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

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC400880 1 SC400880 Monitoring visit

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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. It provides care for up to six children who have learning disabilities and social and/or 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 visit, five children were living in the home.

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This monitoring visit

During a full inspection in January 2025, 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

A monitoring visit carried out on 17 March 2025 concluded that the actions outlined in the compliance notices had been met.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the notice restricting accommodation.

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This monitoring visit

There have been further safeguarding notifications made by the provider since the last visit. However, some of the incidents did not meet the criteria for notification. Several reports provide details about hospital visits for one child who has ongoing Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC400880 2 health needs. Staff understand the child's needs well and promptly raise any concerns with health professionals.

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This monitoring visit

Another incident refers to the use of a low-level guide to support a child who was struggling to cope during a visit to a busy community activity. The support provided to the child was appropriate to respond to their needs and reduce their anxieties. The manager reflected with staff on the incident and concluded that a dynamic assessment of the environment should have been carried out as the venue became busier and an alternative activity could have been considered.

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This monitoring visit

There have been no further allegations or complaints made in the home. There have been no incidents that have required a referral to the local authority designated officer.

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This monitoring visit

A neighbour lodged a complaint about the increasing noise level while children were playing outside. The manager promptly addressed the complaint in an informal manner, much to the neighbour's satisfaction.

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This monitoring visit

There is ongoing recruitment of staff to work at the home. The recruitment practices used are safe to ensure that children are not at risk of harm from the adults who care for them. The recruitment of additional staff will allow the home to reduce the number of agency staff currently in use, thereby providing more consistent care to children.

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This monitoring visit

Managers continue to use the new supervision template to encourage reflective discussions about practice with staff. However, one record shows that a staff member had been asked to complete the form before the meeting took place. The supervision meeting did not then take place. This means that staff are being asked to record their views in advance instead of this being part of an interactive and reflective discussion taking place with their supervisor.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has complied with the notice restricting accommodation. The provider has taken sufficient action for the notice to be lifted.

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This monitoring visit

Other requirements were not reviewed as part of this visit and will be reviewed at the next inspection. 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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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 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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that leaders and managers have 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

 The registered person should ensure that leaders and managers consult 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)  The registered person should ensure that supervision records reflect the discussions between the staff member and the supervisor at the meeting and are not written in advance. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2) Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC400880 5

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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 6

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Inspectors

Andrea Foreman, Social Care Inspector Stacey Ilaboya, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC400880 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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