Children's Home run by Therapeutic Care Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2762095 1 Registered provider: Therapeutic Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private provider and offers care for up to two children who may experience social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 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: 2762095 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/04/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2762095 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child living at the home shared their views with the inspector.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has lived at the home for over a year and has made considerable progress. This is because of the excellent care provided by the staff. The child has built trusting and positive relationships with the staff and said that they like living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are good arrangements in place to meet the child’s complex emotional and mental health needs. Staff work alongside other health professionals, including the in-house therapist, who offers them advice and guidance. This enables staff to support the child’s emotional needs and improve their mental health and well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager has high expectations of the child attending an education provision. She advocated for the child when the initial college could not meet their needs. The manager worked with other professionals, and a new college was quickly identified. The child is now attending regularly and making excellent progress. The child has recently been nominated for the student representative, and they have raised issues on behalf of the other students to improve the facilities in the college. The child talks positively about this role. This is helping to build the child’s confidence and self-esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s relationships with their family and friends are promoted. The child is encouraged to spend time with their family and have regular telephone conversations with people who are important to them. This helps to establish positive relationships and future support networks for when the child is ready to live more independently in the near future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s day-to-day experiences are positive because staff are committed to providing them with routines and structure throughout the day. Staff encourage the child to try new activities at the home and in the community. The child also chooses to spend time with friends. This helps to develop their social skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff are proactive in developing the child’s independence skills, which include shopping, cooking and budgeting. Through this continual support and guidance, the child is developing life skills. This is improving their confidence and preparing them for their next move to more independent living.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is great importance given to consulting the child. Managers and staff place the child’s views, wishes and feelings at the centre of decisions made about them and their future. This helps the child to have a say on what happens in their life, and the child said they feel heard. Inspection report for children’s home: 2762095 4 Staff use certificates and incentives to recognise the child’s achievements. There are also memory books filled with photos of the activities and trips the child has participated in with staff and their family during their time at the home.

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

Staff help the child to stay safe through planned discussions that are meaningful and relevant. The child said that they feel safe. Staff regularly discuss the complaints procedure with the child to ensure that they have a good understanding of how to raise any worries or concerns. There have been no complaints.

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

Staff understand the child’s risks and vulnerabilities. There are risk assessments and behaviour support plans in place that provide clear guidance for staff. The manager regularly updates these after any incidents. The staff encourage the child to take age- appropriate risks as part of developing independence skills. The child is spending increased unsupervised time in the community, and staff are proactive in educating the child about potential risks.

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

When the child does not return home at the agreed time, staff actively look for the child and work closely with other agencies to secure the child’s well-being and safe return. An independent person speaks to the child following each incident to ascertain their views. There is good management oversight of each incident and good multi-agency working. As a result, the number of incidents is low.

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

Staff have built trusting relationships with the child, and they are able to use appropriate de-escalation techniques to help support the child when they are frustrated or in emotional distress. The child responds well to this approach. Staff provide consistent advice, guidance and support, which helps the child develop skills and strategies to manage conflicts and difficult feelings and make safer choices.

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

There is a consequence and reward system in place. The staff talk to the child about why consequences are given, and they help them understand the effect their behaviour has on themselves and others. This system promotes and encourages positive behaviours.

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

The home environment is welcoming and bright. The manager is consistently looking at ways to improve the home, which includes redecorating and moving the staff office so the child has an extra chill-out room. However, the manager has failed to properly box in the Wi-Fi hub and wires to ensure children's safety. Furthermore, a lock on the chill-out room detracts from the homely environment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by an experienced, child-focused and aspirational registered manager. She also has management responsibility for another home in the company. A deputy manager, who shares the same commitment, supports the manager in her role. This ensures that the child benefits from a home that is managed efficiently and effectively. Inspection report for children’s home: 2762095 5 The management team has robust systems in place to ensure that there is clear oversight of the day-to-day practice in the home. The manager has carried out a quality of care review and gathered appropriate feedback from others. This has given her a full overview of the team’s strengths and areas for development to continually improve the care provided.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff work actively with other agencies, professionals and parents. They all speak positively about the staff’s understanding of the child’s needs and the progress the child is making. The manager will actively follow up and escalate concerns if responses from other agencies are not satisfactory. This helps to ensure that the child receives the right support to meet their needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a stable core staff team in place, which provides consistency and stability for the child. Staff are child centred, enthusiastic and dedicated, and they have a good understanding of the child’s needs. They share the same aspirations as the management team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive an extensive training package that includes the company’s mandatory training as well as specialised training to meet the child’s needs. Staff value the training they receive and say that it helps them to continuously develop their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision. This gives them an opportunity to reflect on their practice and look at areas for further development. Staff value these sessions and feel supported by the management team. However, the manager has failed to ensure that all staff have received their appraisal within the appropriate time frame.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have regular team meetings. This gives them an opportunity to come together as a team, reflect and share information effectively. This ensures that there is consistency in meeting the child’s needs. Inspection report for children’s home: 2762095 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff are provided an opportunity to have their performance appraised each year to address any practice issues, allowing them to reflect. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.5)  The registered person should ensure that the home is well maintained and that any hazards identified are quickly rectified, such as the broken cupboard where the Wi-Fi hub and wires are stored. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that children have access to all shared areas in the home. The lock on the chill-out room must be removed. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.10)

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Information about this inspection

Inspector 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: 2762095 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Therapeutic Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Errigal House, Avroe Crescent, Blackpool FY4 2DP

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Inspector

Simon Jones, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2762095 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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