Children's home run by ABC Care and Education Ltd in Lancaster

Inspection report for children’s home: SC443765 1 SC443765 Registered provider: ABC Care and Education Ltd

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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 operated by a private provider. It is registered to provide care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in May 2012 and the manager registered in February 2018.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, three children were living at 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 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: SC443765 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/02/2024 Full Good 18/01/2023 Full Good 01/12/2021 Full Good 16/10/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: SC443765 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The three children living at the home at the time of the inspection are of primary school age. The manager and staff have created an environment where the children feel safe and listened to and they can express their wishes and feelings easily. Staff care for the children with warmth and empathy. As a result, staff develop strong and trusting relationships with the children. One child said: ‘I can always ask for a hug. I know they [staff] will help me feel calm again.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff demonstrate a good knowledge and understanding of children’s individual needs. Staff support children to spend time safely with their families. They support children with their identity by organising, developing and maintaining relationships with those people who are important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have access to a variety of activities inside and outside of the home. Staff provide children with opportunities to try new activities of interest, such as ice skating, swimming in the local lakes, picnics, bowling, paddleboarding and going for a walk in the countryside.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff and children have been on two overseas holidays in 2024, which has provided them with cultural and diverse experiences and created special memories for the children. The home is decorated with photos of the children on holiday, and enjoying many outdoor activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children are in good health and staff actively encourage and support them to attend health appointments. Medication is stored securely and administered safely.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage the children to keep their bedrooms tidy and promote healthy eating by making freshly cooked meals, which the children help to prepare.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children are all in full-time education. The manager and staff advocate well for the children to ensure their education needs are promoted through their individual education plans. Furthermore, the manager and staff ensure that the correct additional support is in place so that the children have every opportunity to reach their full academic potential.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of the inspection, the home was decorated throughout for Christmas. Great effort had been made to bring the festive spirit into the home, and make it an exciting time for the children. The children have personalised their bedrooms with their valued possessions and important photos displayed. They have age-appropriate toys and games to reflect their individual choices and preferences. Inspection report for children’s home: SC443765 4 The home needs some minor decoration and maintenance regarding the internal and external decoration and presentation, which the manager is aware of and has plans in place to address.

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

Staff know the children very well. They have a good understanding of children’s risks and vulnerabilities. Children’s risk assessments are regularly reviewed and updated by the manager and staff.

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

Incidents of children being physically held are very rare. When incidents occur, staff manage these well. They use strategies that require minimal physical intervention. The manager has oversight of all incidents and opportunities are provided to staff and children to reflect and learn from incidents.

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

Positive recognition and praise outweigh negative consequences. Staff support children to reflect on their behaviour and the choices they make. This approach is restorative and helps the children take responsibility for their actions. The manager evaluates consequences, ensuring that they are proportionate and restorative.

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

There is a robust process in place to ensure that the people who work with children are checked and vetted before working in the home. New staff undertake a structured induction and benefit from ongoing training related to their role. This safer recruitment process means that those who are employed are assessed as suitable to work with children.

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

Staffing at the home is stable. This promotes a sense of confidence for the children. One staff member said: ‘I love working here. We get to take the children on holiday, do fun activities, and really make a difference to their lives.’

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

Therapeutic intervention is commissioned by the home to assist the children to process their experiences. This service is ultimately for the children, but extends to the staff and school, so they support and can work together for the benefit of children.

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

Sensors are in use on the bedroom doors for the children. This is risk-assessed and reviewed regularly. However, a more child-centred approach which supports the overall family ethos of the home should be considered and implemented to promote the positive progress the children have already made at the home.

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

Staff speak highly of the manager. The manager includes the staff in decision-making and supports an open culture, where staff can express their own ideas to develop the home. One member of staff said: ‘The manager is always available to listen and support me when needed.’ The manager ensures that staff complete a programme of training and learning. Inspection report for children’s home: SC443765 5 Staff benefit from regular and reflective supervision. Team meetings take place regularly and are well attended by the staff. Staff also attend consultations that are led by the therapists for the individual children. These are reflective sessions that provide a forum for staff to explore and review children’s progress and support strategies.

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

The manager has positive relationships with all professionals involved in the children’s care. Professionals spoken to speak highly of the manager. One social worker said: ‘The manager is really good. The care [child’s name] receives is amazing. They have done so well since being at the home, it is so nice to see’.

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

The manager has a good understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for development and has recently changed the independent person to provide more external feedback and accurate monitoring reports.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is run efficiently by an experienced and enthusiastic manager. The manager and staff are committed to giving children opportunities to reach their full potential. The staff say they feel well supported by the manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff speak highly of the manager. The manager includes the staff in decision-making and supports an open culture where staff can express their own ideas to develop the home. One member of staff said: ‘The manager is always available to listen and support me when needed.’ The manager ensures that staff complete a programme of training and learning.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from regular and reflective supervision. Team meetings take place regularly and are well attended by the staff. Staff also attend consultations that are led by the therapists for the individual children. These are reflective sessions that provide a forum for staff to explore and review children’s progress and support strategies.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has positive relationships with all professionals involved in the children’s care. Professionals spoken to speak highly of the manager. One social worker said: ‘The manager is really good. The care [child’s name] receives is amazing. They have done so well since being at the home, it is so nice to see.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a good understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for development and has recently changed the independent person to provide more external feedback, and accurate monitoring reports. Inspection report for children’s home: SC443765 6

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Recommendations

 The registered manager should ensure that just as in a family home, children should be able to access all shared areas of their home unless there are specific reasons why this would not meet a child’s needs. This relates to the sensors in use and the door locks in the communal areas of the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 15, paragraph 3.10)  The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meets the needs of their children. Any maintenance and decoration to internal and external areas of the home should be completed in a timely manner. (‘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: SC443765 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: ABC Care and Education Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: International House, 61 Mosley Street, Manchester M2 3HZ

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Christopher Kennedy

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Inspectors

Deborah Turner, Social Care Inspector Lisa Mulcahy, Regulatory Inspection Manager Inspection report for children’s home: SC443765 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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