Children's home run by Lioncare Ltd Operating as The Lioncare Group in Epping Forest

Inspection report for children’s home: SC014235 1 SC014235 Registered provider: Lioncare Ltd Operating as The Lioncare Group Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is privately owned and is registered to provide care for up to seven children who experience social, emotional and mental health difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 25 February 2016.

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Information about this children’s home

There were seven children living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC014235 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/03/2023 Full Outstanding 02/06/2021 Full Outstanding 09/12/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 07/05/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC014235 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The care and support that children receive are consistently good. The staff provide child-centred and highly nurturing care. As a result, children feel supported and part of a family-type home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that care and support plans for children provide a comprehensive picture and sense of the child, their uniqueness and needs. Staff understand the importance of reading and updating these plans to ensure that children receive up- to-date, individualised care. Consequently, the staff have been able to help the children make important progress from the time they move into the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children attend school full time and are making progress. Staff work closely with the children’s school to support and maintain their school place. For example, one child is able to return home every day when struggling with the social aspect of school lunchtimes. Staff understand the importance of children following their individual interests. They encourage children to engage in a variety of activities of their choice outside of the home. This builds the children’s social skills, confidence and self-esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children describe feeling safe. The relationships between the children and staff are warm and loving overall, in accordance with the therapeutic ethos. However, on one occasion, it was noted that a senior staff member did not respond to a child in a manner consistent with the service’s therapeutic approach. This could potentially have a detrimental impact on the child’s positive sense of identity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage the children to participate in the running of the home, and the children’s views are sought in daily house meetings. Children are comfortable to express their feelings safely because they know their views are valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the children’s health needs. They are proactive to ensure the children attend all relevant health appointments. However, on one occasion, they did not seek immediate support for a child who was involved in an accident. Such delay could potentially put the health and well-being of children at risk.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is generally well maintained. However, some damaged curtain rails and paintwork require repair. The children’s bedrooms have been personalised, which contributes to the children’s sense of belonging. Children take pride in their personal spaces and are supported by staff to maintain these. Inspection report for children’s home: SC014235 4

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

Staff have a good understanding of children’s individual risks and vulnerabilities. Staff create and regularly review detailed individualised risk management plans. These guide staff in how to keep children safe. Staff manage risk in a way that supports children to learn how to keep themselves safe.

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

Children have not gone missing from the home since the last inspection. Staff have completed some effective work to address the heightened risks of the older children going missing from home as they gain more independence. Staff understand the heightened vulnerabilities of future exploitation for children who have been abused and traumatised in the past.

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

In the two months before this inspection, levels of physical restraint of children increased. Managers acknowledge that December and January were challenging periods for staff and children. Staff have carried out reflective work with the children to explore the possible reasons for this. This partnership approach between staff and the children has quickly led to a significant reduction in the severity and frequency of incidents. When incidents do occur, staff maintain detailed and clear records. Managers complete reflective debriefs with both children and staff. This enables learning for both staff and children. As a result, staff are able to adapt behaviour management approaches to better support the children.

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

There have been many changes in the home. These have included staff changes and changes to children living at the home. The potential destabilising influence of this was not predicted by leaders effectively. However, the manager has since recognised this and has worked to restore a calm and productive space for the children.

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

Leaders have worked closely with safeguarding partners to find safe and effective ways to support children who make high levels of unfounded allegations. Shared protocols that prioritise the safety of children and balance risk for staff are in development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager and senior leaders are committed to ensuring that the children receive the care and support that they need. They lead the staff team well to ensure that their vision is shared by the staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is held in high regard by the staff team. Staff describe receiving regular and meaningful supervision. Morale within the staff team is good. Despite the challenges they have faced in recent months, staff state that they enjoy coming to work and feel supported by the team and senior managers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is very experienced. Staff and professionals describe her as approachable. She and the deputy manager value staff and have worked hard to Inspection report for children’s home: SC014235 5 create a relaxed and happy atmosphere at the home. Staff are encouraged to see their jobs as a career and are given opportunities to progress in the organisation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children’s records are maintained to a high standard, with strong management oversight. The manager works transparently with agencies and provides detailed reports on all matters relating to the care of the children, including safeguarding notifications.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that effective systems are in place to make sure that staff working with children are safely recruited. Staff are provided with a suitable induction and ongoing training to support them in their role. Inspection report for children’s home: SC014235 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 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. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)) 27 March 2024

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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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

strive to gain each child’s respect and trust. (Regulation 11 (1)(a) (2)(a)(viii)) 27 March 2024

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that children live in a warm and welcoming environment with a homely feel. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) Inspection report for children’s home: SC014235 7

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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: SC014235 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Lioncare Ltd Operating as The Lioncare Group

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Lioncare House, 58a Livingstone Road, Hove, Sussex BN3 3WL

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Inspectors

Jane Balfe, Social Care Inspector Peter Jackson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC014235 9 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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