Children's Home run by Care Afloat Ltd in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC006013 1 SC006013 Registered provider: Care Afloat Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is one of several homes owned by a private provider. It provides care for up to one child who may have social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 21 February 2022. He is also the registered manager of another home owned by the provider.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home.

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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

Date of last inspection: 24 January 2024

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC006013 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/01/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 25/04/2022 Full Good 13/03/2019 Interim Not judged 23/01/2019 Interim Not judged Inspection report for children’s home: SC006013 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is one child living in the home. The child receives consistent support from a stable staff team. This has led to the child developing confidence and making progress. The child’s parent said that they have noticed a difference in their child in that they are now talking positively about their future and the things that are going well in their life.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff know the child well. The child experiences care and support, which has enabled them to develop trusting relationships and increase their ability to form and sustain attachments. They are developing a sense of permanence and have spoken about this being their ‘forever home’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, staff have made improvements in how they encourage the child to take part in activities, which has led to the child participating in boxing, swimming and Go Karting.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has been supported to attend school on a consistent basis and education meetings take place to review the plan for the child. However, the child is refusing to attend school. The manager, the child’s social worker and the placing local authority virtual school head have challenged the current education plan to help and support the child back into school.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is in good health and has access to a range of health services in the local area. The members of the staff team encourage the child to try new foods, which is proving successful due to staff taking a patient approach and having a full understanding of the child’s individual needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Family time is supported by the staff team, which enables the child to maintain and sustain positive family connections. The child’s parent recognises how the staff have positively promoted family time and have said that they enjoy the positive relationship their child has with the staff team.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager alongside the child’s placing authority have arranged for the child to have an independent advocate as they recognise the importance of the child’s wishes and feelings being heard and represented.

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

The child’s risks are understood. Individual risk assessments address the known vulnerabilities for the child and set out what action staff should take in the event of a serious incident occurring. Risk assessments are regularly reviewed and updated to ensure that child’s safety is continually being considered.

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

Staff have an understanding of the child’s past experiences and respond with appropriate boundary setting from which the child can learn. Consequently, some of the child’s risks Inspection report for children’s home: SC006013 4 have significantly reduced. Staff have regular meaningful discussions with the child around various topics, which helps them to make informed decisions around their own safety.

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

The child receives support to manage their feelings safely. Professional curiosity has improved since the last inspection, with regular support for the staff team from the home’s therapist.

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

Staff working in the home are clear about the policies and procedures for responding to concerns about the safety of a child. The members of the staff team have strong links with partner agencies. There is effective communication with the child’s placing authority in order to ensure that information relating to the child is shared.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed effectively by a permanent suitably experienced and qualified manager, who is supported by an experienced deputy manager. Together, they use internal monitoring systems to review practice and performance to improve the standard of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The members of the staff team work collaboratively to provide consistency and stability. One staff member said that they enjoyed working at the home and that ‘The team works really hard with [name of child] and that’s their main priority’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is sufficiently staffed to meet the needs of the child living in the home. The house decor has been recently updated and provides a warm welcoming environment for the child to live in. The registered manager is responsible for ensuring that the physical environment is maintained to a high standard, and damage and wear and tear are reported without delay. Some repairs in the house are ongoing.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel supported by management. Staff members spoken to said that they don’t have to wait until supervision to raise any worries or concerns. Staff receive regular supervision and team meetings take place. The manager has introduced some practice- related research to team meetings for staff to consider how this can implemented in the way they care for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Opportunities for staff to complete training are available via internal online learning platforms. The members of the staff team have recently received training from the home’s therapist, and her support will be ongoing. This enables staff to have a deeper understanding of the child’s early life experiences and what strategies are helpful when managing their behaviour. The manager is aware of the need to prioritise training in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Inspection report for children’s home: SC006013 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff undertake training in working with children who have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.

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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: SC006013 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Care Afloat Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 158-160 Birkrig Digmoor Parade Skelmersdale WN8 9HP

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Michael Fletcher

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Inspector

Michelle Greenhalgh, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC006013 7 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted Inspection report for children’s home: SC006013 8

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