Children's Home run by Choices 4 Children Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC400880 1 SC400880 Registered Provider: Choices 4 Children Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private company. The home is registered to provide care for up to six children with learning disabilities and social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted on 25 September 2009.

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Information about this children’s home

The previous registered manager left the role in January 2024. A new manager was appointed in April 2024. They have applied to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, there were five children living in the home.

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This monitoring visit

This home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 28 and 29 January 2025.

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This monitoring visit

Inspectors identified serious concerns in relation to safeguarding practices and ineffective leadership and management arrangements.

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This monitoring visit

Following the inspection, two compliance notices were issued under Section 22A of the Care Standards Act. Compliance notices were issued under regulation 12, the protection of children standard and regulation 13, the leadership and management standard. Due to the concerns identified, Ofsted issued a notice restricting accommodation to prevent any further children moving into the home.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the actions taken by the provider in meeting the steps in the compliance notices and their compliance with the notice restricting accommodation. Good progress has been made since the last inspection.

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This monitoring visit

The company’s policies have been reviewed and new ones created to address the shortfalls identified in practice. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC400880 2 Leaders and managers now understand the thresholds for working with the local authority designated office (LADO). The manager notified the LADO about the historic allegation of harassment and bullying between staff. A full review was conducted and relevant information shared with all safeguarding partners.

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This monitoring visit

The manager notified Ofsted when a child required hospital treatment due to their health needs. No other safeguarding incidents have taken place since the last inspection. Therefore, the effectiveness of the manager’s response to safeguarding incidents could not be considered fully at this inspection.

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This monitoring visit

Several key documents have been revised to strengthen recording and oversight. These include safeguarding incident logs, staff supervision templates and the complaints form. There are helpful guidance notes in place to give staff prompts to consider when completing these documents.

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This monitoring visit

The management team attended safeguarding training to understand their role as designated safeguarding leads. The manager has also reflected on previous safeguarding incidents and completed lessons learned. The responsible individual has enrolled on the level 5 qualification to increase her knowledge and skills.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have ensured that all staff attend development days. Staff have also attended training events to improve their knowledge and skills around safeguarding practice, allegations and whistle-blowing. Managers now use questionnaires to evaluate staff learning.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, there have been changes to the staffing. The director who was performing a caring role is no longer doing so. A member of staff who is related to the manager has left their part-time role. The changes reduce the potential for conflicts of interest in the team. There are currently two vacancies for the manager to appoint to. The use of agency staff has reduced.

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This monitoring visit

Managers and senior staff have completed training in reflective supervision. An example of a session completed by a senior member of staff shows that further work is needed to embed this learning into their practice.

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This monitoring visit

Action has been taken to review and update safer recruitment procedures. This will improve practice. The manager and responsible individual have introduced a new recording system to improve their oversight and monitoring of care practices.

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This monitoring visit

The provider is employing a consultant who is experienced in the sector to support improvements to care practices. They are also providing training to all staff, supervision for the directors and the responsible individual as well as additional external oversight. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC400880 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/01/2025 Full Inadequate 14/11/2023 Full Good 22/02/2023 Full Good 11/01/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC400880 4

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What does the children’s home need to do to improve?

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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What does the children’s home need to do to improve?

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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What does the children’s home need to do to improve?

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

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What does the children’s home need to do to improve?

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a))

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What does the children’s home need to do to improve?

This specifically relates to leaders and managers having the skills, knowledge and experience to manage the home and deliver outcomes in line with the statement of purpose. 30 June 2025

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Recommendations

 Leaders and managers should ensure that they consult with local stakeholders to consider their views when reviewing the location of the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.1)

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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: SC400880 5

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Inspectors

Andrea Foreman, Social Care Inspector Stacey Ilaboya, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC400880 6 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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