Children's home run by My Life - My Choice Ltd in Hyndburn

Inspection report for children’s home: SC489038 1 SC489038 Registered provider: My Life - My Choice Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides care and short breaks for children and young people with disabilities. Services are provided for children aged up to 17 years. They can be continued through from the ages of 18 to 25. At the time of inspection, there were two children living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2015.

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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 requires improvement to be 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: SC489038 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/03/2023 Full Good 22/03/2022 Full Good 05/08/2019 Full Good 14/03/2019 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC489038 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive a well-planned and inclusive introduction to the short-break service. The manager involves the child, their families and the local authority social worker. Children can choose which bedroom they prefer to stay in, and they increase their time spent in the home at their own pace.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children and two young people currently live in the home. In addition, other children and young people access the home as a day centre and stay for short breaks. They all make new friends and enjoy the time that they spend at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have positive experiences during their stays and have fun. Staff are skilled in using the resources in the home and the wider community to provide these positive experiences. Children experience many opportunities that may not have been possible without the short-breaks service.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive a good standard of care. Care plans are detailed, child-friendly and have clear, achievable targets. This ensures that staff have the most up-to-date information to enable them to support the children’s needs effectively.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children that live in the home are supported to see their own families. Families are welcomed into the home. Staff offer hands-on support for children and families to ensure that their time together is positive and enjoyable.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are dedicated to promoting children’s independence by focusing on self-care and healthy snack preparation. By integrating these goals into individual plans, the children make significant progress. Regular reviews of their objectives, along with celebrations of accomplishments involving parents and social workers, boost the children’s self-esteem and independence, fostering a positive and nurturing environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress, supported by the adults who care for them. For example, children are encouraged to use symbols and speech sounds, in line with their relevant plans. As a result, children continue to make progress in their communication and language skills.

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

Staff support children and respond extremely well to any behaviours that challenge. They demonstrate a commitment to finding different and innovative ways to manage situations that children may find difficult to cope with. This approach reduces children’s anxieties and helps to minimise incidents. Inspection report for children’s home: SC489038 4 Staff support children with their emotional well-being. Clear plans help to guide staff in how to care for children when they feel upset, worried or anxious. Staff are able to quickly identify when something is not right for a child.

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

Restrictions are in place at the children’s home, including fobbed doors and bedroom door sensors, to prevent children from leaving and encountering potential harm. These measures are based on comprehensive assessments of each child’s unique needs and are carefully documented. However, these assessments are not frequently reviewed to consider their continued relevance and effectiveness in ensuring the safety of the children. In addition, fire doors are not kept closed in line with the fire risk assessment.

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

Children in the home have complex needs. Staff work closely with health and social care professionals to ensure that children’s needs are met. Children are supported to attend all health appointments.

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

Staff understand the importance of meeting children’s health needs. There is a well- managed system for administering and recording medications in a safe and controlled way.

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

The manager and staff have effective links with local authorities, designated officers and relevant local voluntary sector organisations that are able to offer specialist support to children to help them keep themselves safe.

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

The home is properly staffed and resourced to meet the needs of the children. Staff are suitably vetted and qualified and are able to deliver high-quality services to children and their families. If additional staff are needed, bank staff are used who know the children well. Safe recruitment checks have been completed; this includes ensuring that the staff are either qualified or enrolled in relevant training.

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good

The registered manager is experienced and qualified. She is highly motivated and enthusiastic. She has good support from a deputy manager. Both are child-focused and knowledgeable about the specific needs of the children, and they have built positive relationships with families and professionals. Staff say that they feel well supported.

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good

The physical environment for children is safe; however, it does not feel or look like a family home. Children’s bedroom doors include glass panels in them, and the managers monitor the home with CCTV, which places limitations on children’s privacy. Furthermore, some areas of the home have not been well m aintained. Managers and staff have not always prioritised maintenance so that wear and tear is addressed promptly. Inspection report for children’s home: SC489038 5 Staff are encouraged to develop and are promoted internally. There are good incentives in place to help retain staff. This means that the children have care from staff who they know well and who provide them with consistency and stability.

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good

Staff only physically intervene as a last resort to keep everyone safe. Staff have received appropriate training. Incidents are recorded in detail in a timely manner. However, not all incident records are reviewed and monitored by the manager or include the child’s views, which reduces the opportunity for reflection and future learning.

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good

Managers follow up and escalate concerns if responses from agencies are not satisfactory. This helps to ensure that children receive the right support and that their needs are met. The manager has addressed the recommendation made at the last inspection.

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good

The staff form a cohesive, positive team. There is evidence of high regard for each other and the children they support. Communication between the staff is clear. This ensures that children are receiving safe and consistent care. Professionals are very positive about the service. One social worker said, ‘They do a great job and offer a lifeline to children and families.’ Inspection report for children’s home: SC489038 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 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

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)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to managers having clear oversight of records and ensuring incidents of restraint are clearly recorded and evaluated, ensuring they are appropriate and proportionate.

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Requirement Due date

This also relates to managers ensuring that fire doors are kept closed. 20 March 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 monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children;

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Requirement Due date

the child’s placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance; 20 March 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC489038 7 so far as reasonably practicable in the light of the child’s age and understanding, the child is informed in advance of the intention to do the monitoring or surveillance; and

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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)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, managers and leaders must not use CCTV in the home unless agreed by the court. If using it outside the home, this must be risk assessed and regularly reviewed with consent from those with parental responsibility.

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Requirement Due date

This also relates to the use of bedroom door sensors and the fobbed door system. When in use, there should be agreement with the placing authority, and it should be detailed in the child’s relevant plans and kept under regular review.

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Requirement Due date

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

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure damage to the home is identified and rectified in a timely way and that children have privacy when in their bedrooms. 20 March 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC489038 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: SC489038 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: My Life - My Choice Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 22a Albert Street, Oswaldtwistle, Accrington BB5 3NB

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Andrea Brighouse

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Inspectors

Jennifer Quest, Social Care Inspector Sarah Probert, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC489038 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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