Children's Home run by Lonsdale Care Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: 1274089 1 Registered provider: Lonsdale Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private provider operates this home. The home is registered to care for up to four children with social and emotional difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in May 2018, and the manager registered in December 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, there were four children living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1274089 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/03/2023 Full Outstanding 24/02/2022 Full Outstanding 07/01/2020 Full Outstanding 22/11/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1274089 3

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outstanding

Children live in a home that is maintained to an exceptionally high standard. Children’s photos are proudly displayed on the walls, which makes the environment feel welcoming and homely. Children’s bedrooms reflect their individual likes and interests, and when changes are requested by children, these are carried out.

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outstanding

Children’s relationships with staff are excellent, and their sense of belonging and stability is evident. On their return from school, the children are relaxed and keen to share the events of their school day with the staff who care for them. Mealtimes are relaxed and informal, and they provide an opportunity for children to talk about their day and their plans for the coming weekend.

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outstanding

Children attend school and college, and their achievements are a cause for celebration. One child, who has missed a number of years of education, is now attending college and has been recognised as a ‘student of the year’. Children are aspirational for their futures because they know that staff believe in them.

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outstanding

Children are in good health and are supported to maintain this. One child, who was fearful of health appointments, has been sensitively encouraged to feel less anxious about attending the dentist and optician. The child now proudly wears their glasses every day.

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outstanding

Children’s experiences are enhanced from living in the home. They take part in activities that they never had the opportunity to do before. One child’s teacher said, ‘[Name of child]’s world has opened up, which has increased their communication and confidence.’

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outstanding

Children are supported to develop their independence in line with their age and understanding. One child, who is being supported to move out of the home in line with their assessed needs, has passed their compulsory basic training to ride a moped. This gives the child more travel options and independence to attend college and their apprenticeship when living alone.

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outstanding

Children feel safe and are confident that the staff will protect them from harm. Children can identify staff members who they can talk to if they have any concerns. They are confident that staff will listen and support them to work through any difficulties they may have. This means that children feel valued and secure.

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outstanding

Children have individualised risk assessments that are regularly reviewed to accurately reflect their risks. Staff understand the risks children face inside and Inspection report for children’s home: 1274089 4 outside of the home, and they take effective action to manage and reduce these. Targeted key-work sessions increase children’s understanding, and this has successfully reduced risks in a number of areas.

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outstanding

Children have clear, consistent and appropriate boundaries that they understand and respect. Children receive positive consequences for their good behaviour, which includes a high level of verbal praise, increasing children’s self-esteem and confidence.

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outstanding

Children have bespoke missing-from-home plans, and staff are aware of the procedures to follow should any child go missing from home. Since the last inspection, there have been no missing-from-home incidents.

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outstanding

Staff understand children’s behaviour, and they use appropriate strategies in response to children’s distress at the earliest opportunity to prevent any escalation. When a child is held, this is only a last resort and takes place in line with the home’s policies and procedures. Children and staff involved are given the opportunity to reflect on incidents, and any learning is shared with the full staff team. There has only been one occasion where a child has had to be held since the last inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers are confident, ambitious practitioners who lead the staff team in order to make positive changes to children’s lives. They have a wealth of experience that they share with the staff, who apply this learning to their daily interactions with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers know the children exceptionally well, and they are aspirational for them. Staff identify barriers to children’s achievements and take appropriate action to address and reduce the impact of these on children’s overall development. They have successfully secured an apprenticeship for one child, which will facilitate their progress towards their chosen career.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff team is stable, and there is a high number of qualified staff in the home. Those who do not have the relevant qualification are completing this. Staff work collaboratively together and feel well supported by managers and each other.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers and staff receive regular supervision that gives them the opportunity to reflect on their practice. Annual appraisals take account of feedback from children, colleagues and external professionals. However, the workforce development plan does not fully outline the procedures for staff induction and performance management.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

All staff have completed mandatory training. Additional training specific to children’s needs and safeguarding children, such as autism, county lines and child sexual exploitation training, has also been delivered to staff. Inspection report for children’s home: 1274089 5 The manager works closely with partner agencies to gather information about children from those professionals who know the children well. A deputy headteacher said, ‘The manager has worked with staff at school to identify and learn the strategies that are used effectively in school.’ This has ensured that the child receives predictable and consistent care. As a result, the child is now settled at the home despite having previously moved home a number of times. This is remarkable progress for the child. Inspection report for children’s home: 1274089 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should have a workforce plan that details the processes and agreed timescales for staff to achieve induction and the process for managing and improving poor performance. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)

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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: 1274089 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Lonsdale Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 34 Broadacre, Caton, Lancaster LA2 9NH

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Inspector

Sarah Jackson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1274089 8 regulates and inspects 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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