Children's home run by Connect Care Solutions Limited

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2642400 1

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for one child with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2023 and voluntarily cancelled the registration from 7 March 2025.

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This monitoring visit

At the previous visit, serious shortfalls were found in safeguarding practice and in the leadership and management arrangements in the home.

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This monitoring visit

As a result, Ofsted made a decision to issue compliance notices under regulation 12, the protection of children standard, and regulation 13, the leadership and management standard.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken by the provider to meet the steps in the two compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

There have been changes to the management arrangements. The registered manager has now left the home. An interim manager has been appointed and plans to apply for registration with Ofsted. The interim manager is child centred in their approach to providing care for children and has a clear vision for the home.

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This monitoring visit

The interim manager and responsible individual have completed a detailed overview of the home, and they have worked through an action plan to make improvements. The changes implemented by the leaders and managers have been effective in improving the quality of care for the child living in the home. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2642400 2 The child has been provided with improved structures and routines in their day-to- day life. Staff have implemented effective boundaries and work consistently, which has led to a reduction in incidents. The child is engaging with a tutor to support his education. There have been no incidents where it is been necessary to hold the child.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, there have been four safeguarding incidents. These have been well managed, with clear management oversight and an analysis of each incident. Any learning opportunities have been shared with staff, which has improved care practices. The records of the incidents are detailed and provide a full overview of the incident and staff action.

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This monitoring visit

Risk management plans have been amended to ensure that they contain all the child’s known risks. The written plans also contain clear strategies for staff to follow to ensure that the child is safe. There have been no incidents of the child going missing from the home. However, staff understand what action to take if there was an incident.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last visit, staff have received additional training. This has focused on key areas of care, including safeguarding, recording and report writing, attachment theory and the responsibilities of staff in supporting children who may have a court- directed order in place to restrict their liberties and keep them safe. Staff said the training has been useful and valuable. Staff have welcomed the opportunity to revisit training and develop their knowledge and skills. Staff have also enjoyed having face- to-face training as it has enabled them to reflect on their practice and share ideas with colleagues. The training has helped to increase staff confidence in their practice.

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This monitoring visit

Staff are supported by managers and describe improved morale. Staff said they receive regular supervision and can ask the manager for additional support if required. Staff meetings are more in depth. Staff discuss the child’s needs and identify any areas for improvement or development. Staff said that communication has improved, and this has helped to ensure that they provide the child with consistent care. Handovers are more detailed and ensure that important information relating to the child’s care is shared effectively. The members of the staff team are committed to making a difference to the child’s life.

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This monitoring visit

Therefore, the provider has taken sufficient action to meet the steps identified in the compliance notices under regulation 12, the protection of children standard, and regulation 13, the leadership and management standard.

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This monitoring visit

The additional requirements issued at the last visit were not considered as part of this monitoring visit and will be considered as part of the next full inspection. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2642400 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/06/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 06/06/2023 Full Good 07/02/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 15/02/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2642400 4

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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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; and

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that routines and boundaries are in place that support children to make progress and promote their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 18 April 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that all staff receive regular supervision that allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the child assigned to their care.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 18 April 2025

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that staff— 18 April 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2642400 5 help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(iv)(x))

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that each of the children are provided with an appropriate educational provision to meet their assessed needs. Furthermore, staff must have the skills and experience to ensure that children are supported to attend and engage in education.

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed;

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Requirement Due date

that staff help each child to access and contribute to the records kept by the registered person in relation to the child. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(a)(c)(f))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that a full assessment of children’s needs is completed to ensure that only children whose needs the staff can meet move in to the home. 18 April 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that— 18 April 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2642400 6 within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure ("the user"), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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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 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that records in relation to holding a child are accurate and contain details of the events leading up to the hold and the steps taken to avoid the measure. Staff involved in an incident of holding a child must be provided an opportunity for a debrief to ensure that they can raise any concerns and reflect on their practice. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2642400 7 Additionally, leaders and managers should ensure that consequences used to manage the behaviour of a child are evaluated to consider whether the measure was effective.

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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 kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers should ensure that children’s records are detailed and accurate and contain all the necessary information. 18 April 2025

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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. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)) 18 April 2025

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that when a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority must provide an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2642400 8 place to protect each child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2642400 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Connect Care Solutions Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 17 Victoria Road East, Thornton-Cleveleys FY5 5HT

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Inspector

Suzanne Birchall, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2642400 10 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 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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