Children's Home run by Residential Child Care Community (Town Hall) Limited in Lancashire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2675591 1 Registered provider: Residential Childcare Community (Town Hall) Limited

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is privately run and offers care for up to five children who may have social and emotional difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Four children were living at the home at the time of this inspection.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager is registered with Ofsted and has the required qualification.

p.1

Inspection date: 9 January 2024

Date of last inspection: 18 September 2023

p.1

Inspection date: 9 January 2024

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Inspection date: 9 January 2024

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

p.1

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: 2675591 2

p.1

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.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, one child has moved into the home. This was a planned transition, and the child was supported to visit the home and speak with members of staff before they moved in. The four children currently living in the home are happy and well cared for.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Staff understand children’s needs well and regularly review their progress. Following the last inspection, the manager has taken steps to improve staff’s understanding of how to use the home’s recording system. This has included staff undertaking training in case recording, which has improved the quality of records. Records are accessible to staff.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The manager oversees practice in the home by carrying out weekly audits and reviewing incident reports. This has enabled the manager to identify and address staff’s development needs. The manager has actively sought further external training in relation to the specific needs of the children in the home where shortfalls in staff’s knowledge have been identified.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

When incidents occur, staff generally respond appropriately to ensure that children remain safe, and they use de-escalation techniques effectively. On occasions when staff have not been consistent in their approach, the manager has identified this and taken action. Clear action plans have been implemented to ensure that staff’s responses are consistent. Although the manager’s response to incidents is generally effective and proportionate, the manager has not always reported incidents to the regulator.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Children’s views are actively sought via regular children’s meetings and one-to-one discussions. The manager has sought consent from children to share concerns they have raised in staff meetings. This ensures that all members of staff are aware and respond to these concerns consistently.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Children and staff have actively participated in a fire safety presentation, which has increased their awareness around the importance of fire safety. Subsequently, the response to fire drills in the home has improved since the last inspection.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

All the requirements raised at the last inspection have been met. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2675591 3

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/09/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 23/01/2023 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2675591 4

p.3

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.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child—

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

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.4

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that significant incidents are notified to Ofsted. 12 February 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2675591 5

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Residential Childcare Community (Town Hall) Limited

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 843 Finchley Road, London NW11 8NA

p.5

Inspector

Carrie Mayes, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2675591 6 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.

p.5

Inspector

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 .

p.6

Inspector

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.6

Inspector

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

p.6

Inspector

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

p.6