Children's Home run by Helm Care Services Ltd in Lancashire

Inspection report for children's home: 2677619 1 Registered provider:

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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 is a privately owned children’s home that provides care for up to three children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in May 2022, and the manager registered on 24 May 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children were living in the home at the time of this inspection, and both children were spoken to as part of this inspection.

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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 requires improvement to be good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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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: 2677619 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/08/2024 Full Good 14/06/2023 Full Good 12/10/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home: 2677619 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children have remained living in the home since the last inspection. They have lived at the home for over two years and have made significant progress in different aspects of their development including their education, confidence and self-esteem. One child who was unable to communicate with the inspector at the last inspection showed their improved confidence and ability to articulate their views.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child is unhappy about changes in the organisation and the impact for them at their home, with the child describing it as more businesslike. This child has expressed their views of wanting to move on from the home. The provider has advocated for the other child to stay at the home beyond their 18 th birthday to allow them time to transition to adulthood. Plans are in place to support both children to move on in line with their wishes. Staff support children to develop their independence skills to prepare them for these transitions, and they have both made progress in this area.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are cared for by a team of support workers and in-house mental health practitioners. Changes to the staffing arrangements mean that children are cared for by staff from other homes in the organisation. Children say that they do not like being cared for by unfamiliar staff. In addition, one child spoke of feeling overwhelmed in the home due to the number of staff and managers from the organisation often meeting there. The child said that this made them feel uncomfortable accessing certain areas of the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are therapeutic in their approach to caring for the children. The in-house mental health practitioners support and guide the staff in their daily interactions with the children. Regular multi-disciplinary meetings ensure that staff implement consistent boundaries to keep children safe. However, some restrictive practice to prevent a child from self-harming while in the bathroom has continued without review and without a court-imposed order that was in place being renewed. As a result, it is not clear whether this practice remains proportionate and necessary.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive regular therapeutic input from both the provider and specialist services to help manage their emotional and mental health. However, despite their efforts, staff are not always able to prevent one child from purchasing and using unsuitable gym supplements. This has been harmful to the child’s physical health and staff continue to support the child to understand more about how to keep safe and remain healthy.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide opportunities for children to enjoy a variety of activities in the home and the community. Staff support children to pursue new hobbies and interests. Memories of children enjoying their time spent with staff and each other are captured through photos and detailed activity records. Inspection report for children's home: 2677619 4 Staff recognise children’s barriers to engaging in education. They support children to pursue alternative learning opportunities when children are not accessing formal educational settings. One child has been successful in sitting their exams. Another is now engaging in an NVQ to become a personal trainer in line with their aspirations.

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improvement to be good

There are no current concerns about children going missing from home or being at risk of exploitation or criminality. There has been an escalation of risks arising from more frequent incidents taking place in the home for one child. This is in response to staff removing the gym supplements that are likely to be harmful to the child.

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improvement to be good

The care provided to children is underpinned by a therapeutic approach. The in-house mental health practitioners support staff to manage children’s behaviour. The therapeutic team and registered manager review incidents of challenging behaviour. This involves an evaluation from a therapeutic perspective to understand more about children’s behaviour and how to help them. However, one child commented that they ‘feel controlled’ by one mental health practitioner and that they ‘dictate’ what they can and cannot do. As a result, some further work is needed to help this child understand the strategies that are in place to help them.

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improvement to be good

Incidents of self-harm have reduced. Ohe child has made progress in their ability to manage their emotions more effectively. Overall, when self-harm incidents occur, staff respond quickly and treat the injuries presented. However, on a couple of occasions, staff have not sought medical advice as soon as they could have done. In addition, records of injuries to the child do not always include accurate information.

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improvement to be good

Incidents of children being physically held by staff have increased for one child. While these holds are not always in line with the child’s preferences and as indicated in their plans, the overall use of physical holds is appropriate and proportionate to safeguard the child and others. However, it is not clear how staff help children to understand why different restraint techniques have been used to keep them safe rather than the ones they have said they would prefer to be used when restraint is necessary.

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improvement to be good

Staff understand the children’s risks. However, children’s records do not include all known risks and vulnerabilities for children. Plans are not consistently updated following incidents and allegations. In addition, notifications of serious incidents are not always submitted to the regulator in a timely way.

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improvement to be good

The manager takes action to respond to allegations. When children raise concerns about staff practice, these concerns are investigated. Children are informed of the outcomes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Inspection report for children's home: 2677619 5 The registered manager knows the children well. He is passionate about providing quality care to the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager takes action to address shortfalls in staff practice. Shortfalls are addressed in team meetings, and the manager provides opportunities for the staff to reflect on incidents. Staff receive regular supervision which provides them with opportunities to reflect on their individual practice and any development needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A new system is in place to address shortfalls in staffing levels. This requires staff across the whole organisation to work in all homes. However, these changes to the staffing arrangements and this approach mean that the children have not been cared for at times by a stable and consistent staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are trained in topics that are relevant to the children’s needs. However, two staff have not undertaken their qualifications to work in the home within timescales.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff work well together as a team and with professionals. They ensure that children are supported to spend quality time with their family and the people that are important to them. Inspection report for children's home: 2677619 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered manager must ensure that information relating to children’s risks and needs is updated in their plans. In addition, when needed staff must access medical advice and attention without delay when required. 19 August 2025

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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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 staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child; 19 August 2025 Inspection report for children's home: 2677619 7 understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home.

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that children are provided with care from a stable staff team, that staff undertake qualifications within timescales and managers and staff take steps to help children to understand why specific boundaries are in place.

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Requirement Due date

the privacy of children is appropriately protected;

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Requirement Due date

children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises; and

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Requirement Due date

any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises—

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Requirement Due date

allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21(a)(b)(c)(ii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that staff do not deprive children of their right to privacy without a clear reason and agreed plan that is kept under review. 19 August 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

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there; or 19 August 2025 Inspection report for children's home: 2677619 8 there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(e))

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that when staff use their professional judgement and use a different restraint technique than is outlined in the child's plan the reasons for this are explained to the child. (The guide to the children's homes (England) regulations 2015, including quality standards, page 48, paragraph 9.43.)

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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: 2677619 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Suite 103, Group First House, 12A Meadway, Padiham BB12 7NG

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Inspectors

Debbie Dawson, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Claire Hobbs, Regulatory Inspection Manager Nicola Rutherford, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2677619 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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