Children's Home run by Lily Residential Services Ltd in Dorset

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2739974 1 Registered provider: Lily Residential Services Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home was registered with Ofsted on 21 August 2023 and is operated by a private social care provider. The home provides care for up to three children.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Inspection date: 20 March 2025

Date of last inspection: 2 September 2024

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Inspection date: 20 March 2025

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 20 March 2025

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2739974 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit.

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Findings from the inspection

The inspector saw all three children who were living at the home at the time of the inspection. Children said that they felt safe and were happy at the home. One child said they get on well with staff and that ‘they are all great’. The child said they were well looked after and felt that the staff wanted the best for them.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are making progress. Staff speak proudly of the achievements children have made and these are accurately reflected in their plans and records.

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Findings from the inspection

Two children have left the home since the last inspection. One of these moves was well managed and included a lovely record of the child’s time at the home with written messages from staff and photos of all the things the child had done. Staff creatively used quick response (QR) codes to record video messages about the child’s time at the home, saying how much they would miss them. The other child who left moved because of worries about their safety and the safety of others. The manager has not yet completed a review of this child’s placement to identify lessons learned.

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Findings from the inspection

Safeguarding events are well managed and referred to the appropriate agencies in a timely manner. Staff act on the guidance provided to keep children safe. Records of safeguarding events are appropriate and evidence all actions taken.

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Findings from the inspection

Behavioural events are managed appropriately and restraint is rarely used. When the manager is involved in an incident of restraint, they have also completed the managerial review of the incident. This reduces the opportunity for independent reflection. Some behavioural records require improvement as they contain vague and/or emotive language. This detracts from the meaningful nature of these records for children.

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Findings from the inspection

Children have good opportunities to talk with staff about important issues. These discussions also link well to the children’s identified needs and events that have happened. Records of these discussions vary in quality. Some are very detailed and evidence the discussion and support staff provide to children, but some do not.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff offer children a range of different activities. Overall, children’s involvement in these activities has improved, but there are still occasions when children choose not to take part. Staff use their skills and relationships with the children to encourage their involvement. This has also had a positive impact on the amount of time children spend in their room, which has decreased.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff provide children with a spacious, welcoming, comfortable home. It is well furnished in a comfortable, homely style. Children’s rooms are personalised to their Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2739974 3 interests and taste. Bedrooms are clean and well furnished. One child spoke about choosing their bedroom furniture and decor.

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Findings from the inspection

There have been several changes in the staff team, with new staff joining and more new staff having been recruited. Currently, except for three core staff, the rest of the team are new and on probation. Leaders and managers have put in place an appropriate risk assessment around this and ensured that children have staff whom they know to provide continuity of care.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff are positive about working in the home. They feel valued, well supported and trained for their role. New staff have been welcomed into the home and are enjoying their work. They feel the induction they are going through is of a good quality and supports them to understand and develop in their role.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff are provided with opportunities to develop their knowledge and to obtain relevant qualifications. The quality of staff supervision has improved. Supervision and regular team meetings provide an opportunity for staff to reflect on their work with children and to develop their practice. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2739974 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/09/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 05/02/2024 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2739974 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that when the registered manager has been involved in a restraint, another leader or manager carries out a review of the incident so as to provide an independent assessment of what happened. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.36)  The registered person should consider reviewing what happened when children’s placements break down in order to identify any lessons learned and proactively implement these lessons to improve practice. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.24)  The registered person should ensure that all staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. In particular, leaders and managers should ensure that staff phrase records in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s

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Recommendations

Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 14.4) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2739974 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Lily Residential Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Spirare Ltd, Mey House, Bridport Road, Poundbury, Dorchester DT1 3QY

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Inspector

Wendy Anderson, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2739974 7 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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