Children's home run by Lifetime Opportunities Limited in Bolton

Inspection report children's home: SC060750 1 SC060750 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

The home is owned and managed by a private company and provides care for up to three children who may have physical disabilities, learning disabilities and/or autistic spectrum disorders. At the time of the inspection, one child was living at the home on a shared care arrangement.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in January 2023.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC060750 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/03/2023 Full Good 16/06/2021 Full Good 03/03/2020 Interim Improved effectiveness 21/05/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home: SC060750 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are well supported when moving in and out. Since the last inspection, one child has moved into the home and two children have moved out. The manager and placing authority have worked together to ensure that the children have had their wishes considered to identify the best support for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from imaginative, sensory based activities that engage and stimulate them. Staff are resourceful and creative. They actively seek opportunities for children to engage in important childhood activities, such as becoming confident on play equipment, playing games and sensory play. Additionally, children have their experiences captured in monthly summaries with photos that capture important experiences, such as birthday celebrations, trying new activities and learning new skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff know the children’s likes and dislikes very well and carefully arrange activities to suit, such as swimming, visiting beaches and trampoline parks. Consequently, these opportunities enhance children’s experiences, particularly as they previously found trips of this nature challenging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: 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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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are dedicated to promoting children’s independence by focusing on communication and self-care. By integrating these goals into individual plans, the children make significant progress. This includes improved communication, making choices and learning about feelings. Regular reviews of their objectives, along with celebrations of accomplishments involving parents and social workers, boost the children’s self-esteem and independence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager ensures that children’s care plans are up to date and appropriate for each child. Staff support children with their emotional well-being. Clear plans help to guide staff in how to care for children when they feel upset, worried or anxious. Staff are able to quickly identify when something is not right for a child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that the home is a safe and nurturing environment in which children thrive. The atmosphere in the home is calm and relaxed. Staff actively seek the children’s views before making any changes to the home. However, one child’s bathroom has not been well maintained and wear and tear has not been carried out in a timely way.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are engaged in full-time education and have all made progress. The staff and managers work very closely with education colleagues. However, one child’s education, health and care plan and personal education plan was not on file. This Inspection report for children's home: SC060750 4 means that staff may not have access to all the information required to support the child and may not fully understand the areas to help the child work on and strengthen.

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

The risks to children have reduced. Staff have a thorough knowledge of the risks in the children’s lives. Detailed strategies are in place to support children to keep themselves and others safe. The strategies are tailored to meet the needs of individual children. This approach helps them when they are struggling with their emotions.

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

Children’s care records, plans and assessments are written in a way that brings children to life. The quality of these records enhances staff’s understanding of children’s needs and the care that they provide to children.

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

Children are safe in this home. Although restrictions are in place, including locked doors, these are to prevent children from leaving and encountering potential harm. Adult ratios are carefully managed to ensure that children who require constant supervision, always have this. These measures are based on comprehensive assessments of each child’s unique needs, are carefully documented and frequently reviewed to consider their continued relevance and effectiveness in ensuring the safety of the children.

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

Significant events are low in number and always well managed. There are detailed records of all incidents and the actions taken. Staff are trained and skilled in de- escalation, meaning that physical interventions have not been used.

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

Staff work collaboratively with other professionals, parents and family members to understand children’s complex needs. Managers and staff are strong advocates for children. Staff communicate well with relevant professionals to provide an all-round approach to children’s care.

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

Staff carry out a broad range of good-quality training in safeguarding matters. There is good communication with safeguarding partners in the local authority. Managers are aware of the additional safeguarding vulnerabilities for disabled children and what those inherent risk factors may look like. Staff understand the importance of an open safeguarding culture and as a result know how to recognise, report and act on any safeguarding concerns that they may have.

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

Children with complex health and care needs are well cared for. These are accurately identified and evaluated in their assessment and care plans. There is an effective system for safely administering children’s medication. Staff regularly liaise with health professionals to ensure that children’s lifelong conditions are managed in a safe and effective way.

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good

Inspection report for children's home: SC060750 5 The manager has good support from a senior staff member. Both are child-focused and knowledgeable about the specific needs of the children, and they have built positive relationships with families and professionals. Staff say that they feel well supported.

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good

There have been some changes in the staff team. The staff team is now consistent and stable. When there have been vacancies, these have been covered by the existing staff team or staff known to children from the provider’s other homes and an agency. Staff say that the manager is approachable and that they feel valued.

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good

Staff do not have regular supervision and have not had a formal review of their practice in line with the provider’s policy. This means that staff do not have protected time to reflect on their work with the children. This has not improved since a requirement was given at the previous inspection. In addition, the manager has not held regular team meetings for staff.

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good

Children are cared for by a committed and enthusiastic staff team. Staff are either suitably qualified or enrolled on the relevant training. Staff receive ongoing mandatory training and have also received training to meet the children’s specific needs, this includes in preparation for when children move into the home.

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good

The manager shares information with other people who are important in the children’s lives. One social worker said, ‘The manager is great, – his top priority is the children [and] he keeps me informed about [name of child’s] progress and areas the staff are supporting them with. [Name of child] has made so much progress.’

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good

Leaders and managers respond quickly to complaints and make improvements as a result of investigations. They also use internal and independent monitoring on a monthly basis. This helps to improve practice and children’s care and support. Inspection report for children's home: SC060750 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 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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and

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Requirement Due date

delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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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)(a)(c)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This 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

The also relates to the registered person ensuring that staff have their performance and fitness to carry out their role formally appraised at least once annually.

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Requirement Due date

Additionally, this relates to having regular team meetings. 30 April 2024

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans; 30 April 2024 Inspection report for children's home: SC060750 7 seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs;

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans; and

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Requirement Due date

seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5 (a)(b)(c)(d)

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Requirement Due date

This relates to the registered manager ensuring that partners share children’s relevant plans. If plans are not shared in a timely way the registered manager needs to escalate to ensure that the relevant information about a child is received.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the home is maintained and that any hazards identified are quickly repaired, such as the damage to a child’s bathroom door and wall. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9).

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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: SC060750 8

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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

Jennifer Quest, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC060750 9 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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