Children's Home run by Connect Care Solutions Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2606135 1 Registered provider: Connect Care Solutions Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for one child with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2024.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2606135 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/06/2023 Full Good 15/11/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/03/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness 14/12/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2606135 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is currently one child living in this home. No children have moved into or on from this home since the last inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child receives good care from a stable and nurturing team of staff, who know them well. There are positive relationships between the child and staff. A social worker commented on how well the staff understand the child’s needs and support them to manage and overcome challenges.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is comfortable and feels homely. Photos of the child are on display around the home. The child has been able to personalise their bedroom to their own tastes. However, the staff need to support the child to maintain their bedroom so that it is clean and tidy.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is able to enjoy a range of activities with staff. They recently enjoyed a trip to a theme park and to the local cat cafe. The child said they enjoyed spending time with staff, and they felt able to talk about how they were feeling.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is being supported to remain in contact with their family and friends. The child is also being offered opportunities to widen their social networks and build new friendships. This will help them build their confidence when meeting new people.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s emotional and physical health needs are well considered. Staff support the child to attend relevant health appointments. Managers and staff work with specialist professionals to ensure that the child’s emotional needs are met.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is enrolled at a local school and has made progress in their education, and their attendance has improved. The manager and staff have a strong working relationship with education professionals. They communicate about the child’s needs and behaviours to ensure that the child can positively engage in their learning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have supported the child to develop independence skills. The child has learned how to iron, bake cakes and carry out household chores.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has regular opportunities to share their views about the home and the care they receive. The manager and staff have taken appropriate action to respond to the child’s views, which means the child knows that their feelings are valued.

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

Risk management plans are in place and are regularly updated with current information. The practice of the manager and staff ensures that risks are managed effectively. However, some of the written guidance in the child’s plans is unclear, due to the amount Inspection report for children’s home: 2606135 4 of information. The manager took action to address this during the inspection, to ensure that strategies are clear.

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

The child has access to a mobile phone. Staff support the child’s understanding of how to remain safe online. The manager and staff have ensured that appropriate parental controls are in place. Phone checks are carried out by staff when concerns have been raised.

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

When incidents have occurred, the manager and staff have responded appropriately to keep the child safe. Follow-up work is undertaken with the child and information is shared with relevant professionals.

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

The child’s behaviour management plan is detailed and helps staff to understand and respond appropriately to the child’s behaviours. As a result, since the last inspection, there have been no incidents of physically holding the child. The staff praise the child and use rewards for positive behaviour.

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

Consequences have been used to address negative behaviours. However, these are not recorded consistently. One strategy to manage poor behaviour in school is to deny the child access to their mobile phone when they are home. Not all incidences of this measure being used have been recorded. This consequence has prompted further negative behaviour from the child at home. The lack of recording does not allow the manager to review whether consequences are appropriate or effective.

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

Allegations made by the child have been investigated appropriately and managed effectively. Incidents have also been reported to the local authority designated officer as required.

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

There have been a low number of incidents of the child going missing from the home. Effective action has been taken by staff to ensure that the child returns home safely. The child has spoken to an independent person to ensure that they can raise any concerns.

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

The child has engaged in support sessions which focus on their specific needs and vulnerabilities. This has increased their understanding of how to stay safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection, the previous manager has de-registered for a period of planned leave, and has plans to return. A manager from one of the provider’s other homes has registered as the manager. The current manager is experienced and suitably qualified.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been some changes in the staff team. However, there is a consistent team in place who know the child well. The staff are committed and dedicated and strive to improve outcomes for the child. Inspection report for children’s home: 2606135 5 Staff describe a supportive environment. They receive regular supervision and have opportunities to reflect on their practice. Staff also complete yearly appraisals to ensure that they have opportunities to develop.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff have undertaken all mandatory training. Some staff have completed more in- depth training to further support their understanding of the child’s specific needs and vulnerabilities. However, training records were not up to date, as they did not detail which staff have attended the additional training. The manager took steps to rectify this issue during the inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff benefit from regular team meetings. They reflect on their day-to-day practice and how this can be improved, as well as the progress of the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff work well with external professionals. They work with external health professionals in relation to care planning to ensure that the child’s risks are managed effectively. Inspection report for children’s home: 2606135 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

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

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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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 name of the person who used the measure ("the user"), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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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

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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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 23 August 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2606135 7 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)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that any measures of control, such as imposing a consequence, meet the requirements set out by regulation and include management oversight of the effectiveness of the measure.

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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

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

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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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that strategies to manage risks are clear in written guidance, ensure that staff training records are up to date and ensure that staff support the child to maintain their bedroom. 23 August 2024

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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: 2606135 8

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Childrens home details

Registered provider: Connect Care Solutions Limited

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Childrens home details

Registered provider address: 17 Victoria Road East, Thornton Cleveleys FY5 5HT

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Inspector

Suzanne Birchall, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2606135 9 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 childrens 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 childrens 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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