Children's home run by Life Change Care Limited in Burnley

Inspection report for children’s home: SC486114 1 SC486114 Registered provider: Life Change Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is privately owned. The provider states in the statement of purpose that they provide care for four children who may have emotional or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC486114 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/07/2022 Full Good 23/11/2021 Full Good 20/06/2019 Full Good 22/05/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC486114 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children move into the home in a planned and supportive way. The home does not take emergency placements and, whenever possible, children are invited to visit the home prior to moving in. This helps children feel welcome and minimises any anxieties they have in relation to their move. One child said, ‘From the moment I arrived, I felt welcomed and the staff understand me. I have had several moves and at last I feel settled.’ Children have developed positive relationships with a staff team that is nurturing and genuinely cares about them. This further ensures that children feel comfortable and happy.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of the inspection, four children were living at the home. They benefit from individualised care and support, which is reflected in individual placement plans. Development of child-friendly placement plans is in progress and discussions are being held with all children in relation to the format of their plans. All children spoken with are aware of their care plans and say they are fully consulted.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Professionals and family members speak positively about the care and support children receive. One parent said, ‘It is lovely to see how happy and settled my child is. [Name of child] has made so much progress and the staff welcome us and involve us with [name of child’s] care and progress.’ This is also a view reiterated by the child’s independent reviewing officer and social worker.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children say that they have a real voice in planning their care, and staff listen to them. Regular individual key-working sessions are held, as well as children’s meetings, where all can contribute their wishes and views in relation to their individual support, as well as communal activities and requests as a group.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s education is supported effectively. Prior to living at the home, some children had limited school attendance. The manager and staff have worked closely with education staff and virtual schools to ensure that each child has the appropriate education to support their overall educational progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s physical, mental and emotional health is supported well. Each child has an individual in-house healthcare plan, which details their healthcare needs and the support required to meet these. However, there has been a delay in receiving a formal healthcare assessment for one child and this has not been followed up sufficiently by the staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Activities and hobbies are encouraged, and children can try a range of different activities including football, rugby, horse riding and go-karting. Children say they look forward to these, but also enjoy spending time at the home following their own interests or as a group. As a result of these opportunities, children’s confidence and self-esteem have grown during their time at the home. Inspection report for children’s home: SC486114 4 Staff understand and recognise the importance of family time for children in accordance with their individual plans. They work with placing authorities and families to make sure this is fully supported. This effort is greatly valued by the children and families, who speak highly of the support provided to make sure this takes place.

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

Children have positive views about living at the home. They feel that they are treated with respect and have good relationships with the staff. They say that they feel safe, and staff support them to understand about managing their safety through regular discussions and guidance provided. One child said, ‘This place is the best place. Staff understand me and have helped me to understand about the importance of safety when I am out with friends.’

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

Staff have a good understanding about individual risks for children. Risk management plans underpin this knowledge. However, there are risks in relation to children continuing to use vapes. Staff have spoken with children in relation to the risks associated with vapes. However, risk management documentation does not reflect this risk.

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

Missing-from-care risk management plans reflect the individual risk of this for each child, and staff follow agreed procedures in the event of children going missing from care, including searching for them and speaking with friends and family. Independent return home interviews are requested, and appropriate challenge is made by the staff if these are not provided. As a result of measures taken, there has been a reduction in children going missing from the home.

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

Staff use effective de-escalation techniques to support children learn how to manage their behaviours. In addition, each child has a detailed behaviour support plan which details how the children are to be supported with individual behaviours. Further support is provided through regular key discussions, which help children express and understand their emotions and feelings. Physically holding a child is only used as a last resort to safeguard children, with staff receiving appropriate training and guidance.

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

A recent review of the management of allegations has been undertaken, with clear procedures in place to respond and notify relevant agencies in a timely manner. Children say they are aware of how to make a complaint and say they receive written and verbal responses to these.

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

The setting provides a homely and safe environment for children, with regular health and safety checks undertaken to ensure the safety of children.

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

The recruitment and selection of staff follow safer recruitment guidance to minimise the risk of unsuitable people working at the home, to safeguard children living there. Inspection report for children’s home: SC486114 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager was registered in July 2023. She has high aspirations for all children and is supported in her role by a deputy manager. Between them, they lead and manage a staff team that is equally committed to ensuring that children receive care and support to fulfil their potential. They have a good understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for ongoing development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children’s records are maintained electronically. Records reflect children’s overall progress. However, a small number of records have not been signed or dated as required.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children and staff speak highly of the managers, and this is a view held by professionals and parents. One social worker said, ‘Since starting to live at the home, [name of child] has thrived and is happy. Communication with the managers and staff is excellent and I have nothing but praise for the support they have provided.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff and manager have regular supervision, including clinical supervision. Supervision sessions include reflection on staff practice and well-being. Staff meetings are child focused, with additional informal training and guidance provided. This underpins formal mandatory training and enables staff to understand their role, supporting their ongoing knowledge and practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has addressed three of the five requirements from the last inspection in full. These are in relation to ensuring that staff complete mandatory training, that the missing-from-care policy and procedure have been updated for each child, and the independent visitor gathers comments from children, professionals and parents. Two requirements have been partially met and, therefore, have been restated at this inspection in relation to risk assessments and challenging placing authorities when there is missing information required for children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC486114 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

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, they must challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, this relates to obtaining up-to-date healthcare plans from children’s placing authorities within suitable timescales.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 1 April 2024

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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

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)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, risk management plans should include all identified risks for children.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 1 April 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC486114 7

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that there is effective oversight of follow-up work undertaken with children, and that records are dated and signed. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.4)

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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: SC486114 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Life Change Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Pennine View, Off Trafalgar Street, Burnley, Lancashire BB11 1TQ

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Inspector

Sarah Oldham, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC486114 9 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 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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