Children's Home run by Lifetime Opportunities Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC411046 1 SC411046 Registered provider: Lifetime Opportunities 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 provides care for up to four disabled children.

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Information about this children’s home

There were three children living at the home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in February 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

This manager also manages another setting.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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inadequate

There are widespread failures that mean children’s welfare is not promoted and the care and experiences of children are poor.

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC411046 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/03/2025 Full Good 20/03/2024 Full Good 23/02/2023 Full Good 04/01/2022 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC411046 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

This inspection was brought forward in order to address specific concerns received by Ofsted.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Shortfalls in the effectiveness of the leadership and management and a high staff turnover are having an adverse impact on the welfare and progress of children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The children who live at this home have complex needs and require consistent care. There is not a full staff team in place. This means that children receive care from multiple people. Not all the staff know the children well. This does not promote continuity of care and is a barrier to children being able to form positive and lasting relationships with the adults who care for them. Furthermore, children are not prepared for the changes in staffing. This is a missed opportunity to help children understand what is happening and to ease any anxieties they may have.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Two of the children who live at this home do not use words to communicate. Despite this, there are limited physical resources available to support children to make choices and communicate their wishes and feelings. For example, one child’s plan states that they use visual aides to communicate their needs. These aides are not available in the home. This limits the child’s ability to make choices and to have their voice heard.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

One child is learning to use Makaton to communicate. However, staff have not received training in Makaton or received any formal training in how to communicate with disabled children. In addition, staff demonstrate inconsistent knowledge about how to communicate with children. This does not promote effective or personalised care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

There is little meaningful direct work completed with children to help them make choices and express their wishes or feelings. Some work completed with children is not appropriate to the child’s level of understanding. For example, one child, who does not use words to communicate, was told about the complaints procedure and given the details of a phoneline they could use to make a complaint. This demonstrates a lack of insight into the child’s disability and their level of functioning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The lack of consistent staffing means that one child is unable to access activities that they enjoy, such as swimming and soft play. The activities offered to the child are things that they enjoy, but they are repetitive and lack creativity. For example, going out for a drive and playing in the garden. This limits the child’s opportunities to experience new things as well as taking part in community activities that they enjoy.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Two of the children attend school regularly. One child is not currently in school as an appropriate provision has not yet been identified by the placing authority. The child is very anxious about this, and managers are acting as good advocates to support the Inspection report for children’s home: SC411046 4 child’s return to education. In the meantime, staff are ensuring that the child has a structured routine and completes schoolwork daily.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children’s care plans contain lots of important information about their needs and how they should be cared for. However, there are occasions when staff do not act in accordance with these plans. For example, one child had a sanction inappropriately applied when a member of staff struggled to manage the child’s behaviour in a positive way. This was not in line with the child’s plan or the ethos of the home. Another child was taken to fast food restaurants numerous times in one week, despite the plan being that the child should eat a healthy diet.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Some important local authority documentation is missing from children’s records, for example copies of up-to-date health assessments, review meeting minutes and one child’s education, health and care (EHC) plan. This means that staff do not have access to important information about children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The garden is spacious and well maintained. However, there is limited play equipment for children to use. One of the children enjoys sensory play, but the lack of appropriate play resources in both the home and the garden limits their access to these types of activities.

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

Staff do not consistently follow children’s care and risk management plans. For example, one member of staff did not follow the home’s protocol or seek medical advice when a child banged their head.

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

When one child is upset and/or anxious, they can behave in a way that others may find challenging. The child’s most recent behaviour support plan could not be located during the inspection. This means that staff do not have access to information that would help them to respond in a consistent and effective way. On one occasion, the child became very distressed in the community, and staff did not have the skills, knowledge or experience to manage the child’s behaviour in a positive way. Furthermore, the child’s risk management plan was not updated following this incident.

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

Records of incidents in the home are of poor quality. It is not always clear how long incidents lasted or how they ended. The manager has not addressed this. This is a missed opportunity for the manager to understand if staff have taken appropriate action and followed children’s plans and to understand the effectiveness of their approaches.

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

There are no records of incidents where staff have needed to hold children to keep them safe. However, one member of staff told the inspector that they had held a child to prevent them from harm. In addition, the language used in some incident records could indicate that a physical intervention has taken place. The manager has not sufficiently explored this with staff and recorded her oversight on these records. Inspection report for children’s home: SC411046 5 Staff have received training to help them understand their responsibilities to safeguard children. However, staff were not able to correctly identify the provider’s designated safeguarding lead, and they did not understand the role of the local area designated safeguarding officer (LADO). They demonstrated a basic understanding of what they should do if a child made an allegation to them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered manager has not prioritised improvements to practice in the home, and many of the requirements issued at the last full inspection have been restated.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There is a reliance on agency staff to cover vacant posts. This means that children experience inconsistent care and a lack of continuity. This is unsettling for children and has a negative impact on their experience of living at the home. Professionals and family members shared their concerns about this with the inspector.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers’ oversight of records of significant incidents in the home is not sufficiently robust. For example, there was a significant delay in managers’ reviewing the record of a significant incident for one child. Furthermore, there was delay in addressing concerns about staff practice during this incident.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff do not receive regular supervision or an annual appraisal of their practice. One member of staff did not know who their supervisor was. They have worked at the home for over twelve months and there was no record of any supervision sessions held with them. One new member of staff has not received supervision, and the records of their induction could not be located. The manager has not provided formal supervision to agency staff. These are missed opportunities to support staff and review their performance. A requirement was made in relation to this at the last full inspection and is restated to secure improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff do not receive all the relevant training they need to care for disabled children consistently and effectively. For example, not all staff have received training about autism, and staff have not had specific training to help them to communicate with disabled children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Recording systems are poorly organised and several important records could not be located during the inspection. In addition, records of children who do not live at the home were found mixed up in other children’s records.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The quality of incident and accident reports is variable. Some records are handwritten and difficult to read. Several documents are not signed or dated. Some reports contain language that is unhelpful to children. These issues have not been identified and addressed by the manager. Inspection report for children’s home: SC411046 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— that staff—

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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

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(v)(vi)(vii)) 30 November 2025

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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;

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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

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose; ensure that staff— 30 November 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: SC411046 7 understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

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Requirement Due date

provide to children personal items that are appropriate for their age and understanding; and

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Requirement Due date

make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iv)(viii)(ix))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff understand and act in accordance with children’s plans. Children should be provided with the resources and opportunities to help them to communicate, make choices and express their wishes and feelings.

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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 promotes their welfare.

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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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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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. 30 November 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: SC411046 8 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

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received.

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(e)(f)(g)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all staff, including agency staff, receive regular supervision which allows them to reflect on their practice. Records of supervision should be made and retained. The registered person must ensure that all staff have individual appraisals once per year.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all staff have individual annual appraisals of their performance.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 30 November 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are kept up to date; and 30 November 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: SC411046 9 are signed and dated by the author of each entry.

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Requirement Due date

in cases not falling within sub-paragraph (a), for 75 years from the child’s date of birth;

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Requirement Due date

securely in the children’s home during the period when the child to whom the case records relate is accommodated there; and

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Requirement Due date

in a secure place after the child has ceased to be accommodated in the home.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all children’s files contain, as a minimum, those documents listed in Schedule 3 and all other relevant documents.

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Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4. (Regulation 37 (1)(2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the staff roster records the full name of all staff, including agency staff, working at the home. 30 November 2025

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must follow the local authority process to escalate their requests when they do not 30 November 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: SC411046 10 have the current plans for the child. Specifically, the EHC plans, review meeting minutes and local authority health assessments.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement ("the statement of purpose") which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the statement of purpose is sent to Ofsted when changes in staffing occur.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 30 November 2025

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children are provided with play equipment in the home and garden that meets their sensory needs. Children should be consulted and involved in choosing this equipment. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9).

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Information about this inspection

The inspector has 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: SC411046 11

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Lifetime Opportunities Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Windsor House, Bayshill Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL50 3AT

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Shona Wands Alderson

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Inspector

Sophie Thomson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC411046 12 regulates and inspects to 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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