Children's home run by Care Afloat Ltd in West Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC062268 1 SC062268 Registered provider: Care Afloat Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is one of several homes owned by a private provider. It offers care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties. At the time of the inspection, three children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has not yet registered with Ofsted.

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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: 20 February 2024

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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: SC062268 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/02/2024 Full Good 24/01/2023 Full Good 08/06/2021 Full Good 19/11/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC062268 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has recently moved to semi-independent living. Children are supported to move into the home at their pace so that they can familiarise themselves with the home and the staff team. A child who has recently left the home but remains in regular contact with staff said, ‘I can trust them really well.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from help, support and care from an experienced and consistent staff team. Children were observed to have positive relationships with staff. Staff take a patient and caring approach with children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Key-work sessions are taking place with children. They cover a range of topics, such as promoting health and well-being, smoking cessation, bereavement and loss, promoting education and active healthy lifestyles. These sessions help children to explore their thoughts and feelings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children take part in a range of activities, including going to concerts, fishing, bowling, trampolining and ice skating. One room in the house has been converted into a gym and contains a range of equipment that children use regularly to keep themselves fit and to support their positive mental health, self-esteem and confidence. The home is welcoming and inviting. Children’s bedrooms are personalised to their specific tastes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to attend education in line with their specific plans. The manager is proactive at liaising with professionals to ensure that children benefit from needs-led education. Two children have recently started college. There is regular communication between the college and the staff team to discuss children’s progress and to consider additional support where necessary.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff team has developed positive working relationships with parents to ensure that family time is positive for children and so that children can maintain links to those who mean the most to them. A professional said, ‘[Name of child]’s relationship with mum has positively developed. The staff team have played a critical role in developing this.’

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

Risk assessments and risk management plans implemented since the last inspection now contain clear strategies and preventative measures. Staff know children’s risks and how to respond when a serious incident takes place.

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

For those children who are at risk of exploitation, staff work collaboratively with a range of safeguarding professionals, including the contextual safeguarding team. This helps to inform safety planning and provides opportunities to consider any newly emerging needs, risks and behaviours. Inspection report for children’s home: SC062268 4 When children go missing from the home, staff are persistent in their approach to support children to return to the home safely. Staff report children missing to professionals and parents in a timely manner to ensure that there is a multi-agency response to reduce further risk of harm to the child. Missing-from-home interviews are taking place to ensure that children are provided with the opportunity to speak to someone independent of the home.

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

Incidents of self-harm are responded to with care and support, and staff offer and provide medical treatment where appropriate. However, staff are not fully utilising their skills in professional curiosity to gain more insight into the reasons why a child may have self-harmed.

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

When room searches are necessary, they are carried out sensitively to safeguard and protect children from harm. Children know the reasons why the room search is being carried out and their consent is actively sought where possible.

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

Children are encouraged to have positive relationships with one another. They have recently completed an online bullying course. This means that children are given information, support and advice which may help them consider ways to make changes to their behaviour towards others inside and outside the home.

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

Medication administration is accurately recorded. When children refuse medication, staff are proactive in seeking further support from health professionals to review children’s medical needs and to consider alternative ways of supporting children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager commenced his post on 1 October 2024 having been the deputy manager in the home for several years. He is not yet registered with Ofsted.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has inherited systems and processes which enable him to have effective management oversight of the home, identify where service can be refined and consider ways of improving outcomes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and the staff team work collaboratively with a range of professionals. Care planning is effective. The manager and deputy manager advocate well for children and represent their wishes and feelings during meetings when children do not wish to attend themselves.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The team of staff are appropriately trained. They have access to a range of training opportunities and receive training that is specific to the needs of the children in their care. This includes training on matters such as neurodiversity, permanency planning, equality and diversity and educating children about racism. This enables staff to develop the necessary skills and knowledge to meet children’s needs and educate children appropriately on matters directly impacting them and their peers. Inspection report for children’s home: SC062268 5 Staff say that supervision helps them to reflect on practice and that they discuss professional development during supervision sessions and annual appraisals. Regular team meetings and thorough daily handovers take place to support the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel supported working in the home. They have good knowledge of safeguarding procedures and the whistle-blowing process. One staff member spoke positively about their experience of working in the home and said, ‘Staff are honest, we speak openly with one another.’ Inspection report for children’s home: SC062268 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff use professional curiosity to help children to understand how to protect themselves, feel protected and be protected from significant harm. Children should be provided with debriefs following incidents of self-harm so that staff can understand their views, wishes and feelings. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.9).

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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: SC062268 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Care Afloat Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 158 to 160 Birkrig, Digmoor Parade WN8 9HP

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Inspector

Michelle Greenhalgh, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC062268 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 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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