Children's Home run by Lancashire County Council in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC440309 1 SC440309 Registered provider: Lancashire County Council

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a local authority and is registered to provide care for up to six children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in January 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

There were six children living at the home at the time of this inspection.

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This monitoring visit

The assurance inspection on 26 March 2024 judged this home to have serious and widespread concerns. This was in relation to the care and protection of children and the leadership and management of the home. Compliance notices were served in relation to Regulations 12 and 13.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was undertaken to review the steps that the provider has taken to address the shortfalls concerning safeguarding and the leadership and management of the home.

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This monitoring visit

The management team has taken steps to increase staff’s confidence. Staff have now completed relevant training. There has been some work done to develop the team members and help them feel equipped to care safely for the children.

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This monitoring visit

The manager’s oversight has increased and there is analysis of incidents, including the use of physical interventions. Staff have been offered additional training on physical intervention to help them understand when this is appropriate and necessary.

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This monitoring visit

There have been some safeguarding issues. These have been managed in line with guidance and the manager has analysed each incident. The manager has carried out Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC440309 2 work with staff about what lessons have been learned. This has meant positive changes to staff’s practice.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s engagement with education has increased. There is also a shift plan for each day and planned activities for each child each day. This means that children have structure to each day and meaningful activities.

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This monitoring visit

The staff-to-child ratio has increased, which means there are enough staff to plan activities outside the home in the evenings. Children are occupied in education during the day and are supported to have fun in the evenings. This has led to a reduction in incidents.

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This monitoring visit

There have been no further incidents of children going missing from the home in this period.

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This monitoring visit

It is Ofsted’s view that the provider has successfully met the compliance notices. The restriction of accommodation notice will be removed with immediate effect. The requirements set at the last inspection will be considered at the next full inspection. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC440309 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/11/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 22/08/2023 Full Inadequate 21/03/2023 Full Good 30/11/2021 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC440309 4

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

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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

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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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;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

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Requirement Due date

maintain regular contact with each child’s education and training provider, including engaging with the provider and the placing authority to support the child’s education and training and to maximise the child’s achievement;

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Requirement Due date

raise any need for further assessment or specialist provision in relation to a child with the child’s education or training provider and the child’s placing authority;

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Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access 12 May 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC440309 5 educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible;

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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)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(ix))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child—

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)) 12 May 2024

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC440309 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Lancashire County Council

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspectors

Cathy Wilkins, Social Care Inspector Julie Elder, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC440309 7 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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