Children's Home run by Partners in Care Limited in Lancashire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC010090 1 SC010090

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Registered provider: Partners in Care Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and managed by a private provider. The home provides care for up to four children who may experience emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, the home was providing care for two children.

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Information about this children’s home

The home currently does not have a registered manager.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors 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: SC010090 2

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Findings from the inspection

We identified the following serious and widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff do not always understand the needs of children or the steps they need to take to keep children safe. This means that children are left at risk of harm. For example, one member of staff did not know where the ligature cutters were when caring for a child who is known to display self-injurious behaviours.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s plans do not capture children’s known needs or provide staff with a clear guide about steps they should take to keep children safe. Children’s plans contain inaccurate and contradictory information. Language used in children’s plans is blameful and does not distinguish between fact and opinion.

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Findings from the inspection

Several members of staff have left the home and new staff have been appointed. This means that children have been cared for by unfamiliar adults who they do not have an established relationship with. One child told their social worker that they were unhappy that the staff team had changed.

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Findings from the inspection

The home is managed by an interim manager, a deputy manager, and a responsible individual. Management monitoring and auditing tools are ineffective. Managers have not ensured that all staff understand the children’s individual needs or how to respond to these. Managers have not ensured that all staff have the skills, knowledge, and experience to care for the children.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers have failed to appropriately challenge other professionals when children’s needs are not met. This does not ensure that staff are able to meet the child’s behavioural and emotional needs. This has led to an increase in children’s risk-taking behaviour.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers have failed to develop positive relationships between the children. This has led to one child being assaulted.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers have not taken action to understand the fire risks in the home. Although a fire risk assessment was completed the actions identified to mitigate risks were not completed. In addition to this, some fire doors are being propped open and others are not closing when the fire alarm sounds. This does not ensure that the home is a safe environment for the children to live in.

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Findings from the inspection

The home includes a cottage which is external to the main house. Decoration and maintence work are being completed in the cottage. Some areas of the garden are unkempt and contain piles of broken wood and debris. This deflects from the otherwise homely environment.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff enjoy working in the home and feel supported by managers. Staff receive supervision. However, supervision records are not an accurate reflection of what was Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC010090 3 discussed or include the actions agreed. This does not support staff to develop. Managers do not have a reliable understanding of which staff have completed which training.

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Findings from the inspection

Despite this, children attend education and can identify a member of staff they can talk to if they are worried. Children experience activities and days out. This increases children’s confidence and enables them to pursue their own interests. Managers have strengthened processes in place to understand children’s views. As a result, children understand how their views have been acted on.

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Findings from the inspection

The responsible individual took some immediate steps to address the shortfalls identified within this inspection. The recommendations and requirements issued under regulations 23 and 31 at the previous inspection were not reviewed during this inspection. For this reason, they are reinstated. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC010090 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/04/2024 Full requires improvement to be good 10/10/2023 Full good 07/03/2023 Full good 24/08/2021 Full outstanding Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC010090 5

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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 must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

*The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand, in a way that is appropriate according to the child’s age and understanding, personal, sexual, and social relationships, and how those relationships can be supportive or harmful; 18 August 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC010090 6 help each child to develop the understanding and skills to recognise or withdraw from a damaging, exploitative or harmful relationship;

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Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children;

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Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children;

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Requirement Due date

understand and communicate to children that bullying is unacceptable; and

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to recognise incidents or indications of bullying and how to deal with them; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(ix)(xi)(xii)(xiii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered provider must take steps to ensure that they fully understand the complex needs of children in their care.

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must ensure that children have access to specialist and therapeutic support as required.

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must ensure that all staff have the skills, knowledge, and experience to meet the needs of children with complex needs.

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Requirement Due date

The registered must ensure that all staff understand how to respond to children with complex needs and how to keep all children safe.

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must review their staffing arrangements and ensure that there is sufficient staff on rota at all times to ensure that all children are safe from harm.

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must develop a clear plan of how they intend to support children to understand the impact of their behaviour on others, as well as, supporting children to develop their relationships.

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must review their processes of when they admit children to the home and include how they will Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC010090 7 manage the impact of children’s behaviours on the other children.

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Requirement Due date

*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

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;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

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

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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

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are located so that children are effectively safeguarded;

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished, and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health; and

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(c)(d)(e))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered provider must review all children’s risk assessments ensuring that all known risks are identified and have clear actions for staff to follow.

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must ensure that all staff understand the risks and their responsibilities for children in their care. This must include following risk assessments. 18 August 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC010090 8 The registered provider must undertake a review of the premises ensuring that all potential ligature points are identified and take steps to mitigate the risks.

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must ensure that there is an assessment in place which identifies potential ligature points and actions for staff to take to mitigate the risks.

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must review the fire risk assessment and undertake a review of the home ensuring that all identified shortfalls are actioned.

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must ensure that staff comply with the fire risk assessment including that fire doors remain closed at all times.

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must review their system for recording fire checks ensuring that this is accurately recorded.

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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 work as a team where appropriate;

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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 has sufficient staff to provide care for 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 18 August 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC010090 9 child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered provider must ensure that interim management arrangements are reviewed and be confident that the managers identified have the skills, knowledge, and experience to undertake the role.

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must review their monitoring and auditing processes to ensure that they can identify any shortfalls in staff practice.

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must review staffing arrangements ensuring that that there is sufficient staff on shift at all times to meet the children’s needs.

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider will ensure that all staff understand the children’s specific needs and how to respond to these.

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider will ensure that all staff have the skills, knowledge, and experience to care for the children.

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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

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect; and

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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— meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(v)(c)(i)) 18 August 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC010090 10 This specifically relates to the registered person ensuring that children live in a welcoming home environment and that their needs are met.

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs;

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans; and

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Requirement Due date

seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5 (a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered person working with other professionals to ensure that children’s needs are met. 18 August 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration, and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

medicines kept in the home are stored in a secure place so as to prevent any child from having unsupervised access to them; and

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Requirement Due date

a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(a)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the previous inspection and is reinstated. 18 August 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC010090 11 The registered person must ensure that the employment of any person on a temporary basis at the children’s home does not prevent children from receiving such continuity of care as is reasonable to meet their needs. (Regulation 31 (1))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the previous inspection and is reinstated. 18 August 2024

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that a separate record of physical intervention is maintained. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the standards,’ page 49, paragraph 9.59)  The registered person should ensure that regulation 40 reports. include all pertinent information (‘Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the standards,’ page 63, paragraph 14.4)  The registered person should work with the independent visitor to ensure that the report consistently provides a detailed analysis of the service provided. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 54, paragraph 10.23)  The registered person should ensure that when a room search has been conducted, a record is held of where the removed items are stored. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 16, paragraph 3.20) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC010090 12

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Partners in Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2 The Calls, Leeds LS2 7JU

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Inspector

Sally Griffiths, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC010090 13 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

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