Children's Home run by Frances House Ltd in Lancashire

Inspection report for children's home for SC403462 1 SC403462 Registered provider: Frances House Ltd

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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 is owned and operated by a private provider.

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Information about this children’s home

It is registered to provide care for up to five children with social and emotional needs.

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Information about this children’s home

Three children are currently being cared for in this home. All children spoke to the inspector as part of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager is suitably experienced and has been in post since 22 September 2016.

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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 for SC403462 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/05/2024 Full Good 10/05/2023 Full Good 19/04/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 21/04/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children's home for SC403462 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff commit to children and their long-term care. Some of the children have experienced several changes in their living arrangements before living in the home. However, with staff support, they have been able to settle and invest in the home. One child said, ‘This is the longest I have ever lived in a children’s home.’ This stability allows children to build positive relationships with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff communicate well with children. Children spoke to the inspector, as did two children who have recently moved out. Another child said, ‘They tell me what I need to hear, not what I want to hear.’ All children said they were listened to by the adults who care for them and feel respected in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and leaders carefully assess the needs of children who are moving into the home. In the inspection period, two children moved into the home in quick succession. These admissions were not intended to be so close together, and the decision to accelerate the plan for one child was made in their best interests and to ensure their safety and well-being. Managers and staff managed the period of change in the home well, and children had positive experiences moving into the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The environment is clean and homely. Staff sought children’s views regarding the communal areas, and these areas have been redecorated in line with their ideas and wishes. There are some areas of ongoing maintenance and redecoration in the home. Children’s bedrooms are appropriately furnished; however, some were untidy, and one child who had moved in recently had not fully unpacked or personalised their bedroom. A requirement relating to the home environment has been restated.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children’s education. Children are taken to and from school, even when this is a considerable distance from the home. Staff support children to engage in tutoring and exam preparation in the home. One child who had missed a significant period of education was reintegrated into an appropriate school and has high attendance levels. Another child has been supported to sit exams and attend a successful interview for college. Children make progress from their individual starting points.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children move out of the home in a planned way. Staff support children to visit potential new homes and make informed choices about their next steps. Staff advocated for one child to have a longer transition period after their plans changed at a late stage. Children make successful moves into their new homes and stay in touch with staff through appropriate channels. Children are prepared for the practicalities of living independently in a timely way.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work hard to build positive relationships with children’s families and friends. They ensure that all children have regular contact with people who are important to them, Inspection report for children's home for SC403462 4 even when they live some distance from the home. Children are supported to maintain their relationships and identities.

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

Risk assessments are detailed and individual to each child. They contain strategies for staff to follow to prevent and respond to risk. Staff understand the risk assessments and update them regularly.

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

Managers take allegations against staff seriously and take immediate action to safeguard children. They undertake thorough investigations into concerns. Managers ensure that all staff are aware of the professional boundaries they should maintain and how to whistle- blow. Staff use the whistle-blowing policy appropriately and promptly.

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

Most children do not often go missing from home. Staff understand and follow the missing-from-home plans for each child. They are tenacious in trying to locate children and return children to the home quickly. Following a missing-from-home period, staff ensure that children have interviews with someone independent of the home and use any learning from the interview to inform their missing-from-home plans.

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

Children have consistent boundaries. Staff do not hold children to keep them safe. They are trained to manage behaviour effectively and hold children safely in the event this is necessary. The manager delivers the training and therefore is available to provide regular support to staff in the home. Staff are skilled in managing heightened emotions in children. Staff manage behaviour through communication and their positive relationships with children.

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

Consequences are used to minimise risk in response to safeguarding concerns, such as supervised monies following missing-from-home periods or alcohol misuse. Children are aware of the consequences and why they are put into place. Consequences have clear end points. Managers evaluate consequences promptly and ensure they are proportionate and in line with the policies in the home. Children understand the expectations on their behaviour.

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

Staff carry out room searches when there is a clear safeguarding reason to do so. Where possible, children are informed before the search and invited to be present. Children understand the reasons why staff have searched their room. Children’s dignity and privacy are maintained as far as possible.

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

Managers usually inform Ofsted of any serious incidents in the home. However, on one occasion, the police were called to the home to assist staff in a serious incident, and managers did not inform the regulator. On another occasion, further vital information relating to a notification was not shared when it became known. A requirement has been made in relation to this. Inspection report for children's home for SC403462 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has been in post for a considerable period and therefore knows the setting well. The manager is supported by a committed deputy manager, who has been in post for a similar length of time. The managers are present in the home and are available to staff. They know the children well and prioritise spending time with them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Several staff left the home within this inspection period. However, the staff that remain in the home have worked there for several years. The home does not use agency staff. Managers and staff covered any staffing shortfalls over the period of change to ensure consistency of care for children. There are currently no vacancies in the home, and fresh staff are enthusiastic about their roles. One new member of staff was cared for in the home when they were a child. Staff are safely recruited.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

An independent person visits the home every month. The report from their visit is thorough and evaluative. The visitor makes appropriate recommendations, and managers respond to these swiftly. Therefore, there is regular independent scrutiny of practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers complete a timely review of the quality of care. The review considers the lived experience of children and includes their feedback. However, the review lacks evaluation. Managers identify actions for the coming period, but they are not specific or time-limited, which makes it difficult to track progress. The review is limited as a tool for service improvement. A recommendation has been made in relation to this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers and leaders hold regular meetings with children. They also seek their views following any incidents or concerns. Managers also interview children who have left the home. The views of children are included as discussion points in the team meetings and are actioned by staff. Children’s views are central in the planning for the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers and leaders undertake supervision of staff regularly. Those who undertake the supervision of staff have training to do so. Supervision is reflective, and managers assist staff to unpick their practice. Staff also have timely appraisals, which include the meaningful feedback of children and other professionals. Staff understand what they are doing well and where they could improve.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers undertake group supervision with staff when this is beneficial for the team. They encourage appropriate professional challenge and discussion. Managers promote healthy and open relationships in the staff team to enable them to work cohesively. Managers also provide access to external counselling and health support for staff. Staff feel well supported in their roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are enrolled on the appropriate qualifications. However, some staff have not completed their qualifications in the required timescale. A requirement relating to this has been restated. Inspection report for children's home for SC403462 6

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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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; and

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that staff support children to keep their bedrooms clean and tidy and ensure that children are supported promptly to unpack their things and personalise their bedrooms after they move in. 11 June 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious; or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(e)) 11 June 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only— 1 December 2025 Inspection report for children's home for SC403462 7 employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification, and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2.

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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. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d) (4)(a)(b) (5)(a)(b)) Inspection report for children's home for SC403462 8

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Recommendation

 The registered person should undertake a review of the quality of care every six months. The review should enable the registered person to identify areas of strength and weakness in the home’s care, which will be captured in the written report. The report should clearly identify any actions required for the next six months of delivery in the home and how those actions will be addressed. The whole review process and the resulting report should be used as a tool for continuous improvement in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.4)

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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 for SC403462 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Frances House Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 73 Albert Road, Colne BB8 0BP

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Pamela Forrester

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Inspector

Sarah Huntbatch, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home for SC403462 10 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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