Children's Home run by Partners in Care Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC441717 1 SC441717 Registered provider: Partners in Care Limited

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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 operated by a private provider. 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 September 2018.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, there were two children 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

Date of last inspection: 20 January 2025

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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: SC441717 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/01/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 22/11/2023 Full Good 23/08/2022 Full Good 30/03/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC441717 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are settled in the home and have positive relationships with the staff responsible for their care. Managers and staff understand children’s individual needs. One professional said: ‘Staff are flexible here. Their approach has developed over time. [Name of child] speaks positively about living here.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are provided with opportunities to take part in a range of activities. This includes visits to the Lake District, trips to the cinema and regular meals out in restaurants. Children enjoy spending this time with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are registered with local health services and staff support them to attend routine health appointments. One child has struggled to attend some health appointments. Staff have talked to the child about why this is important, and further appointments have been made.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of education for children. One child has attended school to complete their GCSE exams. For another child, attending school has been more difficult at times. Staff have worked with multi-agency professionals to understand the barriers to attendance. The manager advocated for the child to be provided with extra support in school. One professional said: ‘The manager applied for the education, health and care plan. She has been the driving force.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff understand children’s family dynamics. Children’s views about who they wish to spend time with are respected.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a comfortable, spacious home. They have been supported to personalise their bedrooms. However, the garden requires regular maintenance to ensure that it is a welcoming space for children.

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

Staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities. Children do not go missing from home, use alcohol or substances and are not at risk of exploitation. Children have not needed to be held to keep them safe. Staff have received training to support children should these concerns arise.

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

Risk assessments and risk management plans are individualised for each child. They are updated regularly and in response to any new or emerging concerns. Plans clearly set out what action staff should take if they have concerns for children. These plans are followed. When one child was observed to have self-harm injuries, staff responded sensitively and with care. Inspection report for children’s home: SC441717 4 The in-house therapist spends time in the home. They provide advice and guidance to staff, which supports them to provide therapeutic care to children. All staff have received training in the therapeutic approach outlined in the home’s statement of purpose. When staff have noted changes to children’s presentation, they have recorded information clearly and ensured that this is shared with relevant professionals.

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

Staff support children to develop their independence skills. Staff are available to help children, when this is requested. When a child made a complaint, this was taken seriously. The manager met with the child and involved them in reaching a resolution. An outcome to the complaint was provided in writing and the child was satisfied with the response.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by an experienced and committed manager. External professionals speak highly of her and say she knows the children well. The manager spends time with children and has built trusting relationships with them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children are provided with consistent care, by a stable staff team. Staff receive regular, reflective supervision. However, supervision records do not consistently provide staff with actions or timescales. This limits the manager’s ability to track progress. In addition, one member of staff has not completed their qualification in the required time frame.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have completed mandatory training, in line with the home’s statement of purpose. Team meetings take place regularly and are well attended. They are used as a forum to share key information about children, and how they need to be supported.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager uses internal monitoring systems to ensure that staff provide consistently good care to children. Managers review and evaluate the work staff complete with children. Monthly reports from the independent person are valued and recommendations are actioned promptly. Inspection report for children’s home: SC441717 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that external areas of the home, including the front and rear garden, are well maintained and secure. (‘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)  The registered person should ensure that all staff are supported to achieve the relevant qualification within the time frame specified in regulation. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.6)

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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: SC441717 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Partners in Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2 The Calls, Leeds LS2 7JU

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Inspectors

Anna Belshaw, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC441717 7 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

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Inspectors

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