Children's home run by Lincolnshire County Council

Inspection report children's home: SC043732 1 SC043732 Registered provider: Lincolnshire County Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

This home is owned by a local authority. It is registered to provide care, for 11 children who have disabilities. There are currently 7 children living in this home.

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Information about this children's home

The manager is not currently registered with Ofsted.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 7 February 2023

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: SC043732 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/02/2023 Full Good 08/11/2022 Full Inadequate 22/09/2021 Full Good 27/08/2019 Full Good Inspection report children's home: SC043732 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This home currently has seven children living there. The home projects a feeling of warmth, inclusion and happiness.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The team have worked creatively to brighten corridors with hand painted characters for example Paddington bear, squirrels and children have been supported to personalise their bedrooms. One parent said, ‘They do a great job, and we are appreciative of all that they do, never had any reason to complain’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff want the best for children. They persist through challenging times. Staff are passionate and inspiring. They always recognise the progress that children make, no matter how small this might be. For example, one child is now able to assist doing his laundry, for another, after eating they are now able to return their dinner plate, knife and fork to staff. All children’s achievements are highlighted and celebrated in monthly newsletters, however not all are appropriately rewarded. The manager stated ‘there is an increased emphasis on capturing children’s successes by the introduction of regular achievement days’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff make sure that children’s complex needs do not stop them from accessing activities and facilities that they enjoy. The range of activities provided helps children to develop social skills and achieve positive outcomes. One child now attends a cub scout group, and another attends regular swimming sessions, this enhances children’s experiences and memories.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy positive relationships with staff who genuinely care about them. Staff use their knowledge, skills and experience to meet the needs of the children in a nurturing manner. They trust staff to help and support them. This has led to the development of strong relationships and bonds.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children views, wishes, and feelings, are gathered in one to one sessions and house meetings. However, this was irregular and inconsistent. This does not ensure that children’s views are given regular careful consideration when making decisions about their lives.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The home is well presented; however, it was identified that there had been a significant delay of almost a year for fire doors to be adjusted to ensure they closed properly. Despite the manager highlighting this on health and safety audits and escalating his requests for works to be completed. This remained unactioned. During the inspection, it was approved for the required works to be completed the following day. Inspection report children's home: SC043732 4 Staff have a good understanding of children’s risks and vulnerabilities. There is a comprehensive risk management plan in place for each child. This includes behaviour management strategies that help to keep children safe. Staff have a good understanding of their safeguarding reasonability’s creating a culture whereby children’s safeguarding is central to everything that staff do.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Inspectors found that the allegations of staff receive prompt attentions by the manager and are thoroughly investigated. Managers have worked in partnership with professionals to create a protocol for managing repeat allegations for one child. This ensures that there is transparency of practice and children are safeguarded.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff carefully monitor children’s behaviour. They provide constant support to children to reduce and manage behaviour that can challenge. Staff use de- escalation and calming techniques effectively. As a result, the use of restraints is rare. All incidents of restraint are well recorded and include management oversight and reflection. Learning from incidents is put into practice.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The selection of new staff coming to work at the home is carefully considered. This ensures that children are cared for by staff who are safe to work with children. New staff are supported and mentored by experienced skilled staff and, together, they ensure that children are appropriately supported, supervised and kept safe.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Medication systems and process are managed safely. Staff receive the necessary training and assessments to ensure they are confident and competent in this area. The administration of medication is sensitive to children’s individual needs. When errors or near misses do occur, managers ensure lessons are learnt to improve practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led and managed by a new experienced management team. The man- ager and deputy managers work well together, creating consistency and stability within the team. This has enabled children to flourish and achieve their goals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There has been an increased turnover of staff since the last inspection. However, the manager has been thorough in ensuring children’s staffing ratios are maintained. Managers and staff have worked additional hours to ensure the quality of care has not been impacted while vacancies are appointed to.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The management team has implemented a range of systems to ensure that he has improved oversight of the quality of care provided. Checklists are used to ensure that daily tasks are completed, and various audits take place monthly. These changes continue to be embedded and have resulted in improved practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Partnership working is a strength of the managers and staff. The manager works effectively with partner agencies, including the placing local authorities, local Inspection report children's home: SC043732 5 authority designated officer [LADO], children’s schools and families. This ensures that everyone involved with the child works closely together.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff describe the manager as supportive and approachable. Staff also say they enjoy coming to work. Staff receive regular reflective supervision, providing the oversight and direction they need to develop within their role. One staff member said ‘when I came to work at the home, I was totally captured by care, kindness and over all willingness the team have towards the young people and to each other. The feeling that its home from home, the warmth and laughter throughout was just amazing’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff attend a wide variety of training courses. However, it was identified that the staff team have not received training in a specific eating disorder to meet the needs of some children. Managers have escalated their requests for this training within the health services, and in the interim, staff have researched this to develop their knowledge of the disorder. Inspection report children's home: SC043732 6

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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, 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

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.

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered person ensuring that’s children’s bedroom doors comply with fire safety regulations so as to protect children from avoidable, hazards. 15 February 2024

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered person ensuring staff have the required training to meet the individual needs of the children. 15 February 2024 Inspection report children's home: SC043732 7

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Recommendations

 The registered person must ensure, that staff recognise and celebrate the achievements of their children ('Guide to Children's homes regulations including the quality standards', Page 31, 6.7)  The registered person must ensure, that children are regularly consulted on their views to inform and support continued improvement in the quality of care. Due consideration should be given to the child's cognitive ability in the development and implementation of any consultation process ('Guide to Children's homes regulations including the quality standards', Page 22, 4.11)

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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 children's home: SC043732 8

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Children's home details

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

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Inspector(s)

Linda Mason, Social Care Inspector Zoey Lee, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: SC043732 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(s)

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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

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