Children's home run by Lancashire County Council

Inspection report for children’s home: 1278968 1 Registered provider: Lancashire 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 local authority home provides short breaks for children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and manager registered with Ofsted in August 2018.

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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 outstanding

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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: 1278968 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/02/2024 Full Good 22/03/2023 Full Outstanding 23/03/2022 Full Outstanding 18/11/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1278968 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have a detailed understanding of the children’s individual and emerging needs. The team is child-focused and committed to offering the best quality of care to the children. This is shown through staff’s warm, nurturing and therapeutic approach. Staff provide children with lots of interaction, play, laughter and experiences that can be repeated in their home environments.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is a strong culture of inclusion within the home. Children are sensitively matched to enrich their experiences. Equally, when appropriate, staff talk with children about their perceptions and views. This allows children to develop their sense of self, form friendships and understand the richness of equality and diversity in their communities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from spending time with each other and are able to develop creative socialisation skills. There is a wide range of resources available from arts and crafts, board games, musical instruments and a recently created cinema room and sensory room. Children spend a lot of time outdoors, going to local beauty spots. Children have a choice in shaping their experiences at the home and plan activities as a group. This promotes children’s confidence, interaction and social skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s wishes and views are given priority. They are included in all aspects of their care planning, from initial care planning and in expressing their desired outcomes. Feedback is sought regularly, and direct work sessions are detailed and personal to the individual needs of the children. Children feel valued and respected.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff work closely with the children’s family to strengthen relationships. They do this through a programme of individualised sessions. Parents and carers can also access the provider’s parenting course. One parent said: ‘The support has been fantastic. The course gave me insight and made me look at my behaviours and reactions to my child. We get on much better.’ This provides families with the emotional and practical support to apply in their homes.

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

Staff know and understand children’s risks. They work closely with stakeholders to ensure that children receive the support they need. This includes a meeting with the child, their carer and their social worker before they access the service. This meeting ensures a mutually agreed plan of action. Risk assessments are reviewed weekly to ensure they are meeting the child’s needs. This approach is inclusive and allows the child’s full participation in their care and keeps them safe.

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

There has been a significant safeguarding matter that has evidenced the critical importance of information-sharing from stakeholders to inform risk assessments. This has been clearly escalated to leaders and a response sought in a timely manner. Inspection report for children’s home: 1278968 4 Managers have comprehensively reviewed current procedures within the home and made changes to increase children’s safety. Both children and their carers are fully informed and give consent before the children stay.

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

Children quickly build trusting relationships with staff and feel safe during their time at the home. Feedback from children and their families is excellent. One child said: ‘It was one of my safest environments at a really difficult time in my life. Being able to stay for the weekends was amazing for me; they helped me so much.’

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

Children staying at the home do so on a voluntary basis and they are given time to consider the expectations and boundaries. As the children want to be at the home, this has resulted in exceptional outcomes. No children have been reported missing, and there have been no incidents of self-injurious behaviour or the use of physical intervention to keep children safe, despite these being known risks for the children. Children feel safe and receive stability from the adults caring for them.

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

Since the last inspection, there has been an occasion when children’s care and experiences could have been compromised by them not having their agreed short break. However, managers worked effectively to devise a plan to reduce the impact on all concerned. This was communicated and enabled the children to be offered alternative options and receive the quality of care agreed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is led by a committed and highly experienced manager who is forward-thinking and provides inspirational leadership. He is supported by two assistant managers who support the operation of the home effectively. Managers have a clear ambition for each child and are passionate about the quality of care that is provided.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The members of the staff team are skilled and have a wealth of experience. Staff who have recently been employed bring their experiences from other settings. This adds value and enthusiasm to the whole staff team. The team cares deeply for the children. Staff speak with enthusiasm about the children and the outcomes they have achieved. One staff member said: ‘There has never been a day when I haven’t wanted to come to work’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Proposed changes to the service have caused some uncertainty within the staff team. However, staff say that they feel fully supported and valued and morale remains high. Staff are motivated because of the leadership style and the focus on children’s needs being paramount. Therefore, because of this child-focused practice, children’s lived experiences are enriched.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Regular, purposeful team meetings take place. These are valued meetings and provide staff with opportunities for constructive reflection on practice. The manager has been influential in developing staff practice and approaches. Bespoke training is sought to Inspection report for children’s home: 1278968 5 enhance staff’s ability. Consequently, staff are equipped to meet the diverse and emerging needs of children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers strive for positive working relationships with family members and professionals. Feedback is extremely positive. One professional said: ‘The staff team are fantastic. They are consistent with the children and adapt their style of work to meet the child’s needs. The direct work completed was really impressive.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers have taken on board the findings at the last inspection and have developed a more robust level of oversight. Audits are being undertaken and learning shared with the staff team to strengthen practice and achieve consistency.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There are no requirements or recommendations set at this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: 1278968 6

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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: 1278968 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Lancashire County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: County Hall, Preston PR1 8XJ

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Inspector

Angeline Clarke, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1278968 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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Inspector

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