Children's home run by Living Life (UK) Limited in North Northamptonshire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC481844 1 SC481844 Registered provider: Living Life (UK) Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private provider. It is registered to provide care for up to five children who may have social and emotional needs. Three children were living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager is currently on extended leave. They were not present for the inspection. An interim manager is in post.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC481844 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/03/2024 Full Good 28/02/2023 Full Good 21/07/2021 Full Good 21/01/2020 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: SC481844 3

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, one child has moved in. No children have moved out. All three living in the home children were spoken with.

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improvement to be good

There have been some safeguarding allegations that have not been managed appropriately. This reduces the overall quality of the children’s experiences. Despite this, staff have been able to provide stability to children, particularly for two children who have lived in the home for over a year.

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improvement to be good

Staff do not follow the therapeutic model described in the statement of purpose. When children are upset and distressed the staff do not always respond therapeutically. In some cases, staff use language that blames and shames children, to elicit apologies from them. This means that staff are not skilled in understanding the children’s behaviour and what the underlying reasons are for this.

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improvement to be good

Some parts of the house look worn and need attention. There is a small dent in the living room wall. Other areas need a deep clean and the walls in a child’s bedroom need cleaning. This detracts from a nurturing environment.

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improvement to be good

Staff are focused on the educational attainment of children. One child attends school daily. Another child has a part-time schedule at school and another alternative provision. One child is not on roll at any school. This is being questioned by the manager. In the meantime, staff take the child to a local library to complete work. On other occasions, the child is taken to a local park to have spontaneous learning opportunities, as well as more formal learning. This creative approach has led to the child engaging for most of the week. This means that children are having opportunities to learn and build their self- esteem.

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improvement to be good

Staff provide a range of activities. One child goes to a dance class at weekends. This encourages children’s enjoyment and success.

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improvement to be good

Staff help children to see people who are important to them. One child has been encouraged to go to a youth club. This is especially important as they are not currently in school and need a peer group outside the home. Staff arranged a birthday trip for one child, with the child’s friend and the friend’s parent.

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improvement to be good

Between October 20024 and the beginning of December 2024, managers failed to follow safeguarding procedures. During this period, a child made four allegations against staff. These were made during incidents of physical intervention and have been clearly Inspection report for children’s home: SC481844 4 recorded in the documents. There are no records to demonstrate what action has been taken in response to any of these allegations. One document states that safeguarding partners were contacted and that the advice given was to carry out an internal investigation. A record of the internal investigation was not available and could not be produced by senior managers. It is not clear if an investigation was carried out or immediate protective measures were put in place in response to any of these allegations. This does not protect children or staff. The staff have not been held accountable for any poor practice that is alleged to have occurred. More crucially, it is not clear whether the

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improvement to be good

child was informed of the action being taken and whether they were given the message that their voice is valued and was heard.

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improvement to be good

During the inspection, the manager checked with the local authority designated officer (LADO) whether any referrals had been made to them. The LADO confirmed no referrals had been made. This means there was no external oversight. It is unclear if the organisation has followed local and national policies or not. Leaders and managers have recognised the failings identified and will carry out a full review of this period.

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improvement to be good

During this time, a staff member wrote in an incident report that a child had red marks on their arms after being held. The staff member failed to raise concerns and was not worried about this as the child had been held by different members of staff. This demonstrates that staff do not have a sound understanding of what should be done to keep children.

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improvement to be good

Since the current manager has been in post, another child has made an allegation. This was reported to the LADO in a timely manner. The advice from the LADO involved two actions, however, the manager has said actions were not clearly documented. The manager has not fully understood the importance of making appropriate records in relation to safeguarding concerns. The child has also not been kept up to date with the action that the manager has taken and there has been no attempt to rebuild the relationship with staff involved.

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improvement to be good

One child has a very detailed behaviour management plan and risk assessment in place. This provides staff with clear instructions on how to respond to the child when they are distressed, and how not to respond to the child. These plans are not followed. During one incident, a staff member used a strategy described in the child’s behaviour plan as being unhelpful. This contributed to the escalation of the incident.

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improvement to be good

More recently, physical interventions have reduced. One child feels more comfortable to talk to staff about his feelings. Before seeing a significant family member, the child spoke to staff about how he was feeling and said he had found some pieces of glass. This enabled staff to help the child quickly.

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improvement to be good

One child uses self-harm as a coping strategy. The staff respond to the child in a thoughtful and meaningful way. Team meetings discuss behaviour that may indicate that the child is at risk of harming themselves. The manager has been proactive in accessing external services to meet the complex needs of the child. Advice from health partners is Inspection report for children’s home: SC481844 5 sought in a timely manner and a safety plan is in place. This has contributed to a reduction in self-harm incidents for the child.

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improvement to be good

Staff have kept children safe when they go missing. They have followed children and reported them missing to police when they are no longer able to see them. Staff collaborate with police and social workers to ensure that children come home quickly and safely.

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improvement to be good

Children have access to the internet in a safe and age-appropriate way. All children have devices. These are handed to staff at a sensible time before bed. Access to social media is dependent on age and understanding. Staff carry out thorough daily checks on devices to ensure that there is no unsafe content. Children respect these boundaries and understand why they are in place.

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improvement to be good

Children’s independent access to the community is carefully considered. Currently, due to their age and risks, children have minimal time out of the house on their own. Leaders and managers dynamically risk assess whether to change the approach for each child, meaning that age-appropriate opportunities are balanced carefully with children’s individual views and wishes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered manager went on leave in October 2024. Since then, two managers have been recruited. Neither stayed in post, with one manager leaving within five days. A manager from another home provided management cover and support. A responsible individual was also recruited, and then left during this time. To add to the upheaval, the home was going through a takeover by another organisation. These significant changes to senior leaders and managers were not notified to Ofsted.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

This period was chaotic and was characterised by poor management oversight, particularly of allegations made by children. There are records that show none of the interim managers understood their level of responsibility for safeguarding concerns.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

An interim acting manager is now in post. He is suitably qualified. The responsible individual post is vacant. Until recently, there was no support provided to the acting manager. There was some initial confusion about who was covering the responsible individual post. While an appropriate individual is being recruited, the interim manager is being supported by a senior manager and a responsible individual. Both are experienced and knowledgeable. All three of the current managers accept the issues that have been identified.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Following physical interventions and incidents, debriefs with staff have not taken place regularly. Managers have not identified staff practice issues. The staff are not being supported to understand how they feel during incidents and what they need to be able to respond to children in a more thoughtful way. Inspection report for children’s home: SC481844 6 Some staff have not been provided with training in the therapeutic model and associated topics such as trauma-informed practice and attachment. This means that staff are not providing the service described in the statement of purpose. This is misleading for commissioners.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Managers have not provided staff with regular supervision sessions. Two new staff have had significant gaps of several months between supervision sessions. Staff have not been given the opportunity to learn how to improve their practice. Staff have not been given guidance on what constitutes a rigorous safeguarding culture.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff who are in their probation period are not having any formal review of their practice. Leaders and managers are not ensuring that mandatory training is being assimilated into knowledge and practice. It also means that staff are staying in roles which they may not be suitable for.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff have said that the manager is visible and supportive. Staff feel able to talk to him about any issues that they have. Inspection report for children’s home: SC481844 7

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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 Rregulations, including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

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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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(f)(g)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Through monitoring, ensure leaders and managers provide effective and rigorous oversight of allegations made by children against staff and that evidence of this is available. 19 April 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: SC481844 8 Ensure that referrals are made to safeguarding partners when children make allegations against staff and that appropriate records of these are kept and that evidence of this is available.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that leaders and managers act quickly on advice provided by safeguarding partners, for example, carrying out internal investigations, and that records of these investigations are made and are available.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that children are made aware that leaders and managers are taking action, that children are kept updated, that restorative work between children and staff takes place and that records of this work are completed and are available.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that staff are held accountable for any practice issues.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that staff receive regular supervision and probation reviews in line with the home’s statement of purpose.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure staff receive training in attachment, trauma-informed practice, 10 keys to happier living and the PACE (playfulness, acceptance, curiosity and empathy) model of care to enable them to provide the service set out in the statement of purpose.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure staff receive effective debriefs following their use of physical intervention.

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and 19 April 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: SC481844 9 are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Ensure staff understand and follow the allegation risk assessment for children.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure staff understand and subscribe to a safeguarding culture.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure staff know what constitutes safeguarding matters and that these are dealt with in line with policy.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure staff read, understand and follow risk assessments that explain the action to take when children are upset.

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children;

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Requirement Due date

are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same; 19 April 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: SC481844 10 de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ix)(x)(xi))

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that staff read, understand and follow behaviour management plans.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that leaders and managers recognise when staff do not follow behaviour management plans and take action when this is identified.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy which—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard children accommodated in the children’s home from abuse or neglect; and

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Requirement Due date

sets out the procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect.

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Requirement Due date

The procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect must, in particular—

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Requirement Due date

provide for liaison and co-operation with any local authority which are, or may be, making a child protection enquiry in relation to a child accommodated in the home;

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Requirement Due date

provide for the prompt referral of an allegation about current or ongoing abuse or neglect in relation to a child to the placing authority and, if different, the local authority in whose area the home is located;

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Requirement Due date

provide for the prompt referral of an allegation about past abuse or neglect in relation to a child to the placing authority and, if different, the local authority in whose area the alleged abuse or neglect occurred;

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Requirement Due date

provide for records to be kept of an allegation of abuse or neglect, and the action taken in response;

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Requirement Due date

describe the measures which may be necessary to protect children following an allegation of abuse or neglect; and

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Requirement Due date

describe how and to whom staff are to report, without delay, any concern about abuse or neglect of a child. (Regulation 34 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)) 19 April 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: SC481844 11 Ensure that allegations made by children about staff are documented appropriately, referred to partners appropriately, that advice is acted on, that outcomes are shared with children and that all evidence is made available.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must give notice in writing to HMCI, as soon as it is reasonably practicable to do so, if any of the following events take place or are expected by the registered person to take place—

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Requirement Due date

a person other than the registered person carries on or manages the children’s home;

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Requirement Due date

if the registered provider is an organisation—

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Requirement Due date

any change in the identity of the responsible individual. (Regulation 49 (a)(e)(iii)) 19 April 2025

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that all parts of the home are cleaned regularly and that any work required, such as a repair to a dent in a wall, is carried out in a reasonable time frame. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.7)

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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: SC481844 12

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Living Life (UK) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 212 Ballards Lane, London N3 2LX

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Inspector

Hannah Phillips, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC481844 13 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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