Children's Home run by Residential Child Care Community (Town Hall) Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2675591 1 Registered provider: Residential Child Care Community (Town Hall) Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and managed by a small private provider. It offers care for up to five children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, the home was providing care for two children.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and manager registered with Ofsted in September 2023.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2675591 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/06/2024 Full Good 18/09/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 23/01/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2675591 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The inspector spoke with both children during the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The overall experience of children in the home is positive, with strong, trusting relationships established between staff and the children. Staff are supportive, approachable, and committed to children’s well-being. However, there has been a period of transition, with children moving in and out of the home, which has caused some instability. Despite this, children are more settled, and the current environment reflects a greater sense of stability and continuity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There has been a positive transition for one child who had lived at the home for over two years and has moved in a planned way into supported accommodation. Three children have moved on from the home when staff have identified that their needs can no longer be met safely or effectively. Although these transitions are not always in line with children’s original care plans, they are carefully considered and based on the best interests of the individual child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is actively promoted in the home, and staff have high aspirations for the children’s learning and development. One child is making steady, measured progress in their attendance and engagement with education, supported by consistent encouragement and routines provided by staff. Another child requires a more bespoke approach to learning due to their specific needs. Staff are strong advocates, working closely with education providers and the placing authority to explore and secure a tailored education plan. This commitment ensures that all children have access to learning opportunities that reflect their individual needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are committed to meeting children’s health needs, ensuring that they receive appropriate medical care as required. When children refuse to engage in medical appointments, staff take a proactive approach by carrying out key-work sessions with them to explore any concerns or anxieties and to encourage engagement with health services. Staff work with external professionals to ensure that any barriers to accessing healthcare are addressed, and they remain persistent in supporting children in accessing necessary medical treatment, even when faced with initial resistance.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s individual cultural identities are actively promoted in the home, with staff demonstrating an understanding of and respect for each child’s background. Children are supported to engage in activities that reflect both their personal interests and cultural identity, such as horse riding, scouts, and a range of other enriching experiences. This has supported children to develop confidence, feel valued and maintain a strong sense of self.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The promotion of family time is a strength of the home. Staff understand the importance of maintaining and developing positive family relationships and they work proactively to Inspection report for children’s home: 2675591 4 support this. Staff facilitate meaningful contact with children’s families in a way that is sensitive to each child’s needs and circumstances, ensuring that family time is a positive experience. As a result, children can sustain and rebuild important relationships with family members. This contributes significantly to their emotional well-being and sense of identity.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff regularly update individual risk management plans for each child to ensure that they remain reflective of their current circumstances. Plans are detailed and clearly identify known risks as well as emerging concerns. Staff use these documents effectively to guide their practice and respond to changing levels of risk. Regular oversight by the registered manager ensures that strategies remain proportionate and current.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

When one older child’s emerging behaviour had a noticeable impact on younger peers and led to increased risk-taking behaviour, the registered manager acted promptly, recognising that the level of risk was too great for the children to continue living together. A carefully planned transition was agreed for the older child, in consultation with professionals, to safeguard all children in the home. Throughout, staff responded consistently and worked closely with all children to understand the underlying issues, reduce risks and promote safer choices.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Allegations are managed promptly and appropriately, with clear procedures followed to ensure children’s safety. Children understand how to make a complaint and are confident in the staff’s response. When concerns arise, immediate safeguarding measures are put in place to protect all involved. Investigations are thorough and carried out in partnership with relevant agencies, demonstrating a strong safeguarding culture in the home. Staff and children are supported throughout the process, and records are detailed and well maintained.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

There have been periods where incidents of children going missing have increased, often influenced by the dynamics and impact of peers in the home. Staff respond consistently and in line with agreed procedures, demonstrating a clear understanding of each child’s individual vulnerabilities. Staff work proactively with children to explore the reasons behind their behaviour and develop strategies to reduce risk. Collaborative work with external professionals and a focus on relationship-building have supported improvements, helping children to feel more settled in the home.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

One child is engaging well in therapeutic support, which is having a positive impact on their overall progress. The child has developed a much better understanding of the risks associated with their past behaviours, such as going missing from home and concerns about child sexual exploitation, due to consistent intervention and strong relationships with staff. The child's risk-taking behaviours have significantly decreased, and they are now better equipped to identify unsafe situations and seek support. This progress demonstrates the home’s commitment to supporting emotional well-being and safeguarding through a trauma-informed approach. Inspection report for children’s home: 2675591 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is positive and proactive in her approach, prioritising the safety and well-being of children. She has a clear and supportive vision for the home, ensuring that staff are well-led and children’s needs are met effectively. External professionals consistently say that they have excellent communication with staff and the registered manager, noting their collaborative approach and responsiveness.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A positive team culture in the home promotes professional growth and development, creating an environment where staff feel supported in their roles. Additionally, there is clear evidence of professional challenge when necessary, ensuring that staff are held to high standards and continue to improve in their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from regular supervision sessions with the registered manager or a senior member of staff. These sessions are reflective and provide a valuable space for staff to engage in discussions about their practice, offering opportunities for personal and professional development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings are carried out regularly, with a focus on a collaborative approach. This ensures that all staff are involved in identifying challenges and sharing their views and experiences. These meetings also provide an opportunity for the team to collectively reflect on instances when children have left the home in a manner that did not align with their care plans. This open and supportive environment encourages accountability, allowing the team to continuously improve and provide a good standard of care to children. By reflecting on individual and team performance and discussing any areas of concern, the home ensures that it remains responsive to children’s individual needs and is proactive in addressing any emerging issues.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been changes in staffing since the last inspection, although the core staff team remains stable. Staff members who are relatively new to providing care for children are developing effectively with strong support from the registered manager and responsible individual. The registered manager has addressed most shortfalls in practice by providing additional training and organising workshops on specific subjects, as required.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Although the registered manager has identified shortfalls and is actively working to address these, there remains some inconsistency in the quality of staff recordings. While many records are thorough and well documented, a small number lack detail and clarity. The registered manager is taking steps to ensure that staff receive additional training and support to improve recording practices, although this is yet to be fully embedded in the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2675591 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Records should be of consistent, sufficient quality so that they are helpful to a child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: 2675591 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Residential Child Care Community (Town Hall) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 843 Finchley Road, London NW11 8NA

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Inspector

Carrie Mayes, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2675591 8 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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