Children's Home run by Lancashire County Council in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC035428 1 SC035428

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Registered provider: Lancashire County Council

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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 local authority home provides short-term care for one child who may have social and emotional difficulties and physical disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

One child lived at the home at the time of the inspection.

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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: 31 October 2023

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC035428 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

31/10/2023 Full Outstanding 25/01/2023 Full Good 18/10/2022 Full Inadequate 07/12/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC035428 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is registered for one child. However, an additional child moved in as an emergency before Christmas. Although the child only lived there for a short time, they had an enjoyable Christmas before moving to their permanent home. One child remains living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have ensured that this purpose-built bungalow has a welcoming feel. There are photos of the child throughout the home, alongside their artwork. This makes it feel like the child’s home. A lock was on the kitchen door; however, this was removed during the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has the use of two bedrooms. One of which is a smaller room which at times meets the child’s needs. However, their larger bedroom has been locked and used for storage. This means that the child has not been able to freely enter their room and have access to their possessions, including their clothes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child continues to be unable to attend school. Despite not attending school, the child is doing well academically. The child is fully invested in their timetable and taught by home tutors. The child enjoys writing stories and has recently achieved a high grade in their mock exam. The child has high aspirations for their future. The child’s education is a priority for the manager and staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that the child’s health needs are well met. Several different services are involved to support the child’s physical and emotional needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff fully support the child’s time with their family. There are occasions when the child’s mum stays overnight. This ensures that the child’s relationships with those that are important to them are respected and promoted.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff capture happy memories of the child’s experiences in a memory book. The child has enjoyed lots of activities including meals out, day trips and has even raised money for charity by completing a sponsored walk.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff consult with the child regularly and the child’s views are central to their care planning. The staff and child regularly engage in conversations that support the child to expand their thinking and knowledge of the world.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Despite the many restrictions in place for the child, the staff work with the child to develop their practical independence skills. This support is important to ensure that the child has the skills needed for when they are older. Inspection report for children’s home: SC035428 4

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

The child’s safety is paramount for the staff team. The child’s safeguarding needs require a robust multi agency approach. Care planning is constantly subject to review and monitoring.

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

The child has restrictions in place as part of the safeguarding strategy. The restrictions are reduced or increased, as required. The manager and staff work closely with the child and others to plan how to reduce restrictions. However, following an incident, the child has not been able to use the kitchen for six months. Since this time, there has been a lack of proactive planning and consideration to support the child to be able to use this area safely.

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

The use of restraint is rare. However, on the occasions that it has been used, staff talk through the incident with the child. This means the child can express their views and feelings. The manager reviews and evaluates each incident to ensure that interventions are necessary and proportionate.

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

There has been a significant increase in the child raising concerns about the staff, both individually and as a team. The manager and other professionals work closely together to manage these allegations. There are agreed plans in place to ensure the child’s safety.

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

Incidents of self-harm are high and have resulted in many hospital visits. As a result, the manager has worked with the hospital and social worker to agree a hospital reduction plan. The manager and staff know the child well, which has led to the plans beginning to have an impact.

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

When safeguarding incidents occur, leaders and managers respond appropriately and swiftly. They ensure that they make immediate changes to care practice to improve risk management. Staff ensure that following significant incidents, discussions with the child enable them to think about how they were feeling, who was affected and how they can move on from a situation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is suitably experienced and qualified. An assistant manager supports her and the senior leadership team offer an additional layer of support. The management team have strong relationships with the child and are very much involved in the day-to-day support of the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been some changes to the team since the last inspection, however the team remains stable. However, the regulator has not been informed of these changes which limits their oversight of the home. There has been a reduction in the need for Inspection report for children’s home: SC035428 5 agency staff to support the permanent staff team. This provides added consistency for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say they feel supported and receive regular supervision. The manager prioritises staff wellbeing and she ensures that there are support systems in place. However, staff employed as bank workers and agency staff are not supervised. This is a missed opportunity for the manager to assure herself that the staff have the skills and experience needed to support the child effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager leads a committed and child focussed team. Regular team meetings ensure that the staff have the information they need to support the child effectively and reflect on their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that staff have received the relevant training they need to provide a good quality of care. This means they have the skills to provide effective care for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a good understanding of the strengths and development areas for the home. Inspection report for children’s home: SC035428 6

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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 privacy of children is appropriately protected;

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Requirement Due date

children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises; and

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Requirement Due date

any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home;

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Requirement Due date

is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and

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Requirement Due date

allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 21 (a)(b)(c)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates specifically to children being allowed to access their bedroom where their belongings and clothes are stored.

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Requirement Due date

This further relates to the child being allowed access to the kitchen. 16 August 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (“the statement of purpose”) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must— (a) keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and (b) notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. 16 August 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC035428 7 (Regulation 16(1)(3)(a)(b))

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Recommendation

 The registered person must have systems in place so that bank staff and agency staff receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 61, paragraph 13.2)

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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: SC035428 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Lancashire County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: County Hall, Preston PR1 8XJ

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Inspector

Kerri Lynch, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC035428 9 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 children looked after safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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