Children's home run by Care Afloat Ltd in West Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC062268 1 SC062268 Registered provider: Care Afloat Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is one of several homes owned by a private provider. The home provides care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, three children were living in the home. Two of the children spoke with the inspector about their experiences living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 25 November 2012. She is also registered to manage another home owned by the provider, in close proximity to this 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 outstanding

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 24 January 2023

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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: SC062268 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/01/2023 Full Good 08/06/2021 Full Good 19/11/2019 Full Good 11/09/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC062268 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make significant progress in all areas of their lives living in the home. They are helped to develop positive, meaningful relationships with staff, who care about them and provide consistency and stability.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children attend education full time. Staff have endeavoured to find education provisions that meet the needs of each child. Consequently, children enjoy attending education and have future career goals in mind. This helps children to gain important skills and to be ambitious for their futures.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s individualities are nurtured. Staff support children to experience activities that develop their interests, such as golfing and snooker. This helps children to access new opportunities and to gain confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children can share their wishes and feelings confidently. They meet regularly with staff, who support them to share their views. Staff advocate for the children to ensure that their voices are heard. This enables children to feel listened to and they know that their views are valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are helped to spend time with people who are important to them. Staff have established relationships with parents and carers to ensure that communication is effective. Staff facilitate activities for parents and their children to enjoy together, building their connection and making shared positive memories.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is modern and homely. At the time of the inspection, some rooms were being redecorated to ensure that all areas of the home are well maintained. Children’s bedrooms are personalised to reflect their interests, including wall art and musical instruments. This ensures that children can develop a sense of belonging and pride in the home.

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

There is a consistent approach to safeguarding and children are safeguarded effectively by staff in this home. Consequently, risks for child have significantly reduced since they moved into the home.

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

Incidents of children going missing or needing to be held to keep them safe are rare. When they do occur, staff respond effectively to minimise any risks. Staff hold key conversations with children following any incidents. This ensures that children have the opportunity to talk about what is going on for them.

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

Managers and staff work closely with external agencies to reduce risks for children. Children are supported to successfully engage with support from professionals outside the home and there is a coordinated response to keeping children safe. Inspection report for children’s home: SC062268 4 Although there have not been any incidents where staff have not responded effectively to a safeguarding issue, risk-management plans do not always clearly identify children’s risks and the strategies that staff need to follow. This is a missed opportunity to ensure that all members of staff are equipped with the information they need to keep children safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is highly experienced and holds the relevant qualification. She has an exceptional understanding of her role. She has high expectations of the team, is aspirational for children and is committed to providing consistently high standards of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager consistently goes over and above to meet the needs of the children in her care. She is held in high regard by children, fellow managers, staff and professionals. The children trust her, and she provides them with an environment in which they thrive. Staff benefit from her strong leadership and feel confident and supported in their roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is innovative in creating new ways to support team development. She has developed existing supervision tools to further enhance reflective practice. Team meetings are also used as an opportunity to explore staff practice and to enhance skills. This ensures that children receive consistently high- quality care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff have access to a range of training opportunities and also receive training that is specific to the needs of the children in their care. This ensures that staff have the skills to respond to the individual needs of children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers have exceptional oversight of practice in the home. They have implemented systems of monitoring that highlight opportunities to further develop the service and to improve outcomes for children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC062268 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that risk-management plans clearly state the identified risks and strategies to be used by staff to reduce the risks. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.34)

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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: SC062268 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Care Afloat Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 158-160 Birkrig, Digmoor Parade, Skelmersdale WN8 9HP

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Michael Fletcher

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Inspector

Sarah Gilbert, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC062268 7 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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