Children's home run by Lincolnshire County Council

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2707638 1 Registered provider: Lincolnshire County Council

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a local authority. The home provides a short-break service for children with disabilities. The home currently provides care for 51 children.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 5 December 2023

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: n/a

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Information about this inspection

At these inspections, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2707638 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

The home is currently led by an experienced assistant manager.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are cared for by staff who care about them. Staff were seen to be providing a high level of nurturing and reassuring support to children.

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Findings from the inspection

The home is welcoming and maintained to a high standard. The communal areas are decorated with pictures of children and staff having fun together. Children have personalised bedrooms for their individual stays and enjoy spending time in the garden with staff.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the previous inspection, there has been one allegation made by a child against staff members. The manager responded to this promptly. The manager ensured that relevant professionals were informed and that the child was spoken to. The child was encouraged to discuss their feelings. Carers were satisfied with the outcome and how the allegation was managed. This practice promotes children’s well-being within a collaborative approach.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s new risk assessments are comprehensive. They help staff to understand how they can help to keep children safe. These reflect the current level of needs for children and include measures to increase their safety. One member of staff said, ‘The change in paperwork is better. The new risk assessments are very easy for staff to understand.’

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Findings from the inspection

The manager is focused on developing staff’s skills. Experienced staff provide support to less-qualified staff. Although there are outstanding training requirements to meet the needs of the children, they have been scheduled for completion.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers now have a more robust system for monitoring all aspects of this home. These checks are wide ranging and ensure that incidents are prioritised. Management monitoring and oversight are now effective. There is management analysis, and incidents have been reviewed in a timely manner. Furthermore, debriefs have routinely taken place to ensure that incidents have been managed correctly. This supports staff and manager’s capacity to learn from incidents and to prevent recurrence.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff daily planners now record the details of staff who are working within the home. The planners showed that there had been a sufficient number of staff on duty to support children during the day and at night. The planners provide information on children’s needs and vulnerabilities. This ensures that all children’s needs have been considered and safeguards are in place during the children’s stay. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2707638 3 The managers recognise the strengths and weaknesses of the home. They have made good progress in making positive changes, and they have met most of the requirements and both recommendations made at the last inspection. Two requirements have been carried over from the last inspection. Although progress has been made, these are not yet complete.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/12/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 24/01/2023 Full Outstanding Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2707638 4

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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, 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, and if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of harm to the child. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that safeguarding measures are in place to keep children safe throughout the night.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement has been restated. 1 May 2024

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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 promotes their welfare.

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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 staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to the manager ensuring that staff have the required training to meet the individual needs of the children.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement has been restated. 1 May 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2707638 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Lincolnshire County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Lincolnshire County Council, County Offices, Newland, LINCOLN LN1 1YL

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Inspector

Linda Mason, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2707638 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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