Children's Home run by Coastal Quality Care Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children's home: 2619265 1 Registered provider: Coastal Quality Care Limited

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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 operated by a private organisation. It is registered to care for up to two children who have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in February 2021. The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2023 but is not currently working at the home. An acting manager has been managing the home since March 2024 and has submitted an application to register with Ofsted. They hold a relevant childcare and management qualification.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home. The child was spoken to by inspectors.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 21 November 2023

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2619265 2 Inspection report for children's home: 2619265 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/11/2023 Full Good 14/03/2023 Full Good 21/09/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2619265 4

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improvement to be good

The child moved into the home in a well-thought-out and planned way. Local authority plans are in place and the child met staff before the move. Consequently, the child has settled into the home well. However, the shortfalls in some aspects of the child’s care and the leadership and management of the home impact on the child’s progress and well-being.

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improvement to be good

Staff have supported the child to attend dental appointments and receive required immunisations. The child is encouraged to attend appointments with emotional health and well-being professionals in relation to their new diagnosis. The child’s health has improved from their starting point. However, they are not receiving consistent care which meets their needs, due to a lack of response from leaders, managers and staff to support them to stop vaping.

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improvement to be good

The acting manager and staff do not advocate effectively for the child to access education or to meet the targets in their personal education plan. The staff have provided limited opportunities for the child to engage in informal learning. Consequently, the child remains out of education and does not have a good routine or structure in place. This lack of routine and structure has contributed to an escalation in the child’s challenging behaviour.

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improvement to be good

The home requires maintenance in some areas and the bathroom and carpets need cleaning. The home is bare; there are no photos, pictures or soft furnishings around the home. The child has not fully personalised their own bedroom and there is damage to the walls and paintwork. Furthermore, the child is unable to freely access the laundry facilities due to the door being locked. The garden area could be made more inviting for the child to use. This does not help the child to take pride in their home and develop appropriate life skills.

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improvement to be good

The acting manager and staff have built positive relationships with the child. There are caring relationships between the staff and the child. The child expresses their wishes and feelings. This allows them to make choices about their care. The child said they feel happy and safe at the home.

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improvement to be good

Not all risks are understood or identified in risk management plans, such as the risk to the child’s health due to vaping. Staff do not have effective strategies to follow, and allow the child to vape in their bedroom. Furthermore, the child’s social worker is unaware of this happening. This demonstrates that the child is not supported effectively to reduce the risk to their health. Inspection report for children's home: 2619265 5 All staff are trained in physical intervention and de-escalation strategies. Staff have held the child on four occasions. This has been necessary and proportionate to support the child to regulate their emotions. The acting manager and staff use consequences to help the child to understand the impact of their behaviours, however, not all consequences are restorative in nature or recorded in sufficient detail. This is a missed opportunity for the child, staff and acting manager to reflect on the consequence to seek a more

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improvement to be good

There has been one allegation made by the child about a member of bank staff. Although resolved effectively, leaders and managers did not report the allegation in timescales set out in safeguarding and organisational procedures. This means the local authority designated officer did not receive the information in a timely manner, so was unable to have swift oversight and scrutiny.

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improvement to be good

There is a lack of professional curiosity and risk assessment, and poor recruitment practice by the leaders. This led to the home being managed by a registered manager from January 2024 to April 2024 with no valid Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificate and relevant references from previous employment not having been obtained.

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improvement to be good

External professionals said the acting manager and staff communicate well and keep them informed about any issues and any progress made by the child. The child’s independent reviewing officer said, ‘I do think it is a very good place for [name of child] and they are doing very well. There is difficulties [sic] with their behaviour and staff manage it well. I’ve been impressed.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Most staff say that the current management team provides them with consistency and support. However, some staff say the support and oversight from leaders and managers has fallen short. One member of staff said, ‘My view on the home has changed. Unfortunately, this is due to the management structure, leadership and level of support. I don’t feel as though myself and the team are supported as much as we should be.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The acting manager and a bank staff member have not had an induction or received regular reflective supervision. This lack of support prevents them from having the opportunity to reflect on their practice, ensuring they meet the child’s needs and continue their professional development. Additionally, it hinders leaders and managers from evaluating their performance effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

A mix of core staff and staff from the organisation’s sister homes are used to fulfil the rota. Not all staff have received training in risk management and safer caring, self- injurious behaviours or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. This means the child is not cared for by a consistent staff team who understand their risks, care needs and vulnerabilities. This compromises safeguarding practice. Inspection report for children's home: 2619265 6 The review of the quality of care completed in January 2024 was not provided to the regulator in the required time frame.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Not all staff and managers take part in team meetings. Therefore, care planning for the child is compromised and there are missed opportunities to gain a broader understanding of the child’s needs. Leaders and managers are unable to assure themselves that staff continue to meet the needs of the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Significant shortfalls in management oversight and support from leaders and managers leave the child inadequately cared for. Leaders and the managers have not implemented effective monitoring systems to ensure improvements in the quality of care provided to the child. Inspection report for children's home: 2619265 7

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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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1) (2)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that the home is clean, tidy, decorated and maintained to a good standard. The garden should be maintained and children should be able to freely access the laundry facilities.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 28 July 2024

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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; 28 July 2024 Inspection report for children's home: 2619265 8 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 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 to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(x))

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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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

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding. (Regulation 10 (1)(c) (2)(a)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that staff understand the risks of children vaping, take action to address children being sold vapes illegally and that they educate, seek advice and support children to give up vaping. 28 July 2024 Inspection report for children's home: 2619265 9 The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)) 28 July 2024

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home; 28 July 2024 Inspection report for children's home: 2619265 10 demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(e)(f)(g)(i))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must take reasonable steps to ensure that any individual who is working at the home and who does not fall within paragraph (2)(a) and (b) is appropriately supervised while carrying out the individual’s duties. (Regulation 32 (1) (3)(a)(b)(d) (8))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that DBS checks are current, satisfactory references are obtained and gaps in employment history are explained and explored. If a person has previously worked in a position involving work with children, verification and assessment of the reason why the employment or position ended should take place, supported by a clear rationale for the person’s suitability for the role. 28 July 2024

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Requirement Due date

ensure that each employee completes an appropriate induction;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that each permanent appointment of an employee is subject to the satisfactory completion of a period of probation; and

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development; 28 July 2024 Inspection report for children's home: 2619265 11 receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (1)(a)(b) (4)(a)(b))

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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—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

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

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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”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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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)(iii)(iv)(v)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that consequences given are restorative and proportionate in nature, staff are spoken to about the use of the measure and the consequence is recorded in line with regulation. 28 July 2024

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that they review the quality of care and generate a report at least once every six months. The report should be sent in a timely manner to Ofsted and the placing local authority of all children in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.3) Inspection report for children's home: 2619265 12

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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: 2619265 13

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Coastal Quality Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Premier House, Premier Way, Poulton Industrial Estate, Poulton-le-Fylde FY6 8JP

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Inspectors

Julie Elder, Social Care Inspector Debbie Dawson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2619265 14 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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