Children's Home run by Care Afloat Ltd in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC006013 1 SC006013 Registered provider: Care Afloat Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is one of several homes owned by a private provider. It provides care for up to one child who may have social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 21 February 2022. He is also the registered manager of another home owned by the provider.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home. The child living in the home and the child who had recently moved out of the home both spoke to the inspector about their experiences of living in the home.

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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: good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC006013 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/04/2022 Full Good 13/03/2019 Interim Not judged 23/01/2019 Interim Not judged 24/10/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: SC006013 3

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improvement to be good

Shortfalls in the leadership and management of the home have led to the child’s experiences being varied. Lack of clear leadership of the team means that the child’s needs are not consistently prioritised and that their experiences are not always positive.

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improvement to be good

The child is settled and has been supported to develop positive relationships with the staff. Staff recognise that trust is important to the child and work hard to build and maintain it. As a result, the child states that they feel able to spend time with any of the staff members. The child who recently moved out of the home in a planned way has remained in contact with several staff members and continues to benefit from these positive relationships and support.

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improvement to be good

Children do not always feel listened to or that they are advocated for effectively enough. Opportunities for them to express their wishes and feelings or to raise any concerns are limited. One child said that they felt that managers were dismissive of their dreams for the future. This left the child feeling unheard and that their aspirations were not valued.

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improvement to be good

Positive activities have not been promoted for the child, and they are not consistently supported to engage in activities outside the home. The child stated that they wish to have more free time to meet with their peers from school and to enjoy more activities with their siblings. Consequently, the child’s opportunities to develop independence skills, interests and a wider social network are limited.

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improvement to be good

The child is making progress in their education. Managers and staff have prioritised the child’s access to education, and they are now attending school following a significant period of being out of education. The registered manager has used the support of a therapist to work alongside the staff and the education provider. This has helped the child to develop a routine, as well as exploring future career goals and increasing in confidence.

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improvement to be good

The home lacks personalisation. Some areas are in need of refurbishment, and numerous repairs are needed, including to repair damage to the office door and several fixtures around the home, and to fix leaking taps in the bathroom. These issues have been reported by the manager but not actioned. This does not reflect nurturing, trauma-informed care and does not enable the child to develop a sense of belonging or pride in the home. Inspection report for children’s home: SC006013 4

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improvement to be good

Risks for the child have reduced since they moved into the home. There has been a reduction in incidents of the child going missing, and they are able to speak with staff about any concerns. Staff implement structured routines with kindness and consideration for the child. As a result, the child feels safe and has started to express their feelings in positive ways. However, the child’s risk plans do not accurately reflect the child’s current risks and lack clarity for staff to follow in order to keep the child safe.

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improvement to be good

Oversight by leaders and managers of incidents is not robust. When incidents do occur, they are not effectively reviewed. Opportunities to identify patterns and trends, further develop strategies to support the child or to identify any learning for the team have been missed.

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improvement to be good

Staff do not understand their responsibilities in supporting children who use e- cigarettes. The registered manager was not aware that the child had e-cigarettes in their bedroom until it was raised by the inspector. Two staff members said that on occasion, they had seen the child use the e-cigarette in the home and this had not consistently been challenged. The child’s use of e-cigarettes has not been assessed in relation to risk or followed up with direct-work sessions to reduce the likelihood of harm to the child. Consequently, the child has not been given clear guidance around not using the e-cigarette in the home and has not been provided with access to smoking cessation services. This does not promote the child’s health and is not in line with the provider’s policy on the use of e-cigarettes.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers have not ensured that behaviour management strategies are child centred or clearly communicated to the child and team. Guidance on strategies for staff to follow in respect of the child’s internet use is unclear and there is a lack of clarity for the child about what interventions are in place, how long for, and why. This leads to the child feeling frustrated and does not promote consistent practice in the home.

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improvement to be good

Staff have completed mandatory training, including on safeguarding and physical intervention. However, not all staff, including managers, have completed training related to internet safety, despite this being identified as a risk for the child. When specific training has been arranged, this has not been timely enough. This does not ensure that the staff team is equipped with the skills to care for the child’s specific needs effectively.

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good

The home is managed by an experienced and committed manager. He has recently returned to the home following a period of absence. The deputy manager undertook management responsibilities during his absence. The members of the management Inspection report for children’s home: SC006013 5 team have worked together for some time. However, information-sharing between managers is not effective and has led to shortfalls in the oversight of practice in the home and guidance given to the team.

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good

All staff have had their performance appraised annually. However, team meetings are infrequent and do not promote consistent staff practice. Staff supervisions are of poor quality. They are brief in detail and lack reflection. Managers have not responded appropriately when concerns have been raised by staff. This has left some staff feeling unsupported and unclear about the expectations of their roles.

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good

Internal review systems are not robust. Managers do not routinely evaluate the impact of the service or identify areas for improvement. This is a missed opportunity to develop practice in the home and to improve the quality of care provided to the child.

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good

There are sufficient staff to care for the child, and when bank staff are used, they are familiar to the child. The newly recruited staff are working alongside staff who have considerable experience. This ensures that the child is cared for by staff who know them well. Inspection report for children’s home: SC006013 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, 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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies.

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that lines of communication relating to risk are clear and effective. Staff must be provided with clear guidance on managing risks, 8 March 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: SC006013 7 which is reviewed regularly. The registered person must also ensure the company’s smoking policy is adhered to. 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

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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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

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that there is clear leadership and guidance to the team; that management oversight and evaluation of practice in the home provide opportunities for reflection and learning; and that staff are supported to work effectively as a team. In addition, they must ensure that all staff, including managers, undertake training to meet children’s identified needs, including around safe internet use. 8 March 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the behaviour management policy”) which sets out—

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Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home; and 8 March 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: SC006013 8 the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must keep the behaviour management policy under review and, where appropriate, revise it.

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the Inspection report for children’s home: SC006013 9 measure. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b) (2) (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that any actions of behaviour management are applied in the context of positive relationships, ensuring they involve children and relevant others. Any measures must be understood and applied by all staff and be subject to regular review. 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

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

ascertain and consider each child’s views, wishes and feelings, and balance these against what they judge to be in the child’s best interests when making decisions about the child’s care and welfare;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to express views, wishes and feelings;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home’s care;

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Requirement Due date

is enabled to provide feedback to, and raise issues with, a relevant person about the support and services that the child receives;

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Requirement Due date

is given appropriate advocacy support. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(b)(i)(iii)) 8 March 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: SC006013 10 Specifically, the registered person must advocate on behalf of the child and ensure that children’s views, wishes and feelings are heard and that they are consulted about their plans. If there is a reason why a child’s views cannot be acted upon, there should be a clear rationale understood by the child as to why this is not in a child’s best interests. The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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 the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that the home is decorated, furnished, cleaned and maintained to a good standard throughout as well as being personalised to the child. Any repairs must be completed in a timely manner. 8 March 2023

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Requirement Due date

The enjoyment and achievement standard is that children take part in and benefit from a variety of activities that meet their needs and develop and reflect their creative, cultural, intellectual, physical and social interests and skills.

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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

develop the child’s interests and hobbies;

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Requirement Due date

participate in activities that the child enjoys and that meet and expand the child’s interests and preferences; and

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Requirement Due date

make a positive contribution to the home and the wider community; and 8 March 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: SC006013 11 that each child has access to a range of activities that enable the child to pursue the child’s interests and hobbies. (Regulation 9 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that the child is provided with activities outside the home. The child’s interests must be promoted, and staff must support them to try new activities.

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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: SC006013 12

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Care Afloat Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 158–160 Birkrig, Digmoor Parade, Skelmersdale WN8 9HP

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Michael Fletcher

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Inspector

Sarah Gilbert, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC006013 13 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted Inspection report for children’s home: SC006013 14

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