Children's Home run by Lifetime Opportunities Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC411046 1 SC411046 Registered provider: Lifetime Opportunities Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private provider. It provides care for up to three children who may have learning difficulties, autism spectrum disorder and/or display challenging behaviour. There were two children living in the home at the time of the inspection.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in February 2024.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 23 February 2023

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC411046 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/02/2023 Full Good 04/01/2022 Interim Declined in effectiveness 22/06/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 04/02/2020 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC411046 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both children have moved into this home from another home in the company that required substantial renovation work. The children were supported to move with clear plans in place that included visits and a sleepover. Children were supported to understand what was happening with the use of photos and social stories. As a result, children were well prepared and have settled into their new home well.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are happy living at the home, and they have positive relationships with the staff that are based on trust. The staff team provide a nurturing and warm environment for the children. One professional said, ‘The children are cared about, not cared for.’

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is well maintained and nicely decorated. Children have access to a lot of toys, books, and games, as well as a large garden with a bucket swing, trampette and mud garden.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both children attend education full time and are making progress. One child achieved an award for the most improved communication, this child was preverbal and is now able to verbalise her wishes and feelings. The staff have supported both children with significant transitions, including going from school to college. The support provided is child centred and prepares children for change and ensures that they are fully involved.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff ensure that learning continues in the home to support the children’s development. This includes working with children on targets set by education, speech and language therapists and occupational therapists. The staff’s high aspirations for the children mean that children continue to achieve and succeed.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff ensure that children are included in their care and that their voice matters. Children are supported to be a part of their reviews and other meetings that affect them. This is done in a way that children understand so that they can fully participate.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are well met and there are appropriate services involved. Children are prepared for appointments so that any anxiety can be reduced and managed proactively. The manager ensures that there are best interest discussions when children may be unable to consent to treatment. This ensures that children are getting the services they need.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy lots of different activities. one child attends a dance class and has medals on display in their bedroom. Other activities include cooking lessons, trips to the park and trampoline parks. Inspection report for children’s home: SC411046 4 Time with family and friends is supported by the staff. The manager understands the importance of these relationships and has recently advocated for a child to have more time with their family. One child who has experienced a bereavement, has been supported with this in a way she can understand. The staff continue to support them to celebrate special occasions with their loved one in mind.

p.3

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

Children are safe and well cared for by staff that understand children’s individual needs and risks. As a result, incidents and the use of restraint are rare. When physical restraint is used, it is appropriate and well recorded. The manager has a good oversight of the records and offers guidance to staff. However, the use of a mechanical restraint for one child is not being recorded by staff until it is included in the child’s education, health and care plan.

p.4

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

The manager understands that there are restrictions placed on the children on a day-to-day basis and the impact of these on children. In the absence of a court appointed deprivation of liberty order, the manager has recorded all current restrictions, the rationale for these and how she plans to reduce these. This means that children’s privacy, access and restrictions are continually assessed and reviewed to ensure that they are the least restrictive option.

p.4

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

There has been a medication error where a child was given a dose of their prescribed medication when they should have been on a break. This was quickly identified, and the staff obtained medical advice and involved the relevant people. The manager ensured that the staff member involved completed the training again and that their competency was reassessed. There have been no further errors.

p.4

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

There has been one complaint made by a member of a child’s family. The manager has acted appropriately to reassure the family member and make any required changes to plans, ensuring that the staff are aware of these. The manager also shared the complaint with the child’s social worker.

p.4

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

The manager ensures that safer recruitment processes are followed so that only adults deemed suitable are working with the children.

p.4

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

The staff understand their role with regards to reporting any safeguarding concerns to the manager. However, they do not know the role of the local authority designated officer. This has not had an impact on the children as the manager has taken the lead.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is also the registered manager of another of the company’s homes. The manager is suitably experienced in supporting children with autism spectrum disorder and learning disabilities. As a result, the manager is a good role model to the staff team. The manager has recently supported with the company being Inspection report for children’s home: SC411046 5 accredited by the National Autistic Society, which shows the positive impact that it is having on autistic children.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff say they are well supported by the manager. However, supervisions for permanent staff are not being completed regularly in line with the workforce development plan and there is not always a record of these.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is keen to develop her staff team and there has recently been an internal promotion. In addition to this, the manager has clear development plans in place for staff to progress. This supports staff to feel valued and motivated.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The recruitment of new staff is ongoing and agency staff regularly work in the home. When possible, the manager ensures that the agency staff are consistent, so they know the children well. The manager also ensures that agency staff are suitable to work in the home, and that they are provided with appropriate inductions and supervision.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager attends regular management meetings. However, senior and team meetings are not held regularly. Therefore, opportunities to discuss the children’s needs and plans as a team is infrequent. Inspection report for children’s home: SC411046 6

p.5

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.

p.6

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—

p.6

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This also relates to the registered person ensuring that all staff are supervised and meet as a team regularly. 3 May 2024

p.6

Requirement Due date

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—

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

p.6

Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure; 3 May 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC411046 7 the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

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

p.7

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”)—

p.7

Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

p.7

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))

p.7

Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to agreed mechanical restraints being recorded until their use is included in the child’s EHCP.

p.7

Recommendation

 The registered manager should ensure that individual adults in the home are engaged in the safeguarding culture of the home so they understand what they would need to do if they found other staff misusing or abusing their position to the detriment of the safety of a child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.14)

p.7

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: SC411046 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Lifetime Opportunities Limited

p.8

Children’s home details

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

p.8

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Shona Wands Alderson

p.8

Inspector

Kerri Lynch, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC411046 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

p.8

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.9

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.9