Children's Home run by Lily Residential Services Ltd in Dorset

Inspection report for children’s home: 2739974 1 Registered provider: Lily Residential Services Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private provider of social care and was registered on 21 August 2023. There is a registered manager in post.

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care for up to three children.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, three children were living in the home.

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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: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2739974 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

Not previously inspected. Inspection report for children’s home: 2739974 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from a home that is furnished and decorated to a high standard. Children’s bedrooms are personalised and decorated to their taste. Two children said they like living in the home, and they identified carers who they could talk to. Carers have a good rapport with one child, lots of fun and laughter goes on in the home. Carers consult children and involve them in decision-making about the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Carers develop positive relationships with other professionals. Professionals said that prioritising and advocating for children, supporting their progress and keeping them safe, were strengths of the team. A teacher highlighted that a child has made significant progress in the short time they have been living in the home. They attributed this to the child having a settled home where their needs are met.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Carers support children to engage with education and attend school. One child who attends school on a reduced timetable completes regular educational activities at home. Carers work with education professionals to source potential placements for two children who are not in education. However, support for these children to complete informal educational activities is lacking. This does not promote the best outcomes for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s emotional and physical health needs are generally met by the home. Carers have sought clinical advice in relation to gaining a better understanding of a child with additional needs. Health concerns are raised with medical professionals and children are supported to attend appointments. However, carers do not always provide children with a varied and healthy diet, or a calm and settled environment at all mealtimes. This is not helping children to develop healthy habits in respect of food.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Preparation for children to move into the home is good. Careful consideration is given to the potential impact on children already living in the home, as well as the skill set of carers and their ability to meet children’s needs. One child has moved out of the home at short notice. This was due to the home not obtaining enough information about the associated risks, which meant that carers were not able to keep the child safe. Measures have been implemented to prevent this from occurring in the future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to maintain positive relationships with their family. Planning around family time is child focused to ensure that the child has the best experience possible. When a child has been confused about why they are not living with their family, carers have had sensitive conversations with them and helped them to understand why.

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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2739974 4 Carers have good knowledge and understanding of risk. They are committed to keeping children safe. In relation to one child where risks are high, comprehensive planning has taken place to allow carers to predict and manage risk. Carers follow risk management plans and let the child know what protective measures are in place. The team works closely with other professionals and has requested regular planning meetings, to ensure that a robust and up-to-date multi-agency response is in place. This is having a positive impact on meeting the child’s needs.

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

Carers spend time with children, building positive and trusting relationships within the home. They are available to listen to children, which has led to children choosing to talk about their thoughts, feelings, experiences and plans. This is giving children a voice.

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

When incidents happen, they are managed well. Carers follow plans and protocols, in particular when children go missing. Recordings of children’s and adults’ actions are informative and provide a good narrative of events. This helps carers to meet childrens evolving needs.

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

No restraint has been used in the home. The use of front and back door sensors at nighttime monitors children’s movements. Their use is currently appropriate given the risks for one child. Children and relevant professionals are aware that these sensors are in use, although written consent has not been gained. There is no procedure in place to review whether this monitoring is having any impact on children and whether monitoring remains necessary. Therefore, there are no clear plans to reduce or remove this restrictive practice.

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

Carers know children well and understand their needs. This generally enables them to provide a good level of care. However, documents designed to provide guidance to carers to support children to understand and manage their emotions and behaviours are limited. This may lead to carers not recognising when a child needs support, or not providing the right type of support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The positive working relationship between the registered manager and deputy manager is evident. They know each other’s strengths, which allows them to manage the home effectively. Leaders and managers are extremely reflective. They are committed to improving practice and providing the children who live in the home with the care and consistency that they need.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Carers like working in the home and feel that they are part of a team. They speak highly of leaders and managers and the support they receive from them. They said that managers listen to their views, particularly in relation to providing activities for children. They report that supervision takes place regularly, and that this provides opportunities to reflect on their practice and discuss all aspects of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Documents that hold information about children are generally good. However, at times they are lengthy and stored in different places. This means that there is not Inspection report for children’s home: 2739974 5 one place to visit to access information about children. There is, therefore, a risk that important information could be missed by carers, particularly ones from another home or agency carers. Language in some documents is institutionalised which means that they do not always provide a child centred narrative.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers monitor the progress that children make. Children are involved in the process, giving their views on aspects of their life such as education, family time and health. Systems to analyse and evaluate the information gained have been developed and are in the process of being implemented. This helps carers to look at any areas where additional focus or support is required.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers effectively and robustly address concerns related to practice. An allegation from a child against a carer was thoroughly investigated. The child was involved in the investigation and informed of the outcome. Concerns in relation to external agencies have been appropriately investigated and escalated. This provides assurances that the rights and needs of children are advocated for and prioritised. Inspection report for children’s home: 2739974 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 health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children are provided with a healthy and balanced diet. That carers support children to develop healthy relationships with food, and for children to have meals in a settled and calm environment, free from distractions. 9 April 2024

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(iii)(iv)(v))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children are provided with regular, informal learning opportunities when full-time education is not provided for them. This includes to understand what may be impacting on a child’s wish to engage in education, and work with them to resolve any concerns or difficulties they may have. 9 April 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2739974 7 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

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Requirement Due date

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. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b) (2))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that plans devised to provide guidance to carers in relation to behaviours are relevant to the child, and provide carers with clear strategies to protect and support children. 9 April 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

the child’s placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance;

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. (Regulation 24 (1)(b)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must gain written consent from local authorities in relation to use of door sensors. In addition, ensure that regular reviews of monitoring take place so that children are not subject to this for longer than necessary. 9 April 2024

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Language used should not be institutionalised. Behaviours, emotions and actions of a child should be described to allow the reader to gain a full picture of what has taken place. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Inspection report for children’s home: 2739974 8

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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: 2739974 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Lily Residential Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Spirare Ltd, Mey House, Bridport Road, Poundbury, Dorchester DT1 3QY

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Michael Felstead

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Inspector

Carla Simkiss, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2739974 10 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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