Children's Home run by Contemporary Concept Care Limited in Lancashire

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2639649 1 Registered provider: Contemporary Concept Care Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This private home provides care for up to two children. The home’s statement of purpose states that children living in this home may experience a range of social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered since November 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

There were two children living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Inspection date: 7 February 2024

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 7 February 2024

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has 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: 2639649 2

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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.

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Findings from the inspection

Children were observed relaxing and spending time with staff. Children told the inspector that they are developing positive relationships with the staff team and they feel comfortable speaking to them about any worries or concerns.

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Findings from the inspection

Combined risks for children are considered when new children move into the home. Leaders and managers consult with the broader staff team to assess children’s suitability to live with one another safely and to also determine if the staff team has the skills to meet children’s individual needs. When there has been conflict between children, leaders and managers have taken effective action to restore positive relationships between children, which reduces the risk of issues escalating further.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff understand children’s individual vulnerabilities and circumstances. Changes to risk assessments and strategies to safeguard children are shared with staff through team meetings and a read-and-sign process. This process has been introduced to ensure that staff understand their roles and responsibilities to safeguard children.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff use preventative measures to try to deter children from going missing from the home, and they are proactive in trying to locate children. Staff follow the missing- from-home protocol for each child, ensuring that they notify all relevant professionals and external agencies so that any additional safeguarding action can be implemented without delay.

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Findings from the inspection

There has been a delay in the provider notifying the local authority designated officer (LADO) and Ofsted following an allegation about a staff member. However, children have not been placed at risk because of this delay. Leaders and managers ensured that immediate and appropriate action was taken to safeguard the child.

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Findings from the inspection

Fire drills are not always undertaken with children when they move into the home. Additionally, there has been a delay in children being shown the home’s fire evacuation procedures to ensure their safety in the event of a fire. The manager took immediate action during the inspection to address this.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are supported to access external health professionals to promote positive health and emotional well-being. The staff team works closely with an external therapeutic service to improve how they care for children. Children have engaged in direct work with staff about sexual health, positive relationships, vaping and substance misuse.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager is working with placing authorities and virtual schools to secure appropriate educational placements for each child. However, the staff team is not yet proactive in supporting children to engage in a daily routine of structured Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2639649 3 educational activities during typical school hours, to prepare them for the expectations of attending school on a full-time basis.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers are in the process of introducing more face-to-face training for staff. Practice-related staff supervision sessions are now more reflective and provide the manager with a better insight into staff’s individual strengths and areas for development.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager’s review of the quality of care report is sent to Ofsted within suitable timescales. The report provides an evaluation of the impact of the service on children’s experiences and identifies areas of children’s care that the manager is focused on improving. However, the independent visitor reports are not always sent to Ofsted without delay. This means that the regulator is unable to effectively monitor the operation of the home at regular intervals. This was a requirement at the last inspection, and so it has been restated. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2639649 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/06/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 11/05/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 25/01/2022 Full Inadequate Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2639649 5

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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

After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

ensure, by means of fire drills and practices at suitable intervals, that persons working at the home and so far as reasonably practicable, children are aware of the procedure to be followed in case of fire. (Regulation 25 (1)(d))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person should ensure that children participate in a fire drill without delay when they move into the home. 21 March 2024

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40 (4)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person should ensure that Ofsted and LADO are notified without delay in relation to any allegation made by a child against a staff member working in the children’s home. 21 March 2024

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to—

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, these reports must be sent without delay to ensure that the regulator can effectively monitor the operation of the home.

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Requirement Due date

This was a previous requirement that has not been met, and so it has been restated. 21 March 2024 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2639649 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that when children are not participating in education because they are not on a school roll or for some other reason, the child should be supported to sustain or regain their confidence in education and be engaged in suitable structured activities. Specifically, staff should be proactive in supporting children to engage in a daily routine of structured educational activities during typical school hours, to prepare them for attending school on a full-time basis. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.15) Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2639649 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Contemporary Concept Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 7 Wyndham Close, Eastham, Wirral CH62 0DH

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Inspector

Cheryl Field, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2639649 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 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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