Children's Home run by Lancashire County Council in Lancashire

Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC039683 1 SC039683

p.1

Registered provider: Lancashire County Council

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children's home

The home is operated and managed by a local authority. It is registered to provide care for up to six children with social and emotional difficulties. There are six children currently living in the home.

p.1

Information about this children's home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2023.

p.1

Information about this children's home

Date of last inspection: 12 December 2023

p.1

Information about this children's home

Judgement at last inspection: Requires improvement to be good

p.1

Information about this children's home

Enforcement action since last inspection: None

p.1

Information about this inspection

At this inspection the inspector evaluated:

p.1

Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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'. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC039683 2

p.1

Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

There are six children who have remained living in this home since the last inspection.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

There have been some improvements in the appearance of the home. The two children who were awaiting their bedrooms being decorated, now have redecorated bedrooms. One child was very involved in the design of his new room. This helps children feel more settled and invested in the home.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Staff are working with the children in listening to their wishes and feelings. When children wish to be identified by a particular gender pronoun staff are now respecting this. This helps children feel understood and listened to.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Childrens engagement with education is variable. Some children are attending and enjoying education, but some are excluded or not attending full time. One child is not in any education or employment. Staff are helping the children try new educational activities, but routine attendance of education for all children has not been achieved. This requirement is restated.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Some of the children’s records refer to children in a way that is not helpful to them and may highlight their difference as a child looked after.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Some children have stated that they do not attend activities, because of insufficient staffing. The staff child ratio is low. Children have attended some activities, but not as many as they would have liked.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

There have been some incidents in the home where children have caused significant property damage. Staff felt it was not safe to physically hold children and police were called to manage children’s behaviour. Following these incidents, a safety plan has been put into place involving partner agencies to help ensure there is no reoccurrence.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

When children go missing from home staff do now look for them and the response is more effective. Records about children missing from home are inconsistent. Staff do not always make a record of what children are wearing. The manager has planned to introduce new paperwork to help prompt staff into recording in the most helpful way for children.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

There has been one minor incidence of bullying in the home. A child has started to receive support that will help them manage their behaviour. Staff have worked hard to ensure that children are not subject to bullying behaviour. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC039683 3 The manager has made significant improvement in the way that staff are supported, including casual staff. All staff now receive regular supervision and team meetings. This means that all staff now can reflect on their work with the children.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The managers monitoring of the service is much improved. The manager has a clearer grip on how children are cared for, he recognises when there are gaps and supports staff to ensure the children feel cared for.

p.3

Findings from the inspection

The leadership team do not ensure that there is enough staff to care for the children safely and effectively. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC039683 4

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/12/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 12/09/2022 Full Good 05/05/2021 Full Good 10/02/2020 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC039683 5

p.4

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, 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.5

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

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;

p.5

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

p.5

Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

p.5

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

p.5

Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child's welfare.(Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, when children are missing from the home, ensure records are consistent and include a description of what the child is wearing and the attempts to contact and locate the child. 12 April 2024

p.5

Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— 12 April 2024 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC039683 6 that staff—

p.5

Requirement Due date

support each child's learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

p.6

Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally.

p.6

Requirement Due date

help each child who is above compulsory school age to participate in further education, training or employment and to prepare for future care, education or employment. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(ii)(iii)(v)(ix))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered provider must ensure that when children are not in education, there is clear structure and routine in place to support learning and maintain confidence.

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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home's statement of purpose;

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home's workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

p.6

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)(d)(e)(h)) 12 April 2024 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC039683 7 In particular, the registered person must ensure that there are sufficient staffing levels in the home to meet the needs of all children.

p.6

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the language used to discuss children is non stigmatising and is helpful to the child. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations, including the quality standards' page 62, paragraph 14.4) Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC039683 8

p.7

Children's home details

Registered provider: Lancashire County Council

p.8

Children's home details

Registered provider address: PO Box 78, Preston, PR1 8XJ

p.8

Inspector

Cathy Wilkins, social care inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC039683 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.

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 .

p.9

Inspector

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 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: 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