Children's Home run by A-Triangle Care Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2741405 1 Registered provider: A-Triangle 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 is a privately owned home that provides care for up to two children who may be experiencing social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and manager were registered with Ofsted in August 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was 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 requires improvement to be 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: 2741405 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/03/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2741405 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child had created a series of paintings featuring the individual staff. The child chose to share and display the artwork within their home. This not only highlights the child’s artistic talent but also reflects their positive relationships with the staff, contributing to their emotional well-being and sense of belonging at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff build trusting relationships with the child. This nurturing environment encourages open communication, where the child feels comfortable expressing their thoughts and feelings. As a result, the child feels valued and supported, which contributes positively to their overall development and sense of security.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child says that they are not always aware of who is supporting them due to some changes in the staffing rota. However, there are always core staff on shift.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff demonstrate a strong commitment to promoting the child’s educational progress. The child benefits from a tailored educational plan that addresses their individual learning needs and aspirations. Staff members actively engage with local schools and educational providers, which facilitates smooth transitions. The supportive environment and dedicated staff contribute to improvements in both academic performance and self-confidence, enabling the child to thrive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children’s guide contains misleading information, particularly in relation to the policy for vaping. The guide suggests that children may be allowed to vape, which not only contradicts legal regulations but also poses health risks and undermines the home’s commitment to promoting a safe and healthy environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Although leaders and managers have now considered the cultural heritage and background of the child in their care, there was some initial delay. However, this has now been addressed and the child has access to specialist services to help to manage their hair and skincare routine.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child to personalise their bedroom and parts of the home, which helps the child to feel settled. However, the home environment is in need of some routine maintenance work. However, immediate action was taken to address immediate concerns identified in the inspection.

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

Staff support the child with their emotional health and well-being. Staff are trained to recognise and respond to the emotional needs of the child, providing a nurturing environment that encourages open communication. Inspection report for children’s home: 2741405 4 Staff provide regular discussions and support sessions to help the child to explore the risks during missing from home incidents. As a result, missing episodes have reduced. The child is also engaged in constructive activities that promote a sense of belonging and security at the home. However, not all staff are consistently aware of the specific details relating to the child’s missing-from-home protocol.

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

Physical interventions have not been used since the last inspection, primarily due to the caring approach of staff. Staff are encouraged to use all available distraction or de-escalation techniques to prevent the need for physical intervention.

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

Leaders and managers review paperwork and ensure that the placing authority documents are followed. However, there are shortfalls in the information contained in some of the risk assessments.

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good

The manager completes a six-month quality of care review. This includes the wishes and feelings of the child and key stakeholders. The report does not always fully evaluate the impact of care on the child.

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good

There are gaps in the specific training provided to staff. This includes gaps in suicidal ideation training. This has not directly impacted on the care of the child. Additionally, there is a lack of ongoing professional development opportunities to develop staff skills.

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good

Some of the staff team do not have the relevant experience and expertise for their role. This potentially compromises the quality of care provided. Some staff members are relatively new to the sector and lack the necessary experience to manage the complex needs of the child effectively.

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good

Leaders and managers have not considered family relatives working together in the home. One member of staff is related to the registered manager. While there are some safeguards in place to avoid any conflicts of interest, this does not include managing allegations.

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good

During the inspection, staff members were observed to have their mobile phones and vaping devices with them while on duty, which is contrary to the home’s policy. The policies relating to these issues are unclear, and there is a lack of effective management oversight of these behaviours. Leaders and managers addressed this during the inspection.

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good

Team meetings take place and are an opportunity for staff to discuss the child’s needs, share good practices and address any challenges. The meetings are well structured, with clear agendas and follow-up actions, ensuring that key issues are addressed promptly. Inspection report for children’s home: 2741405 5 Staff supervisions are regular and are an integral part of the support system for staff development. These sessions provide staff with time to reflect on their practice, discuss challenges and receive constructive feedback.

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good

Staff do not offer adequate support to help the child understand their care records. The child expressed uncertainty about the contents of these records, which limited their ability to engage meaningfully in discussions about their progress. The language used by staff is not always child-friendly.

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good

Some of the paperwork relating to the child lacks detail. This includes references to past risks that are no longer relevant. This does not ensure that staff have the most up-to-date information relating to the risks to the child. Inspection report for children’s home: 2741405 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

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 the 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

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

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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) (2)(b)(vii)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that any sharp items, COSHH items and garden materials are kept safely locked away.

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Requirement Due date

Additionally, ensure that any maintenance and additional repairs are addressed without delay. 28 November

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child; 28 November Inspection report for children’s home: 2741405 7 are kept up to date; and

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry.

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Requirement Due date

if the child dies before attaining the age of 18, for 15 years from the date of the child’s death;

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Requirement Due date

in cases not falling within sub-paragraph (a), for 75 years from the child’s date of birth;

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Requirement Due date

securely in the children’s home during the period when the child to whom the case records relate is accommodated there; and

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Requirement Due date

in a secure place after the child has ceased to be accommodated in the home. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, this relates to ensuring that all children’s records are up to date, signed by the author and reviewed regularly to evidence progress and compliance.

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Requirement Due date

Additionally, this relates to ensuring that the quality of care review evidences the impact of the quality of care on children.

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)) 28 November Inspection report for children’s home: 2741405 8 Specifically, this relates to the risks to children being assessed and understood and control measures being put in place to mitigate them.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, this relates to staff having the appropriate experience and knowledge to support children effectively.

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Requirement Due date

Additionally, the registered person must ensure that there is a thorough and robust risk assessment in place to manage potential issues of family members working together. 28 November

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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

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous 28 November Inspection report for children’s home: 2741405 9 improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(f)(g)(i)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that staff receive training in order to meet the specific needs of the children in their care.

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Requirement Due date

Additionally, staff should be trained to work in line with the model of care as set out in the statement of purpose.

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Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

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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

keep the children’s guide and the home’s complaints procedure under review and seek children’s comments before revising either document;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that an explanation is given to each child as soon as reasonably practicable after the child’s arrival about—

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Requirement Due date

how to make a complaint or representations in relation to the home or the care the child receives and how any such complaint or representations will be dealt with; and

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Requirement Due date

what advocacy support or services are available to the child, how the child may access that support or those services and any entitlement the child may have to independent advocacy provision; and

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the views of each relevant person are taken into account, so far as reasonably practicable, before making a decision about the care or welfare of a child. 28 November Inspection report for children’s home: 2741405 10 (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(iii)(e))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that the views of the child are sought and considered, in particular, in relation to the staff and their experience in the home.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that each child’s cultural and heritage needs are considered as part of any admission processes and appropriate support is given to promote their cultural and heritage needs. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.2)  The registered person should ensure that the children’s guide does not contain information that is incorrect or conflicts with statutory laws or guidance, in particular in relation to smoking and vaping. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 24, paragraph 4.22)

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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: 2741405 11

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: A-Triangle Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 5 Crescent East, Hardhorn Road, Thornton- Cleveleys, Lancashire FY5 3LJ

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Inspectors

James Meeks, Social Care Inspector Andrea Foreman, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2741405 12 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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