Children's Home run by Lifetime Opportunities Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children's home: SC411046 1 SC411046

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Registered provider: Lifetime Opportunities Limited 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 provides care for up to four children who may have physical disabilities, learning disabilities and/or autism.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in February 2024 and has recently returned to work after a period of absence. The assistant manager oversaw the management of the home in the absence of the registered manager.

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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 requires improvement to be good

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Good

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

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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: SC411046 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/03/2024 Full Good 23/02/2023 Full Good 04/01/2022 Interim Declined in effectiveness 22/06/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home: SC411046 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are well supported when moving in and out of the home. Since the last inspection, two children have been supported to move in, and one young person left. The manager and placing authority have worked together to ensure that children have had their wishes considered to identify the best support for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from imaginative, sensory based activities. Staff are resourceful and creative. They actively seek opportunities for children to engage in important childhood activities, such as becoming confident on play equipment, playing games and sensory play.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a spacious and warm environment where they can decorate and personalise their bedrooms. Staff support children by incorporating their sensory needs into daily care. However, the presence of locks on doors leading to communal areas means children do not always experience a child-centred, homely environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are dedicated to promoting children’s independence by focusing on self-care and learning. Children’s goals are incorporated into their individual plans and as a result the children make significant progress. Regular reviews of children’s objectives are followed by celebrations which include others involved in their care. This boosts children’s self- esteem and independence, fostering a positive and nurturing environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to spend time with people who are important to them. The manager advocates for children and supports increased time spent with loved ones. In addition, staff support children to spend time with friends when it is appropriate to do so. This ensures that children maintain important relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand each child’s unique methods of communication. They are attuned to the children’s communication styles. Children who are non-verbal will use different vocal noises, directing staff to items of choice. Staff are sensitive to children’s facial cues and gestures and use these to help the child to make choices in their daily life.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are engaged in full-time education and have all made progress. Staff and managers work closely with education colleagues. However, two children’s education, health, and care plans were missing from their files. Without these, staff may lack key information to fully support the child’s development. While the manager has challenged local authorities to secure this information, these efforts have been ineffective.

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

Feedback from family and professionals is positive. They say that children are settled and well cared for. One family member said, ‘[Name of child] has a better social life than me, he has lots of friends and is so much calmer now, his health is also more stable.’ Inspection report for children's home: SC411046 4 The manager ensures that children’s care plans are up to date and appropriate for each child. Staff support children with their emotional well-being. Clear plans help to guide staff in how to care for children when they feel upset, worried or anxious. Staff can quickly identify when something is not right for children.

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

Staff respond effectively to behaviours that challenge, demonstrating a commitment to finding innovative ways to help children manage difficult situations. This approach reduces children’s anxieties and minimises incidents.

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

Staff only hold children as a last resort to ensure everyone is safe and staff have received appropriate training Children and staff have the chance to debrief afterwards to understand behaviours and prevent reoccurrence.

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

Restrictions are in place at the children’s home, including the locking of front and back doors to prevent children from leaving and encountering potential harm. These measures are based on comprehensive assessments of each child’s unique needs and are carefully documented. However, the use of internal locks has not been regularly reviewed, and as a result, their continued relevance and effectiveness in ensuring the safety of the children are not being robustly assessed.

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

Staff work collaboratively with other professionals, parents, and family members to understand children’s complex needs. Managers and staff are strong advocates for children. The manager communicates well with relevant professionals to provide an all- round approach to children’s care.

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

Safeguarding practice is effective. Staff receive safeguarding training that is specific to children’s disabilities. Additionally, staff have a clear understanding of children’s needs, vulnerabilities, and the potential risks they may be exposed to. Staff understand how to report and respond to any safeguarding concerns. Staff understand the importance of meeting children’s health needs. There is a well- managed system for administering and recording medications in a safe and controlled way.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The registered manager is on a phased return to work. In her absence, the assistant manager stepped into the role and will remain part of the management team. The managers are ambitious for children and have become strong advocates for disabled children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

There have been some changes in the staff team. The staff team is now consistent and stable. When there have been vacancies, these have been covered by the existing staff team or staff known to children from an agency. Staff say that the manager is approachable and that they feel valued. Inspection report for children's home: SC411046 5 Children are cared for by a committed and enthusiastic staff team. Staff are trained and receive ongoing training to help them meet the children’s needs. However, some staff have not achieved a relevant level 3 qualification within the required timescales.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Permanent staff in the home receive regular reflective supervision, however, agency staff do not, which is not in line with the provider’s policy. As a result, agency staff lack protected time to reflect on their work with the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Team meetings are a valuable forum for learning but they have not been held regularly, which does not align with the provider’s procedures. Managers challenge staff practice, promoting reflection and improvement. When a formal practice review was completed, children’s and key individuals’ views were not included, limiting insight into their experiences, and hindering meaningful improvements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Leaders and managers generally ensure that the children’s records are kept up to date. However, several important documents are missing from one child’s file. These documents relate to incident reporting on low level support following behaviour that challenged adults, the manager was addressing this during the inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager and staff have worked diligently to ensure children feel welcomed and supported according to their individual needs. They demonstrate unwavering dedication, ensuring the health child’s needs were fully assessed prior to him moving to the home. One professional remarked, ‘[Name of child] is looked after very well — staff know his needs, provide great support, and ensure he is safe and happy in his environment. We have never seen him so healthy.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The home’s statement of purpose has been completed by the interim manager, however, has not been sent to Ofsted within the expected timescale.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Leaders and managers promptly address complaints, using investigation outcomes to drive improvements. They also monitor practices monthly, both internally and independently, to enhance care for children. One staff member skilled in communication has created helpful Makaton aids, including a ‘Sign of the Week’ displayed and incorporated into children’s targets. As a result, one child now signs ‘please’ and ‘thank you. Inspection report for children's home: SC411046 6

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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

children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises;

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Requirement Due date

and any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home; is necessary and proportionate;

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Requirement Due date

is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21 (b)(c)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that the locks on the internal communal doors are removed. And must ensure locks are only used for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. 20 Apr 2025

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs;

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Requirement Due date

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; and 20 Apr 2025 Inspection report for children's home: SC411046 7 seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5 (a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must follow the local authority process to escalate their requests when they do not have the current plans for the child. Specifically the education health care plan.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (“the Level 3 Diploma”);

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Requirement Due date

or a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or 20 Apr 2025 Inspection report for children's home: SC411046 8 in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1st April 2014, 1st April 2016. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(b) (4)(a)(b) (5)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that all staff that work in the home in a care role have obtained their relevant qualification by the relevant date.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that all staff are supervised regularly, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children in their care.

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that all staff have individual appraisals once per year. This appraisal should consider, where 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. 20 Apr 2025

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry.

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Requirement Due date

in cases not falling within sub-paragraph (a), for 75 years from the child’s date of birth; 20 Apr 2025 Inspection report for children's home: SC411046 9 securely in the children’s home during the period when the child to whom the case records relate is accommodated there; and

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Requirement Due date

in a secure place after the child has ceased to be accommodated in the home. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This relates in particular to all children ‘s files which must contain, as a minimum, those documents listed in Schedule 3 and all other relevant documents.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement ("the statement of purpose") which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1. (Regulation 16 (1))

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Requirement Due date

This is in relation to the manager ensuring that the statement of purpose is sent to Ofsted when changes in staffing occur. 20 Apr 2025

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that good employment practice is maintained. This means that team meetings should take place regularly to share information effectively. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1).

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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: SC411046 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Lifetime Opportunities Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Windsor House, Bayshill Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL50 3AT

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Shona Wands Alderson

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Inspector

Jennifer Quest, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC411046 11 regulates 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, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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