Children's home run by Lancashire County Council

Inspection report for children’s home: 2791215 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 2024.

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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 : not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2791215 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide a nurturing environment that supports children who come and stay at the home for a short break. The tailored support encourages positive changes in behaviour, strengthens family relationships and teaches vital life skills. This flexible, compassionate approach ensures that young people feel valued and supported, leading to their confidence increasing.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Feedback from parents highlights the service’s positive impact, particularly in boosting children’s confidence and helping families manage their child’s needs. A parent said, ‘They have transformed our lives.’ Children and their families benefit from the collaborative, trust-based environment created by the staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to engage in a variety of activities that support their development and emotional well-being. Families are invited in to participate in fun activities with their children. Parents say that family relationships have improved since their children have been having short breaks at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff consistently focus on the overall well-being of the children, addressing both immediate needs and long-term goals. Children are encouraged to work towards individualised targets and engage in support sessions, both individually and with their families. This contributes to significant improvements in children’s lives. Parents feel empowered to support their children and confidently navigate the challenges they face.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff have created a warm and homely environment for children. The open-plan spacious living and dining areas, along with children’s en-suite bedrooms, provide both comfort and privacy. The overall standard of decoration and maintenance is high. This is conducive to creating a positive atmosphere, where children are encouraged to feel at ease.

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

The individual risk assessments for each child are comprehensive and regularly updated, addressing a wide range of issues. These assessments ensure that staff are well prepared to meet the specific needs of each child, including managing triggers and identifying risks. This helps keep children safe.

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

Staff are well trained in safeguarding protocols and are clear on which partner agencies they need to work with to ensure that any issues related to safeguarding are addressed. Staff demonstrate a strong commitment to keeping children safe.

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

Children want to come and stay in the home, and they are given time to consider the expectations and boundaries. This has resulted in excellent outcomes. No children Inspection report for children’s home: 2791215 3 have been reported missing from home, 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 and nurturing care from the adults looking after them.

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

Staff consistently use a therapeutic model of behaviour that supports children to feel safe and nurtured. Children behave well and enjoy their time at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by a committed and supportive management team that ensures high standards of care and staff development. The management team encourages an open and collaborative work environment, where staff feel well supported. The team is dedicated to maintaining high standards of care. This contributes to a positive and supportive working environment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are invested in their roles and say that they ‘love’ their jobs. They are confident in addressing any concerns, knowing that they have strong supervision and support. This helps create a secure environment for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings facilitate effective communication. The team meets informally each week and formally once a month. The meetings enable staff to reflect on their work with the children and families. This helps to ensure that the work with the families is consistent across the team and well informed. Parents say that staff are welcoming, warm and helpful.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have access to regular individual supervision. The supervision process is structured, with a clear emphasis on staff development. Reflection books based on a theoretical model are used to guide self-assessment and action planning, ensuring that staff can track their progress and areas for improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Training offered to staff is comprehensive and varied, ensuring that staff are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to support the children. This includes specialised training tailored to the needs of the children. The manager remains confident in the range and quality of training available to staff, which enhances their ability to meet the needs of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The rota system is designed to ensure a balanced gender mix and to match staff interests with the children who will be staying over the weekend, which helps to build stronger, more positive relationships.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

As the service develops, the manager plans to track children’s progress after their time receiving short breaks ends. This will help to further tailor the service offered to families and will test the effectiveness of the intervention. Inspection report for children’s home: 2791215 4

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Recommendation

 The registered person should keep the interventions with children and families under review to ensure that the service offered is effective. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.23)

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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: 2791215 5

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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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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Claire Rose Dudley

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Inspector

Cathy Wilkins, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2791215 6 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 children 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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