Children's Home run by Prosperity Children’s Services Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2772599 1 Registered provider: Prosperity Children’s services

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home was registered with Ofsted in May 2024 and is operated by a private company. It offers care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2024. He also manages another setting.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, no children were living in the home.

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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: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2772599 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/08/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2772599 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, two children have moved on from the home. Planning for one child to return to live with their parent was thorough and enabled them to experience a positive move. Managers and staff worked with the placing authority for one child to make plans for them to move on following a period of difficulty in supporting them. Staff sensitively prepared the child through regular discussions and careful planning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children take part in activities they enjoy. Staff show an interest in learning about children’s hobbies, such as fishing, and dedicate time to encourage this. One child has travelled with staff on many occasions to watch their favourite football team play. The child has a memory book containing photos that capture these experiences. This supports children to feel valued and cared for.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have access to all universal health services and staff support them to attend health appointments. One child has been supported to access specialist health services when needed. Staff talk to children about issues that impact on their health, such as vaping. This supports children’s physical health and emotional well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children spend time with people who are important to them. Staff supported one child to spend more time with family, in line with the plan for them to return home. Staff understand children’s family dynamics and involve key people in children’s lives. One parent said: ‘The staff were brilliant. They went above and beyond to help. They kept me up to date and made sure I saw [name of child]’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of education for children and one child’s attendance at school improved. Attending education was more difficult for one child and managers and staff advocated to ensure that plans for education remained a shared priority. Staff provide informal education activities when children are not attending school. However, these activities are often unplanned. This does not provide children with the structure they need to prepare for a return to full-time education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Redecoration has started in some areas of the home, including children’s bedrooms. However, some areas require further attention to ensure that the home is welcoming for children. For example, damage to a wall in one child’s bedroom needs to be repaired and marks on flooring need to be removed. To ensure that the garden is an inviting space, the fence needs repainting, and the lawn requires regular upkeep.

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

Staff understand their roles and responsibilities to safeguard children. Allegations of harm are taken seriously and investigated promptly. The manager ensures that relevant safeguarding professionals are notified, and appropriate action is taken. This helps to keep children safe. However, care must be taken to ensure that children’s privacy is Inspection report for children’s home: 2772599 4 maintained, and that conversations held in the external areas of the property do not breach confidentiality.

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

Children’s plans are updated regularly and after any incidents. Staff know and understand children’s risks and vulnerabilities. The manager reviews risk assessments and behaviour support plans to ensure that staff know what action they should take to keep children safe. This ensures that staff have appropriate guidance to follow.

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

Managers and staff receive training to support children when they experience distress. Holding a child to keep them safe is used as a last resort in line with the home’s policies and procedures. When children need to be held, incidents are recorded clearly. Children and staff share their views following any incidents and the manager uses the discussion to identify any learning.

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

The in-house therapist spends time in the home. They provide advice and guidance to staff so children are supported in a therapeutic way. All staff have received training in the therapeutic approach outlined in the home’s statement of purpose. Staff have also received training specific to children’s needs. This ensures that staff have the knowledge and skills to address children’s individual vulnerabilities.

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

Staff promote positive behaviour, and children have plans in place which set out what is expected of them. Consequences are rarely used and when they are necessary, they are proportionate and restorative.

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

Safe recruitment procedures are in place for new staff. This means that children are protected from unsuitable adults being employed to work in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is suitably experienced and qualified. He is supported by a strong deputy and together they have developed a team whose members feel valued and supported. Staff who gave feedback were positive about the management of the home. One member of staff said: ‘Our management team is extremely approachable and hands-on. They are visible, responsive, and always available for advice or support.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision that is focused on children’s needs and experiences. The emotional impact of caring for children with complex needs is recognised and managers provide opportunities for staff to reflect on any challenges. However, some supervision records lack detail and actions for staff do not include timescales.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers ensure that new staff receive a thorough induction and training to help them fulfil their role. Staff are supported to enrol on the diploma course, to enable them to achieve the relevant qualification. However, some staff have not completed this within the time frame specified in regulation. Inspection report for children’s home: 2772599 5 Team meetings take place regularly and are well attended. They are used as a forum to discuss children’s needs and risks. The manager uses research to help staff to develop their knowledge and understanding of children’s needs. There is a focus on team- building and the well-being of staff that promotes consistency in the care provided to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers understand the service strengths and areas for development. The registered manager has effective audit systems in place. The monitoring system helps managers to reflect on key areas of practice and track patterns and progress. Inspection report for children’s home: 2772599 6

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

the privacy of children is appropriately protected. (Regulation 21 (a))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered manager must ensure that any conversations about children are held in private, and the proximity of neighbours is considered. 26 June 2025

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (“the Level 3 Diploma”); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1st April 2014, 1st April 2016.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may defer the relevant date if the individual—

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Requirement Due date

does not work, or has not worked, in a care role in a home for a prolonged period;

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Requirement Due date

or 10 July 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2772599 7 works, or has worked, in a care role in a home on a part-time basis. (Regulation 32 (4)(a)(b) (5)(a)(b) (6)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that they fully explore why staff have not attained the appropriate qualification by the relevant date.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that, when children are not able to access full- time education, structured plans are in place for them to access suitable educational activities. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.15)  The registered person should ensure that children live in a homely and comfortable environment. Specifically, ensure that communal areas of the home and children’s bedrooms are decorated to a good standard. The garden area should also be well maintained. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that records of supervision are of good quality and actions are clearly documented, with timescales for completion. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.4)

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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: 2772599 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Prosperity Children’s services

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 8 Venus House, Altham Business Park, Altham, Accrington, Lancashire BB5 5BY

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Inspector

Anna Belshaw, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2772599 9 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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