Children's Home run by Therapeutic Care Limited in Lancashire

Inspection for report children’s home: 2744087 1 Registered provider: Therapeutic Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately operated and provides care for up to two children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children were living at the home at the time of this 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: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection for report children’s home: 2744087 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are two children currently living in the home. The home environment is warm and welcoming and there are a lot of photos of the children around the home. Each child has their own bedroom and has the freedom to personalise their bedroom to their taste. This helps children to develop a sense of permanence and belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children move into the home, the manager works with other professionals to ensure that the most appropriate planning takes place. Staff welcome children to the home sensitively and do all that they can to help to ease any anxieties they may have.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is a strong, nurturing and positive culture within the staff team. Staff spend time with children and know them well, and they are warm and caring towards them. As a result, children feel happy and cared for. One child said, ‘I think this home is 10 out of 10 and it is the best home I have ever lived in. I really like the staff.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are provided with a therapeutic care and support package. The manager and staff work with a clinical team that provides regular guidance and support. The staff are suitably trained to deliver this specific model of care. As a result, children are being helped to develop skills and strategies to manage their own conflicts and difficult feelings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff have high aspirations for children and encourage them to do well in education. Both children attend school and are making progress from their starting points. When there are barriers to education, the manager advocates strongly for children and works together with other professionals to overcome these.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide children with opportunities to experience a wide variety of activities outside the home. When children have specific interests, they are supported to take these up as a hobby. One child said, ‘I have been having snowboarding lessons. I have got better, and I am now planning a trip away with staff to go snowboarding in Bulgaria.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s relationships with family and friends are promoted. Children are supported to see their families in line with their plans. Staff recognise that seeing family members can sometimes be difficult for children, so they ensure that children are supported to work through any feelings they may have.

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

The manager and staff team know the children’s risks and understand them. Together, they identify and appropriately assess new risks. The manager and staff Inspection for report children’s home: 2744087 3 ensure that there are risk-management plans in place for each child. However, not all plans provide clear guidance for staff when managing specific risks.

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

There have been occasions when children have displayed behaviours of concern. Records are not always detailed, and there are occasions when it is unclear what action staff have taken and what advice has been sought externally. Records are reviewed by the manager; however, not all records are subject to scrutiny. As a result, opportunities to recognise the need for additional direct work with children or learning for staff are not always identified.

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

There is a consequence and reward system in place in the home. The manager is reflective in his approach when evaluating consequences for children’s unwanted behaviour and their effectiveness. The system promotes and encourages positive behaviour. It is also used to support children to understand how their behaviour can affect others.

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

Staff use effective de-escalation techniques and are proactive and creative in their approach. Strategies are specific to the needs of each child and are regularly reviewed with the home’s linked therapist. As a result, incidents and risks are reducing. One social worker said, ‘[Name of child] had a high number of incidents and risks prior to moving into the home and this has significantly reduced.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is child-focused, passionate and ambitious; he leads by example. He has high aspirations for children and what they can achieve. He also has high expectations of staff and their development. The staff team is stable and staff work well together to provide a consistent and stable home for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager understands the importance of effective partnership working. He nurtures positive working relationships with professionals and family members. This contributes towards children’s positive experiences in the home. One social worker said, ‘The manager and staff always keep in touch with me; communication is excellent.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive supervision sessions regularly and this is in line with the home’s statement of purpose. The supervision sessions are well planned and structured, and they are purposeful and reflective. Staff value their supervision sessions and feel supported by the manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive an extensive training package. This consists of mandatory, specialist and bespoke training to meet the needs of the children. Staff spoke highly of the training. They said that they value the training they receive and that it helps them to continuously develop their practice. Inspection for report children’s home: 2744087 4

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that, when implementing new risk assessments, the strategies included are clear, directive and scenario-based. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)  The registered person should ensure that direct work is carried out with children following all incidents where children have displayed self-injurious behaviours. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.9)  The registered person should ensure that, when children have displayed behaviours of concern, the records of these incidents are reviewed, to ensure that any possible learning outcomes are identified to support the development of staff practice. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.23)  The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s

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Recommendations

policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Specifically, ensure that daily records are detailed and provide a clear account of action taken and advice given by external health services. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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 for report children’s home: 2744087 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Therapeutic Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Errigal House, Avroe Crescent, Blackpool FY4 2DP

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Inspector

Kimmy Feeley, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection for report children’s home: 2744087 6 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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