Children's home run by Care Afloat Ltd in West Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC006010 1 SC006010 Registered provider: Care Afloat Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private company operates the home. The home provides care for one child with emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, there was one child living in the home. The child spoke to the inspector.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in January 2025.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC006010 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/08/2023 Full Good 11/05/2022 Full Good 06/05/2021 Full Good 30/01/2020 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC006010 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have built positive relationships with the child, providing them with safe, predictable care. This has meant that the child has stability and a sense of belonging. The child’s social worker said, ‘This is the longest placement [name of child] has ever had.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children move on from the home, they do so with a plan in place. The staff team carefully coordinate the move with the child and external professionals. They obtain the child’s views and feelings and support the child accordingly. When children leave the home, staff remain in touch, so that children can access support from familiar adults.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of education. The child has been encouraged to attend college and there is regular communication with the placing authority post-16 education adviser. However, due to factors not relating to the home, the child is yet to start on a suitable course. Staff take part in multi-agency meetings regarding the progress and needs of the child and to find the best course for them. One education professional said, ‘There is effective communication with the staff team. I always get a response, and they support [name of child] to attend induction days and visits.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s physical and emotional health are promoted and they are encouraged to attend appointments and access services such as child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS), My Space and drug and alcohol services. When children smoke, staff provide support and advice on the negative effects of smoking.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Key-worker sessions and significant discussions take place with the child on a range of issues impacting their life. This enables the child to receive advice and guidance on matters important to them and to help them make informed judgements and take ownership of decision-making.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child with their independence plan, in line with their age and understanding. The child is encouraged to keep their bedroom tidy, cook basic meals, do their laundry, travel independently and budget for the week ahead. The child carries out tasks independently of staff.

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

The child is safer because of living in the home. The staff understand the child’s risks well. Risk assessments and behaviour management plans are clear, regularly reviewed and updated when new needs emerge.

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

There is effective multi-agency working with a range of professionals through regular care planning meetings and strategy discussions. The child is visited in the home and Inspection report for children’s home: SC006010 4 their views are sought. These views help inform decisions about the child’s care and are central to safety planning.

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

When the child has been missing from home, staff have taken appropriate action. They ensure that they work with partner agencies such as the police and social workers. They take the initiative to locate and return the child as quickly as possible.

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

When allegations have been made against staff, these have been reported to external agencies such as the child’s placing authority and the local authority designated officer and concerns were appropriately investigated by the manager and senior managers. However, on one occasion, the manager failed to notify Ofsted. A requirement has been raised to this effect.

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

There has been one incident of self-harm. The child was supported and appropriate treatment administered. However, staff did not show professional curiosity to explore the reasons behind the behaviour or obtain the child’s views in a meaningful way which may have led to more support for the child.

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

The use of physical intervention has not been necessary since the last inspection. When the child is upset and frustrated, staff appropriately seek to find the reasons why by speaking to them, spending time with them, providing clear boundaries and offering appropriate solutions. This helps the child to feel safe and cared for. When consequences are implemented, they are appropriate, reasonable and fair.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is suitably experienced and qualified. She works closely with her senior manager and has a good understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for development. She has taken steps to meet the previous requirements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision and annual appraisals and meet regularly as a team. They have the skills and knowledge to meet the needs of the child living in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular training, mainly online, with some face-to-face training from specialists, such as CAMHS and therapy providers who work closely with the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are happy working at the home. They feel supported by managers. They are familiar with the whistle-blowing procedure and feel confident to report concerns to managers, who they say are always available. As a result, staff retention is good, and the team is stable and consistent.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has internal monitoring systems in place which help her evaluate the effectiveness of staff practice. She values feedback from the independent visitor and implements actions in a timely manner. Some documents are repetitive and staff are duplicating work across documents. The manager was receptive to suggestions for improving this. Inspection report for children’s home: SC006010 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

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child —

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

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Requirement Due date

must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40 (4) (a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b)) 28 March 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: SC006010 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff’s safeguarding skills include being able to identify signs that children may be at risk and supporting children with strategies to manage and reduce any risks. Staff should encourage children to express their views and support children to understand how to ask for help to stay safe, particularly following any serious incidents which may have taken place. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.10)

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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: SC006010 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 158-160 Birkrig, Skelmersdale WN8 9HP

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Michael Fletcher

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Inspector

Michelle Greenhalgh, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC006010 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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