Children's Home run by Lancashire Care Group Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2797361 1 Registered provider: Lancashire Care Group Limited

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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 run by a private organisation and provides care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and the manager registered with Ofsted on 28 October 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

There were no children living at the home at the time of this inspection.

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This monitoring visit

Serious and widespread concerns were identified at the assurance inspection on 26 November 2024. Following this inspection, Ofsted issued a notice suspending the home’s registration. The suspension notice runs from 26 November 2024 until 18 February 2025.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has complied with the suspension notice and no children have been admitted to the home.

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This monitoring visit

The responsible individual has left since the assurance inspection. The director has stepped into this position temporarily and has notified Ofsted about this change. Until Ofsted has had the chance to review this information, the position on the inspection report shows as post vacant. Recruitment is underway for a permanent replacement to the role of responsible individual.

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This monitoring visit

The concern raised about a member of staff’s practice has since been referred to the local authority designated officer. They have confirmed that this is a practice issue, and an internal investigation has been undertaken. As a result, due process has now been followed. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2797361 2 Staff have had some time to reflect individually and as a team. They have undertaken training on different topics, and more is planned. Staff have learned more about understanding attachment and the impact of disrupted early life experiences on a child’s development, their emotional needs and behaviour. They have also considered how they can better manage a child’s behaviour when this becomes challenging.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have reflected on care planning decisions previously made and have made changes. For example, there are now clear and strengthened systems in place for managers to consider the needs and vulnerabilities of new children and whether staff have the skills and experience to meet the child’s needs. Leaders have also reflected on the information they are likely to need from placing authorities about a child, to inform their decision-making about new children moving into the home.

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This monitoring visit

Some good progress has been made. The requirements raised at the assurance inspection remain in place as the provider will now need further time to meet them in full and implement the learning and improvements that have taken place. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2797361 3

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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 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

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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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

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)) 3 January 2025

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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

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 3 January 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2797361 4 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

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for 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

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

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b)) 3 January 2025

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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

strive to gain each child’s respect and trust; 3 January 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2797361 5 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. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(viii)(ix))

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Requirement Due date

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 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)(iv)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)) 3 January 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2797361 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person must ensure that all safer recruitment checks are completed to assure themselves of the suitability of staff. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)

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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: 2797361 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Lancashire Care Group Limited

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Inspector

James Meeks, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2797361 8 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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