Children's home run by Lytham Care Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2759240 1 Registered provider: Lytham Care Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned. The home is registered to provide care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties. The home and manager registered with Ofsted in May 2024.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This was the first inspection since the home was registered.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There were two children living in the home at the time of the inspection.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2759240 2

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children living in the home say they are happy and that staff care for them well. The home promotes a strong sense of stability and belonging for the children. As a result, children make good progress.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Spending time with the staff and visits to the home before moving in help to reduce any anxieties children may have. Children develop positive relationships with those who are caring for them. They are familiar with their new home environment at the time of moving in. Liaison with social work professionals before children move in means that staff have a good understanding of children’s needs and vulnerabilities. As a result, children are provided with the care and support they need to settle into the home.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to enjoy new and existing hobbies. Children attend local groups and clubs, which helps them to develop new friendships. Staff recognise children’s talents and pursue opportunities for them to excel in these. One child has a love of music and is talented in playing the guitar. The child attends guitar lessons, which they really enjoy. Furthermore, the manager has purchased his own guitar so that the child can teach him how to play. As a result, the child has developed a strong relationship with the manager and enjoys spending time playing music together.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to engage with health professionals. This means children’s health needs are met well. For one child, staff have supported them to overcome a fear of the dentist. As a result, the child is now attending the dentist on a regular basis and is receiving the treatment they require. Children’s emotional health needs are met through the strong relationships they develop with the staff. Staff care for the children with warmth and nurture. One child said that they ‘now feel part of a real family’. Staff recognise the impact of the children’s histories and lived experiences, and they recognise the children’s need for specialist support. They understand the need to respond to children’s views and wishes for engaging with this.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager advocates for children when there are delays in them accessing education provisions. He challenges professionals and escalates concerns when children are not being provided with the opportunities to access education that they are entitled to. Daily education plans support children to engage in educational activities when they are not receiving formal education. This provides them with structure and routine in preparation for attending education provisions. However, the manager has not taken action in a timely manner when local authority documents are not shared with the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2759240 3 Staff support children to spend time with family and those who are important to them. Staff recognise the strong relationships and attachments that children have with their siblings. Staff advocate for children to spend more time with siblings in line with the children’s wishes. As a result, siblings are now able to visit the home to

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

spend time with the children in their own environment.

p.3

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

The children are cared for by a stable staff team. The strong relationships between the staff and children are a key strength of this home. Staff know the children well. They understand the children’s risks and individual needs. They support children with warmth and empathy. As a result, children’s risks reduce.

p.3

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

Staff de-escalate incidents of challenging behaviour with compassion and empathy. As a result, incidents are rare. Staff spend time with children following incidents to reflect on their behaviour. This helps children to understand their behaviour and manage their emotions more effectively. Positive behaviour is promoted through consistent routines and boundaries. Staff treat children with respect and act as positive role models for them.

p.3

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

Staff manage the children’s relationships with each other well. When disagreements arise, staff support children to understand the impact of their behaviour. They support them to understand the wishes and views of others. This helps children to respect each other and overcome any issues they may have.

p.3

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

Risk assessment and behaviour management records are child-centred and written in consultation with the children. They include clear strategies and guidance for staff to follow in line with the children’s individual wishes and needs. However, records are not updated in a timely way following incidents between the children.

p.3

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

Staff undergo training on topics relevant to the children’s individual needs. This means that they understand the children’s needs well and know how to support them in line with their individual vulnerabilities. However, records state that staff should use their knowledge from training for one specific risk, and they lack detail about the specific actions to take to manage this risk.

p.3

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

Staff support children to spend time in the community safely. Access to local youth groups and activities in the community means that children make friends and spend time with them in a safe way. Staff support children to develop their independence in line with their age and level of understanding. Staff take a gradual approach to children spending time independently in the community. This helps children to understand potential risks and make informed decisions about how they spend their time. Inspection report for children’s home: 2759240 4

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by an experienced manager. He is committed to providing a nurturing and loving home for children. He knows the children well and has high aspirations for them. He is passionate in providing a home that offers children a sense of belonging and stability. He has high expectations of the staff team to share these aspirations and always provide high-quality care to the children. However, the home lacks personalisation and is not decorated in a way that reflects a homely environment for the children.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has good oversight of the home and the care provided to the children. He develops positive relationships with the children and staff. He works hard to ensure that children move into the home in a well-planned way. He invests time in them to help them settle in. However, records do not always demonstrate his oversight of the care being provided to the children on a daily basis. Furthermore, the manager has not identified shortfalls in staff attending refresher training sessions.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say they are well supported by the manager. They say he is always available to offer advice and guidance. They speak highly of his dedication and commitment to the children. Staff say this creates a high level of morale and motivation among the team. Staff benefit from regular supervision and monthly team meetings. These provide staff with opportunities to discuss and reflect on their practice with the children. There is a strong focus on staff’s interactions with children and how the use of language impacts on children.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Social work professionals speak highly of the home and the positive impact that living in the home has had on the children. The manager maintains good communication with professionals. He shares positive experiences on a regular basis. The social worker said that the progress shared for one child has been identified within the local authority as an example of good practice.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Monthly audits help the manager track and monitor the children’s progress. However, development plans lack evaluation. This limits the manager’s ability to identify any shortfalls or areas of improvement. Visits from the independent visitor take place monthly. The manager welcomes the independent scrutiny of the home. He acts quickly to rectify any shortfalls and address any recommendations following visits. Inspection report for children’s home: 2759240 5

p.4

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

p.5

Requirement Due date

are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b))

p.5

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that records are updated following any incidents in the home and include specific guidance for staff to follow. 11 December

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

p.5

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;

p.5

Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (2)(c)(f)(h))

p.5

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that staff undertake training within required timescales, that oversight of the care being provided in the home is reflected in children’s records and that development plans evaluate the quality of care in the home. 11 December

p.5

Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff— 11 December Inspection report for children’s home: 2759240 6 if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (c))

p.5

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that action is taken to obtain local authority documents in a timely way.

p.6

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the home is furnished and decorated to reflect a homely environment. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.9)

p.6

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: 2759240 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Lytham Care Limited

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Lytham Care, 400 Longmoor Lane, Liverpool L9 9DB

p.7

Inspector

Claire Hobbs, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2759240 8 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.

p.7

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8