Children's Home run by Lifetime Opportunities Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC063103 1 SC063103

p.1

Registered provider: Lifetime Opportunities Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private provider. It provides care for up to five children who may have learning difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, two children were living at the home. The inspector met both children and one child spoke to the inspector.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in February 2024.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager also manages another setting.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be 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.

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 11 February 2025

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC063103 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/02/2025 Full Good 13/03/2024 Full Good 07/02/2023 Full Good 21/03/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC063103 3

p.2

improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, two children have remained settled and one child has moved out of the home. The child moved out in an unplanned way. Leaders and managers challenged other professionals to promote a more planned move. They supported the child to understand the reason for their move, taking into account the child’s needs.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children have good school attendance. The manager and staff work closely with education professionals to ensure that children’s learning is supported. Staff support children transitioning to different educational provisions in a planned manner. They discuss changes with the children and meet with professionals to help support smooth transitions and to minimise the risk of disruption.

p.3

improvement to be good

The children living at the home have complex needs and use a range of communication methods, including PECS, visual aids and Makaton signing. Weekly plans are displayed on the wall to support one child with daily chores; however, these are handwritten, even though the child is unable to read. There are limited visual resources available throughout the home to support communication, which limits the children’s ability to express their views and make choices about their daily lives.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children live in a homely and welcoming environment. Some areas of the home have recently been decorated. Any damage to the home is repaired promptly. Children’s bedrooms are personalised. There are photos on the walls of children enjoying activities and days out.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children are encouraged to develop their independence skills. One child has made progress in developing life skills and are able to attend to their personal needs and wash their laundry with the supervision of staff.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children’s plans and risk assessments are individualised to reflect their specific needs and associated risks. These records support staff in understanding each child and to provide care that meets their identified needs.

p.3

improvement to be good

Incidents relating to children’s behaviour are recorded. However, the records do not always clearly outline the actions taken. In some cases, the details recorded for the same incident are inconsistent. While staff are offered debriefs, these are not reflective or evaluative in nature, and opportunities for staff to share their views on what has happened are limited. The manager’s oversight of incidents is poor, failing to identify shortfalls and or highlight future learning opportunities. Inspection report for children’s home: SC063103 4 The manager and staff work effectively with other professionals. For example, they have collaborated closely with professionals to support one child who displays self-injurious behaviours. All incidents are recorded and include body maps of injuries, and this information is shared appropriately to help monitor and identify patterns in behaviour.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children’s health needs are well met. Children who have specific medical conditions are referred to the appropriate health agencies for support. Non-verbal children are closely observed to identify signs that may indicate pain or emotional distress. For one child, referral to specialist services and changes to their diet have led to improvements in their health, supported by staff who consistently follow the child’s individualised plan.

p.4

improvement to be good

Complaints about the care provided to children are investigated appropriately. The manager collaborates with other professionals to ensure that children’s safety plans are robust. However, the manager has not consistently reported incidents involving allegations against staff or child protection enquiries to the regulator, limiting external oversight and accountability.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Leaders and managers have identified areas of shortfalls in practice and developed an action plan to address these. Implementation of the plan is underway. However, the manager has not yet met all the requirements set at the last inspection.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The majority of the staff team are permanent, although agency staff are used regularly. The manager ensures that there is always at least one permanent member of staff on shift and that any agency staff are familiar to the children. New staff are gradually introduced to help them build positive relationships with children and develop an understanding of their individual needs.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager has systems in place to monitor the care and progress of children. However, the required six-monthly report to review the quality of care has not been sent to the regulator within the expected time frame. This limits regulatory oversight of the quality of care and the progress made in addressing areas for improvement and development. This shortfall was also identified at the last inspection.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager has recently implemented a new supervision tool to ensure that all staff receive regular supervision. The manager has also begun to include regular agency staff in the supervision schedule to ensure that they receive consistent support. Permanent staff have annual appraisals, and supervision sessions are reflective and focus on learning and development.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The home’s statement of purpose has been completed by the interim manager. However, this has not been sent to Ofsted within the expected timescale. This was a requirement raised at the last inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: SC063103 5

p.4

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.

p.5

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—

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

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;

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate; ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

p.5

Requirement Due date

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;

p.5

Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(e)(f)(h))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must review and evaluate all incidents to identify any shortfalls and improve practice.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all staff receive debriefs following incidents to enable them to reflect on the nature of the incident and identify any areas for learning. 17 December 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: SC063103 6 The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose; ensure that staff—

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

p.6

Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

p.6

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;

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that children are provided with the resources and opportunities to help them to communicate, make choices and express their wishes and feelings. 17 December 2025

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there; 17 December 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: SC063103 7 a child protection enquiry involving a child —

p.6

Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

p.7

Requirement Due date

(5) A notification made under this regulation—

p.7

Requirement Due date

(ii)the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

(iii)any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

p.7

Requirement Due date

(b)must be made or confirmed in writing.

p.7

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 40 (4)(b) (c)(d)(i)(ii) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must inform the regulator of any referral made to the local authority designated officer and any incidents when police attend the home.

p.7

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. (Regulation 16 (1))

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 17 December 2025

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months.

p.7

Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

p.7

Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children 17 December 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: SC063103 8 the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c))

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that there is a quality of care review that focuses on the care provided to children, the experiences of children living in the home and the impact the care is having on outcomes and improvements for the children. This review should be completed every six months and shared with the regulator.

p.8

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: SC063103 9

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Lifetime Opportunities Limited

p.9

Children’s home details

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

p.9

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Shona Wands Alderson

p.9

Inspector

Sarah Probert, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC063103 10 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.

p.9

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.10

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.10

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.10