Children's Home run by Partners in Care Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children's home: SC010090 1 SC010090 Registered provider: Partners in Care Limited

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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 managed by a private company. It provides care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, there were two children living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in 2001. The manager has been in post since May 2024 and has submitted an application to register.

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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: requires improvement to be good

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

This home was judged to have serious and widespread safeguarding concerns in relation to the protection of children at the assurance inspection carried out on 2 July 2024.

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

As a result, compliance notices were issued under Regulation 11 (the positive relationships standard), Regulation 12 (the protection of children standard) and Regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard). Inspection report for children's home: SC010090 2 A monitoring visit took place on 22 August 2024 to monitor the action taken by the provider in meeting the steps in the compliance notices.

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

A case review was held following the visit, at which it was decided that the provider had taken sufficient action to meet the compliance notices. Inspection report for children's home: SC010090 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/04/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 10/10/2023 Full Good 07/03/2023 Full Good 24/08/2021 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children's home: SC010090 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are currently two children living in this home, and both have lived here for a long period of time. The children enjoy positive relationships with staff at the home and are cared for by a consistent staff team.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both children are enrolled in full-time education and have good attendance. When children have difficulties in school, the staff work with them, teachers and professionals to address these issues. This means that children are helped to reach their full potential.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work with other professionals to ensure that children’s physical and emotional health needs are met. Children are registered with relevant health professionals and are supported to attend all necessary appointments. Medication is stored safely, and accurate records are maintained on the administration of medication.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s time with their families is supported and promoted by staff. Staff understand the significance of these relationships and the emotional impact these have on children. Staff effectively support children to sustain relationships with members of their family, even when there are challenges with this.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child lives in a cottage, which is external to the main house. The child is appropriately and gradually supported to develop their independence. This includes developing skills around cooking and household tasks.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have the opportunity to participate in activities that they enjoy, both individually and together. As a result, their relationship with one another has improved.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have regular opportunities to share their views about the home and the care that they receive. Both children know how to make a complaint and said that they felt the manager would take appropriate action to resolve any issues if they raised concerns.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a homely environment and the manager has made improvements to the home environment since the last inspection. However, the home is tired and in need of further redecoration and refurbishment.

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

Risk management plans are in place for each child that outline the actions staff are to take in order to keep children safe. Plans are updated with new information to ensure that they remain current.

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

Staff have a good knowledge of safeguarding procedures. The manager and staff have responded appropriately to incidents at the home in order to keep children safe. Records are detailed and have been shared with relevant professionals. When allegations have Inspection report for children's home: SC010090 5 been made, the manager has notified the local authority designated officer and ensured that allegations are investigated appropriately.

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

One to one work is undertaken with children to increase their understanding of specific areas of concern. Staff re-visit key topics in order to ensure that children understand what is covered within these sessions. As a result, one child’s unsafe behaviours have reduced.

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

Staff know the children well and are able to manage and de-escalate challenging situations, as a result, incidents have reduced and physical intervention is rarely used. Positive behaviour is suitably encouraged and praised. The manager and staff prefer the use of natural consequences. However, there are some minor recording issues. Whilst this has not impacted on children, this has not been identified by managers.

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

Plans are in place that detail the actions staff are to take should children go missing from home. When incidents have occurred, staff have taken appropriate action to find children and encourage them to return home. Return home interviews are undertaken by someone who has a positive relationship with the child so that any additional information to protect children is known.

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

Safe recruitment procedures are in place for new staff. This means that children are protected from unsuitable adults being employed to work in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A new manager joined the home in May 2024 and has submitted his application to register. He has worked hard to provide stability for children living in this home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Following the last inspection, the manager and responsible individual held a team meeting to share the findings of the inspection and the actions necessary to address the shortfalls. Staff spoken to during this inspection have a clear understanding of the changes that have been made since the last inspection and their roles and responsibilities in ensuring children’s safety.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff spoken to describe a supportive environment and say that their views are valued by the manager. They have regular supervision and team meetings, where they are able to discuss children’s progress and their own development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff who are new to the home were positive about their induction. The staff team has undertaken a range of training, including training specific to the individual needs of the children in its care. This ensures that staff have the skills required to meet the needs of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has taken action to address the shortfalls in practice identified at the last inspection. The manager has introduced monitoring systems to ensure that they have sufficient oversight of the home. The manager has a good understanding of the children’s needs and the progress they are making. Inspection report for children's home: SC010090 6 The manager maintains strong working relationships with partner agencies. External professionals were complimentary about the care given to the children living in this home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Improvements have been made to children’s records since the last inspection. However, some of the language used within records is not helpful for children. The manager has identified this as an area for development and has taken action to address this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children live in a home that is physically safe and secure. However, due to an organisational failure, the home’s external fire risk assessment has not been reviewed, despite changes to the fire safety arrangements in place. This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. Inspection report for children's home: SC010090 7

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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

After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

take adequate precautions against the risk of fire, including the provision of suitable fire equipment in the children’s home;

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Requirement Due date

provide adequate means of escape from the home in the event of fire. (Regulation 25 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must review fire risks to include all known information and ensure that staff understand steps to take to keep children safe.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the previous inspection and is restated. 28 November 2024

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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

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, this relates to ensuring that there is oversight of children’s consequences, plans and the language used within records. 28 November 2024 Inspection report for children's home: SC010090 8

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Recommendations

 The responsible person should ensure that the home environment and decor is maintained to a high standard. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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: SC010090 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Partners in Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2 The Calls, Leeds LS2 7JU

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Inspector

Genevieve O’Reilly, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC010090 10 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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