Children's Home run by Lifetime Opportunities Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC063103 1 SC063103 Registered provider: Lifetime Opportunities Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private provider. It provides care for up to five children. The home’s statement of purpose states that children living in the home may have learning difficulties, autism spectrum disorder and may display unwanted behaviours. There were four children living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in February 2024.

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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

Date of last inspection: 7 February 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: SC063103 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/02/2023 Full Good 21/03/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 30/06/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 03/12/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC063103 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There have been no changes of children living at the home since the previous inspection as a result children are settled, and this allows them to make good progress. One child who is approaching 18 is currently in the process of moving back home to live with their mum which is what the child wants, overnight visits have commenced, and these are going well.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children are making good progress with their education. The staff work closely with schools to identify targets for the children, this consistent approach ensures that the children have the best chance of achieving. One child who has significantly complex communication needs has been supported in a sensitive and nurturing way which has resulted in them sitting examinations and finding a love for art.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Regardless of the children’s additional needs the staff work hard to provide them with the same opportunities as that of their peers. One child was supported in the lead up to their prom, where they chose their suit, requested a trip to the barbers and looked up dancing videos online. For other children they have been on activities with friends that they made at the dance club they attend, and they attend after school clubs. This ensures that children can continue to develop their social skills and not become socially isolated.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff have high aspirations for children and want them to achieve. A robust approach to setting, monitoring, and reviewing children’s individual targets means that they can be quickly changed if needed to ensure that they are appropriate, and children are making progress in their communication and life skills. One social worker said that the children’s progress has been ‘amazing’. However, not all children’s needs are identified as a target that can be worked towards, for example one child is not yet working towards using the toilet independently.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are listened to, and their voice is important. There have been two suggestions from children, following a piece of work around children understanding how to complain, these have been responded too quickly and in a way the child understands. Children are involved in their care planning and encouraged to put their views forward in their reviews through ‘my life my say’ booklets.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is spacious and has room for children to pursue their own interests. It is well resourced to meet individual needs. Developing and supporting children’s communication is important to the staff and there are lots of resources readily available for children. Additionally, staff use Makaton and encourage children to do the same to compliment verbal communication. However, one child has not been referred for Speech and Language Therapy. This is a missed opportunity to support the child with their communication. Inspection report for children’s home: SC063103 4 Children’s physical health needs are well met and, in some instances, have improved. For example, one child no longer requires dental work due to an improvement in their oral hygiene. Another child is supported daily to tolerate wearing their glasses. This means that children are encouraged to stay healthy.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff support the children to maintain relationships with their families. Families who can visit are welcomed and enjoy spending time in the home with their children. When children have suffered bereavements, the staff have supported children with these sensitively and thought of creative ways to encourage children to remember loved ones.

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

Children are supported by staff that understand their risks and they are guided by thorough plans that are regularly reviewed. Staff aid children’s understanding of risk using effective strategies in line with their individual communication needs. The use of emotion boards and social stories help children feel safe as a result.

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

The manager follows robust safer recruitment processes and when there have been concerns these have been investigated and assessed thoroughly to ensure that staff are suitable to work with the children.

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

Incidents of restraint are rare, and the manager’s review ensures that meaningful changes are made to children’s experiences, so that the likelihood of a restraint being needed again is reduced. The manager also identifies shortfalls in staff practice and recording when necessary. However, on one occasion a staff member did not recognise that preventing a child from accessing a room should have been recorded as the use of restrictive practice.

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

Similarly, incidents are rare, this means that staff are skilled in de-escalating situations and know the children well. Children are spoken to after incidents to ensure that they are well, and their views are captured. Children are monitored and first aid is administered when needed, however staff have not always sought advice from a trained medical professional after a child has harmed themself.

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good

The manager is suitably experienced and is also the registered manager of another of the company’s homes. She is supported by a recently appointed assistant manager who knows the children well.

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good

The staff team has been relatively stable since the last inspection. However, there have been occasions when there have been more agency staff than permanent staff supporting the children. Although the agency staff are consistent and have worked with the children for some time, this limits the support and experiences afforded to children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC063103 5 The staff have completed the mandatory training required and some additional training such as Makaton and Autism Spectrum Disorder to support the children’s needs. However, the manager has not sought specialised training for the staff that would help them to support one child more effectively with their communication.

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good

Team meetings do take place and children’s progress and experience are discussed when they happen. However, as the meetings are not taking place frequently, there is limited opportunity and protected time for reflection to ensure that the care is of a high standard.

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good

The manager has recently supported the service being awarded accreditation by the National Autistic Society. This is an achievement and highlights the positive work that the staff are doing with autistic children.

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good

Staff receive supervision and appraisal. However, there is not a clear record of this which makes it difficult to ensure they are held regularly. Additionally, although agency staff have a dedicated guide to the home and the children to support them while working with the children, they too are not receiving regular supervision.

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good

The manager uses review systems that support her oversight of the children’s progress and staff development and staff practice. Staff do report when they have concerns about staff practice. However, on one occasion, there was a delay in this being reported to the manager. The manager took appropriate action once received and addressed shortfalls in staff practice with both the staff involved and the team swiftly so that there was no impact on children.

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good

Professionals are complimentary of the support provided by staff so that children achieve. They say that the staff are good advocates for the children and their attendance at meetings and communication is good. One social worker said, ‘I couldn’t sing their praises more.’ Inspection report for children’s home: SC063103 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 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 any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(v))

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Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to staff obtaining medical advice if a child harms themselves. 26 April 2024

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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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

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well- being; 26 April 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC063103 7 that each child has access to such dental, medical, nursing, psychiatric and psychological advice, treatment and other services as the child may require. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to working with services to promote children’s continence.

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Requirement Due date

This further relates to ensuring that all services that can support children have been considered and appropriate referrals are made.

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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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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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)(c)(d)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to the registered person ensuring that no more than half of the staff are from an agency.

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Requirement Due date

This also relates to the registered person ensuring that all staff, including agency staff, are supervised regularly and a record is kept.

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Requirement Due date

This also relates to the registered person ensuring that all staff have the appropriate training required to support children with their complex and individual needs.

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Requirement Due date

Additionally, this relates to having regular team meetings. 26 April 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that— 26 April 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC063103 8 within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(1)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to the registered person ensuring that any restrictive practice including preventing access is recorded as a measure of control. Inspection report for children’s home: SC063103 9

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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: SC063103 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Lifetime Opportunities Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Windsor House, Bayshill Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL50 3AT

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Shona Wands Alderson

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Inspector

Kerri Lynch, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC063103 11 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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