Children's home run by Lincolnshire County Council

Inspection report for children’s home: 2781668 1 Registered provider: Lincolnshire 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 home is owned and operated by a local authority. It is registered to provide care for up to six children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is led by an experienced registered manager.

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Information about this children’s home

Four children were living in 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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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2781668 2

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outstanding

Children receive an exceptional standard of care from a highly skilled team. Children are nurtured and cherished in a family environment. This has enabled them to thrive. Children say they are happy in the home. One child said, ‘[The home] is a little family to me.’

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outstanding

Children enjoy an excellent range of play and leisure activities. These offer them opportunities to have fun and develop interests and hobbies. This gives them the chance to socialise and make friends. One child has recently started swimming and went horse riding. Another child regularly attends swimming lessons and cadets. Children enjoy cooking and baking alongside the adults.

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outstanding

The manager and staff build relationships with children’s family members. This helps to promote children’s sense of identity. For example, a newsletter is completed each month and shared with family members. This shows pictures and information of what the children have enjoyed and achieved each month. Family relationships have improved for all children since living in the home.

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outstanding

Regular individual direct-work sessions between staff and children support children to speak openly about their well-being. Staff use fresh ideas and creative approaches to keep children engaged. This helps children to feel listened to and supports their developing relationships with staff.

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outstanding

All children are attending education. This is not without challenge due to their early life experiences. The staff team is proactive in working with key agencies to ensure that children have the support they need to achieve educationally. The manager is relentless in challenging barriers to ensure that children have the right educational plans to secure the right schools for them. When children have been out of school, they have been supported to maintain a school-like routine during the day. The adults use flexible and creative means to help children learn, for example using baking to promote literacy and numeracy.

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outstanding

Children are supported to be a part of their neighbourhood. This is encouraged through participation in charity events. They have recently taken part in the local Race for Life, where they raised money for charity.

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outstanding

The manager and staff have an excellent understanding of the risks posed to and from children. Therapeutic work undertaken in the team helps staff think of creative ways to manage risks and vulnerabilities. Staff show great persistence and Inspection report for children’s home: 2781668 3 determination in the face of complex situations. When children need extra help to understand risks, they are offered empathy and time. This has helped children to become safer over time.

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outstanding

The staff team uses its skills and relationships with children to manage behaviour effectively. Staff are confident in this area of practice. Restraint is rarely used and only as a last resort. Any incidents of restraint are recorded clearly with a manager’s evaluation, which enables learning from practice. Effective behaviour management strategies help to create a calm and stable atmosphere for the children.

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outstanding

Managers and staff place great importance on preventing risks to children from reoccurring. There is a child-centred approach to the discussions staff have with children about risks. They use innovative and enjoyable ways to engage children in these discussions. This helps children to learn about themselves, what could upset them and how to keep themselves safe.

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outstanding

Risk assessment documents are clear, detailed and individual to the child. They are regularly reviewed. Professionals who know the children well contribute to risk assessments. There is a range of strategies in place that are designed to guide staff in their work with children, which significantly reduces risks. Staff know the children very well. They are curious and quickly identify changes in children’s behaviours and implement new plans to safeguard their well-being. Children are significantly safer than they were before coming to live in this home.

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outstanding

The manager and staff show high levels of commitment to the protection of children. There are good links with the local police and other relevant safeguarding agencies. All safeguarding concerns are investigated thoroughly and there are clear outcomes recorded.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is led by a committed and highly skilled manager. She is enthusiastic about providing high standards of care for children. The management team has inspired the staff to provide exceptional care to children. This has enabled children to flourish and progress in all areas of their development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has recruited a skilled staff team. Each person brings their own skills and experience, which have been integrated into a consistent approach. The staff enjoy their work and are supportive of each other. There is a thorough induction for staff, and their development is carefully monitored. As a result, the quality of care for children is sustained over time.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Trauma-informed practice underpins the care provided in the home. The quality and availability of therapeutic intervention are evident in care planning and risk assessment. Staff are empowered to understand the children they care for and meet their needs. Inspection report for children’s home: 2781668 4 The manager has developed excellent relationships with internal and external colleagues, who have considerable confidence in the care provided to children. The manager is confident to challenge professionals when there are shortfalls in care planning for children. She regularly advocates for their needs. As a result, children are well protected from situations that may not be in their best interests.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is proactive and has developed a culture in the home that sets high expectations. She ensures there is a child-centred approach to care and recognises that children’s progress is unique to them. She is always seeking ways to improve her own professional practice and role model this to the staff team. Due to this, children continue to exceed expectations.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There is a focus on reflective practice and learning for the staff team. This is the foundation for team meetings and supervision discussions with staff. Staff report they feel supported by the management team and that they role model this practice. However, for some staff, supervision discussions have not been consistently completed each month and in line with the provider’s own policy. Inspection report for children’s home: 2781668 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person should have systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, 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: 2781668 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Lincolnshire County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: County Offices, Newland, Lincoln LN1 1YL

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Inspector

Eleanor Quanbrough, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2781668 7 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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