Children's home run by North Lakes Children’s Services Limited in Cumberland

Inspection report for children’s home: SC416599 1 SC416599 Registered provider: North Lakes Children’s Service Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is one of several homes owned and operated by a private organisation. This home provides care for up to five children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 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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Information about this children’s home

The inspector only inspected the social care provision at this site.

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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

Date of last inspection: 7 December 2022

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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: SC416599 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/12/2022 Full Good 07/06/2021 Full Good 23/10/2019 Full Outstanding 25/04/2018 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC416599 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have positive experiences while living in this home. They are supported by a nurturing, knowledgeable staff team to make progress in all areas of their lives. A parent said, ‘I am very proud of the young man he is becoming.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The views of children are central to their care-planning. Records are written to the children and demonstrate the work that is undertaken with them to understand their previous trauma. This is helped by an independent psychologist who works with children and adults to help children develop resilience as they move towards adulthood. Key-work sessions are individualised, regular and link with children’s care plans. This gives children structure and stability while addressing their individual needs and risks.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Family time is supported by the staff, who ensure that children’s views are central to the development of these relationships, at a pace that is comfortable for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Hobbies are seen as important. Children are encouraged to join groups that they choose, for example in sport and theatre, to help develop their confidence, socialisation and health. Children’s general health is taken seriously, and the home has access to a registered nurse who ensures that health needs and advice are addressed. The nurse ensures that medication is safely administered and that records are accurate. In one medical report, a recommendation for additional vitamins had not been addressed or added to the child’s health plan.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Behaviour is managed effectively and rewards are used to encourage positive behaviour. Physical holds are used only as a last resort and have not been needed for a considerable length of time. This shows progress for children and their understanding of their own thoughts and feelings as well as those of others.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are aware of how to complain. Records show that the last recorded complaint from a child was investigated thoroughly, but do not show that the outcome of the complaint was fed back to the child or their response to this. This means that the child may not have been offered the opportunity to take their complaint further if they wished.

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

Risks to children are known and understood by the adults caring for them, who are helped to manage these through clear strategies in up-to-date risk-management plans. However, the evaluation of risk is not based on any identified criteria. This means that assessments of risk and subsequent ratings may not always be fully accurate. Inspection report for children’s home: SC416599 4 Children said that they feel safe in the home. They can talk to staff and tell them about worries, concerns or situations that they have found themselves in, including those online, that may result in harm. This means that staff can help children to manage situations that occur and to understand how to increase their own ability to keep themselves safe.

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

Children rarely go missing from the home. However, this was not always the case, and records detail the plans that were followed to find and return children safely.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by an effective manager, who was previously the deputy manager, offering a level of consistency and stability to staff and children. She is supported by a new deputy manager and a small core staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is aware of the strengths of her team and has plans in place to develop the staff’s practice and the home environment. Team meetings are regular and used to share information and improve staff practice, including that of members of the team working overnight.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are suitably qualified and there is a training programme in place to ensure that they have the necessary skills to meet the complex and challenging needs of the children in their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervision is regular and details reflection and challenge to practice as well as discussion about the children to help improve their lives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff and professionals linked to the service said that the manager is supportive and available. She maintains a monitoring system to track children’s progress and the general running of the home and ensures that records are accurate and completed in a timely manner. Inspection report for children’s home: SC416599 5

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Statutory requirement

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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the calculation of risk is based on agreed criteria. 31 March 2024

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff follow up any recommendations made in children’s medical reports. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 34, paragraph 7.18)  The registered person should ensure that feedback on the outcome is given to any child making a complaint and that their response is recorded. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.13)

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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: SC416599 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: North Lakes Children’s Service Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Malvern View, Hanbury Road, Stoke Prior, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire B60 4AD

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Inspector

Susan Atkinson-Millmoor, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC416599 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 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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