Children's Home run by Lancashire County Council in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC039248 1 SC039248 Registered provider: Lancashire County Council

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A local authority operates this home. It provides care for up to six children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a manager in post. She is not yet registered with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, six children were 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

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC039248 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/05/2023 Full Outstanding 10/05/2022 Full Good 21/02/2022 Full Inadequate 10/03/2020 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC039248 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have formed positive relationships with each other. They do activities such as going to the beach and the cinema, and they have been on holiday together. Children’s individual interests are recognised and supported by staff. Staff spend time with children to support their interests, including playing guitar together or recording music. Staff celebrate their achievements. Children say that they feel cared for by staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff challenge children if they display any racist or homophobic attitudes. This ensures that children understand what constitutes acceptable behaviour. Children learn that behaving well benefits them and helps them integrate into society.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are all engaged in education or employment They all have education places in the new academic year. Staff have encouraged children to pursue the courses that they are interested in and have helped them find the right education placement for their individual interests. This means that children invest in their education and are more likely to succeed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is support in place to develop children’s independence skills. The home has independence flats where children learn to cook and clean and budget their money. Children have moved on from the home, in line with their wishes and feelings, to successful independence. Staff keep in touch with them, and they are invited back for meals at the home after they have left. This safely helps prepare them for adult life.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is a purpose-built children’s home and there are aspects that are institutional in appearance, for example, there are locks on doors to communal areas. Two of the bathrooms were closed off as they needed repairs. The children’s rooms were not personalised and some areas of the home looked like they would benefit from a thorough clean.

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

Staff manage children’s risks well. They put specific risk assessments and safety plans in place. They work well with social care, the police and other partner agencies. This reduces risks for children.

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

There have been no incidents of children being physically held to keep them safe. There have been no incidents of police being called to manage children’s behaviour. Staff have good relationships with children and are managing their behaviour well.

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

Children know how to make a complaint. When they do complain, their concerns are taken seriously and acted on. Children feel listened to. Inspection report for children’s home: SC039248 4 When children go missing from home, staff go looking for them and do all they can to ensure they return to the home safely. One child’s missing-from-home plan is out of date. The manager has escalated this with the child’s social worker.

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

The home’s location risk assessment lacks input from external agencies and collaboration with the police. This means that staff are not fully aware of the risks in the local area.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is new in post. Staff say they feel supported by the management team and have enjoyed the new manager’s fresh perspective. The staff are proud of the work they do with the children and say that they want the home to feel homely and comfortable.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

External professionals say they are happy with staff communication and the support that children receive. One said, ‘ All staff have excellent relationships with the children in the home.’ Staff are invested in the children’s happiness and want the best for their futures.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff undertake a thorough programme of training to ensure that they are able to meet the needs of children. If children have specific needs and risks, bespoke training is provided. This means that staff understand and can meet each child’s individual needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and deputy manager ensure that staff have regular supervision and regularly receive informal support and advice. However, not all staff have had their annual appraisal Inspection report for children’s home: SC039248 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(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)) 29 August 2024

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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

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)(a)(b) and (2)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the home environment is homely, clean and well cared for and any damage is repaired as quickly as possible. 29 August 2024

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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— 29 August 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC039248 6 is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home; is necessary and proportionate;

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Requirement Due date

is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21 (b)(c)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to removing internal locks on doors to communal areas.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises used for the purposes of the children’s home at least once in each calendar year taking into account the requirement in regulation 12(2)(c) (the protection of children standard).

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Requirement Due date

When conducting the review, the registered person must consult, and take into account the views of, each relevant person. (Regulation 46 (1) (2))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the provider must ensure that they consult with relevant agencies and include their views when reviewing the location of the premises. 29 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: SC039248 7

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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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Inspectors

Cathy Wilkins, Social Care Inspector Sally Mitchell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC039248 8 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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