth child to the home, there was a significant increase in children being reported as missing. Staff followed the missing-from-home procedures to secure the safe return of the child. However, due to an increase in behaviours which led to staff being assaulted, staff required the assistance of the police to manage these situations.

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Findings from the inspection

Behaviour management measures were ineffective in managing the period of crisis. Some children who were previously settled in the home became involved in risk- taking and challenging behaviours. Consequently, other children felt unsafe. One child said, ‘I would get picked on when staff wasn’t looking. I was scared and didn’t know what to do.’ Since the departure of one child, the manager and staff are working hard to re-establish the home’s boundaries and the relationships between the children.

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Findings from the inspection

Incidents of bullying were not picked up by staff and some children did not feel they could make the staff aware of what was happening in the home. One child said, ‘I know the staff would support me, but I was scared to say anything.’

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Findings from the inspection

The manager and staff have spent time with children discussing the unsettled period. This has enabled children to speak about their anxieties and receive some reassurance from the manager and staff. Children have been listened to. Senior managers have agreed not to offer any further placements until after the festive season.

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Findings from the inspection

Assessments to manage children’s individual risks are updated and include guidance for staff to mitigate and respond to risks. Key-work sessions and placement meetings are held to reinforce the home’s boundaries and to support the children in managing their own emotions.

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Findings from the inspection

Damage to the property has been addressed. At the time of this inspection, the home was looking festive and was warm, clean and tidy. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1241782 3 During the unsettled period, leaders and managers contributed to a daily multi- agency briefing to discuss all the children living in the home and the level of support required. A learning review is now under way. This review will look at the impact on children and staff and lessons learned. The manager said, ‘It is important that we all learn from this.’

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Findings from the inspection

Most children have trusting relationships with staff and feel they are able to identify a staff member to talk to about any problems they may have. One child said, ‘Staff are there for me when I need them. I feel safe around the staff.’

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Findings from the inspection

Managers and staff are working hard to ensure a positive move from the home for two children. One child will be moving to independent living and another child is planning to return to live with a family member. The manager anticipates a level of disengagement and has been provided with extra staffing support in case this should be required.

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Findings from the inspection

The requirements from the previous inspection have not been reviewed and remain in place. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1241782 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/10/2023 Full Good 20/09/2022 Full Good 13/04/2021 Full Good 03/09/2019 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1241782 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, 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 registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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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

a child protection enquiry involving a child —

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Requirement Due date

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

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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)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)) 24 December

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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 a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(viii)) 24 December

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that— 24 December Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1241782 6 children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises;

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Requirement Due date

and any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home; is necessary and proportionate;

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Requirement Due date

is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21 (b)(c)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered provider must remove internal locks on doors to communal areas.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that staff receive regular supervision. 24 December

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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

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding; 10 January 2024 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1241782 7 help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop the understanding and skills to recognise or withdraw from a damaging, exploitative or harmful relationship;

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

understand and communicate to children that bullying is unacceptable;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(vii)(viii)(ix)(xi)(xii)(xiii)(b)) Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1241782 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Lancashire County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: PO Box 78, Preston PR1 8XJ

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Inspector

Maria McGranaghan, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1241782 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 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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Inspector

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