Children's Home run by Lancashire County Council in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: 1231405 1 Registered provider: Lancashire County Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides residential short stays for up to six children who have learning disabilities and/or physical disabilities. The home may provide care for one child to live long term. A local authority runs the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since February 2016.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1231405 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/03/2023 Full Outstanding 22/02/2022 Full Good 28/11/2019 Full Good 28/01/2019 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: 1231405 3

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outstanding

The manager ensures that thoughtful and careful planning takes place before children come to stay at the home. She places emphasis on the needs, skills and aspirations of children and advocates strongly for children’s social opportunities. As a result of this, children often stay for short breaks at the same time as their friends, which helps them to build long-lasting friendships. One social worker said, ‘[Name of child] visits once a week. He has lots of fun. It is a great night for him as he gets to spend time with his friends.’

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outstanding

When new children access the short-break service, the managers ensure that each child has a meticulously planned transition package. The plan created is centred around the child, and delivered at a pace that is appropriate to the child and their family. Children often make several visits to the home before they come to stay. This helps to ease any anxieties that children or their families may have. One parent said, ‘I went to visit before my children did. As soon as I walked through the door it gave me the wow factor. I was amazed and the staff were amazing. My children loved it.’

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outstanding

Care planning in the home is excellent. The manager ensures that children’s support and care plans are child-focused and regularly reviewed. Children’s complex health needs are well understood and safely managed by staff. The manager ensures that staff receive specialist training that is aligned to children’s health needs.

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outstanding

Children are supported to build positive, trusting and secure relationships with the staff who care for them. Staff are nurturing in their approach; they spend quality time with children and know them well. Staff understand the individual needs of each child and know how best to support them.

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outstanding

Children are supported and encouraged to access the community during their stay, and they regularly take part in a wide variety of activities outside of the home. They have opportunities to try bowling, swimming and football, and go to the cinema, funfairs, local water parks and the zoo. Staff are enthusiastic and passionate about the experiences provided to children. One staff member said, ‘I get to be a part of planning activities for the children. I really enjoy this as I love to see them happy and having fun.’

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outstanding

The equipment available to children is extensive, the environment is spacious and it has been adapted to meet the individual needs of children. Children can access a wide variety of toys, games and craft equipment, and a sensory room and outdoor play equipment. This means that children have a variety of options to experience stimulating play during their stay.

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outstanding

A new ceiling-track hoist system has been installed throughout the home, making the environment more accessible for children. One staff member said, ‘[Name of Inspection report for children’s home: 1231405 4 child] loves football. Now that we have the new tracking in place, we can make use of a walking hoist sling and he can kick a football around with his friends.’

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outstanding

Research-based practice is fully embedded in daily practice and this is confidently led by the manager. This practice aims to promote measurable progress for children because of the daily care and support they receive. This is already having a positive effect and influencing children’s progress and achievements.

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outstanding

Children’s safety and welfare are a priority at this home. Parents and external professionals say that staff know the children well and they are confident in their abilities to keep children safe.

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outstanding

When assessing risk, the manager and staff ensure that highly effective and rigorous planning takes place. Staff are creative and dynamic in their approach when managing risk. They regularly support children to take risks that are appropriate to their age and level of understanding. This approach has been influential in the development of children’s confidence and independence. One parent said, ‘[Name of child] the community visits have been invaluable for developing the children’s life skills.’ Children have been able to experience new challenges and develop new skills while remaining safe.

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outstanding

Children do not go missing from the home and the risks around this are very low. Staff remain vigilant and ensure that children have constant supervision. The manager ensures that, along with high staffing levels, there are clear and robust procedures in place to minimise the risk of children going missing and to keep them safe.

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outstanding

The complex behaviours of some children require creative safeguarding practice. Staff are skilled communicators and they receive specialist training to support them in their role. Staff know the children well and, because of this, they can support children effectively to manage any behaviour or difficult feelings they may have. Staff regularly use reflective practice and work together to identify new or emerging triggers for children’s behaviour. This information then helps to inform children’s individual support plans. As a result of this, physical intervention has not been used in the home.

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outstanding

When children have been involved in accidents, the manager ensures that there is a strong and proactive response. All staff are trained in first aid and there are clear processes in place to ensure children are provided with any additional medical treatment required. All accident records are reviewed by the manager and any learning outcomes are identified and shared with the staff team.

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outstanding

Systems are in place to store and manage medication in a safe and effective way. The administration records are kept meticulously, and all staff are suitably trained to administer medication. Inspection report for children’s home: 1231405 5 Safe recruitment practice means that only the most suitable staff work at the home and that it is a safe place for children to live. Children and staff regularly practise how to evacuate the building in the event of a fire, which ensures that everyone knows how to respond in an emergency.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers of the service lead by example and they work together collaboratively. They are innovative and generate creative ideas to sustain the highest quality of care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is extremely enthusiastic, inspirational and forward-thinking. She demonstrates a clear ambition for each child and has high aspirations for them. She has a wealth of experience and a depth of knowledge of supporting and caring for children with complex needs. She is supported by two equally experienced assistant managers who work collaboratively. Together, they form a highly efficient leadership team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff team is consistently stable and staff morale is high. Staff feel supported, valued and listened to by their managers and colleagues. One member of staff said, ‘I have worked at [name of home] for just over two years now, and I have loved every second of it. The team is so supportive of one another and I feel like I am appreciated as a staff member and that I am listened to.’ This means children experience a happy, positive environment when they come to stay.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager’s oversight of practice in the home is excellent. There are highly effective systems in place to support the internal and external monitoring of the home. The manager is extremely reflective in her approach and has a clear understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the service. She has implemented a service development plan; this is regularly reviewed and helps her to set clear and realistic targets to support the continuous development and improvement of the service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager nurtures positive working relationships with external professionals and family members. She understands the importance of effective partnership working. This contributes to children’s positive experiences in the home. One social worker said, ‘Their communication with parents and with us as professionals is always excellent. They provide regular updates and always attend meetings.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive regular supervision. Supervisions are well planned, purposeful and reflective. Supervision is carried out by a suitably experienced manager or supervisor.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager ensures that team meetings take place regularly. Staff are provided with opportunities to discuss children and their progress, as well as staff practice, providing a safe forum for them to openly reflect and professionally challenge one Inspection report for children’s home: 1231405 6 another. Staff say that they find these meetings valuable and supportive of their development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive an extensive training package. This consists of mandatory, specialist and bespoke training to meet the needs of the children. Staff speak highly of the training; they value this and said it helps them to continuously develop their practice.

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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: 1231405 7

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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

Kimmy Feeley, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1231405 8 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

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