Children's Home run by Lorac Lodge Ltd in Cambridgeshire

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2729647 1 Registered provider: Lorac Lodge

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

This home is run by a private company and provides care for up to four children who experience social and emotional difficulties and/or learning disabilities. Two children were living at the home at the time of inspection.

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Information about this children's home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2024.

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Information about this children's home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children's home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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'. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2729647 2

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Outcome from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, one child has moved in and out of the home. Staff were unable to meet the needs of the child safely. The manager worked with the child and their social worker to support this unplanned move. Two other children have moved on successfully in a planned manner following the progress they had made. At the time of the inspection, two children were living at the home and contributed to the inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff know the children well and understand their individual needs. The children continue to make progress from their starting points and have established trusting relationships with staff.

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Findings from the inspection

Children take part in a wide range of enriching activities. These include trips to theme parks, the cinema and ice-skating rink. Both children have recently been involved in fundraising schemes for local charities. These experiences improve children’s sense of community and well-being.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are helped to attend school or engage in home tutoring. When children are on a reduced timetable, staff ensure that additional support is in place to support their learning at the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff provide children with frequent opportunities to reflect on their experiences and behaviour. Planned one-to-one discussions help the children to express their feelings and understand their personal safety.

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Findings from the inspection

Safeguarding procedures have recently been emphasised in team and staff supervision meetings. Staff are now more aware of their responsibilities in relation to effective safeguarding practice.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s risk management plans are detailed and regularly updated. These cover a range of risks that are responsive to incidents and include individual strategies that staff use to support the children.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have responded appropriately to several safeguarding concerns and allegations against staff. Referrals to the local authority designated officer have been made. Protective measures have been implemented to safeguard children and staff. Leaders and managers have ensured that thorough internal investigations take place. When necessary, disciplinary procedures have been followed. This has suitably addressed poor staff practice. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2729647 3 Staff use de-escalation techniques to avoid restraint when possible. Records show that the use of restraint has been reasonable, proportionate and necessary to maintain children’s safety. Leaders and managers review incidents and identify further learning when this is needed. This has included recent physical intervention refresher courses for some staff.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has the skills to manage the home and is working towards an appropriate qualification. The manager is well supported by a deputy manager, an operations manager and the responsible individual. Leaders and managers have taken measured action to address the previously identified shortfalls. This has led to positive change in relation to the help and care provided to children.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have reviewed the staff on-call system. This now provides improved scope for leaders and managers to monitor staff practice and maintain effective oversight.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff feel well supported by leaders and managers. Regular supervision sessions take place, which provide suitable reflection and development opportunities for staff. Both the manager and the deputy manager have recently undertaken training to further strengthen the supervisory support provided to staff.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers ensure that structured staff meetings take place to reflect on and assess the quality of care provided to children. When a child moved on in an unplanned manner, the manager reviewed this ending with staff and identified future learning areas to better support children’s experiences.

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Findings from the inspection

External monitoring from the independent person provides consistent scrutiny to influence practice developments. However, the independent person does not contact parents or family members during these visits. This is a missed opportunity to explore the views of family members and their insight into the care provided.

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Findings from the inspection

Generally, there are suitable processes to ensure that notifications are made to Ofsted when required. However, two serious incidents were not notified without delay. This has meant that Ofsted’s ability to monitor the safeguarding arrangements during this time has been reduced.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have largely enhanced their monitoring and review of incidents at the home. However, improvement is still needed to capture children’s views following incidents when physical intervention has been used by staff. Additionally, some staff use references in children’s case notes that are not objective. This results in some information that is difficult to monitor.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have met three of the four requirements from the last inspection. One requirement has not been met and has been restated. One recommendation has not been reviewed as part of this visit. This will be reviewed at the next inspection. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2729647 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/07/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 20/09/2023 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2729647 5

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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

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (c)) 3 February 2024

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Recommendations

 The registered person should make best use of information from independent monitoring to ensure continuous improvement. The independent person's consultations with children's families should be more frequent. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 55, paragraph 10.24)  The registered person should ensure that all staff have their performance and fitness to carry out their role formally appraised at least once annually. This appraisal should take into account, when reasonable and practical, the views of other professionals who have worked with the staff member over the year and children in the home's care. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 61, paragraph 13.5)  The registered person should ensure that staff understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. ('Guide to Children's Homes Regulations,

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Recommendations

including the quality standards', page 62, paragraph 14.4)  The registered person should have a system in place so that all serious events are notified, within 24 hours, to the appropriate people. ('Guide to Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 63, paragraph 14.13) Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2729647 6

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Trust Care Management Ltd, 319b, Walton Road, West Molesey KT8 2QG

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Inspector

Mark Anderton, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2729647 7 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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