Children's home run by Lincolnshire County Council

Inspection report for children’s home: 2781668 1 Registered provider: Lincolnshire County Council

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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 local authority. It is registered to provide care for up to six children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

Four children were living at the home at the time of the inspection. All children were spoken to as part of the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 11 September 2024

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2781668 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/09/2024 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: 2781668 3

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outstanding

Staff know the children exceptionally well and have a strong understanding of their individual risks and the strategies needed to keep them safe. They prioritise building trusting and secure relationships. They recognise that these are fundamental to helping children feel settled and reduce risks over time. Children benefit from consistent, nurturing care that promotes their safety and emotional stability.

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outstanding

Warm, respectful language is consistently used when adults speak about the children, reflecting the embedded therapeutic model of care. This is evident in children’s records and with observed interactions between children and adults. Empathetic and reflective practice creates a culture in which children feel valued, understood and well supported.

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outstanding

Children have made exceptional progress during their time here. This is reflected in their improved engagement in education, increased confidence and the positive relationships they have developed. For one child who had experienced significant family difficulties, staff have offered stability, consistency and nurture. This has helped the child feel more secure and express their feelings safely, resulting in a clear reduction in safeguarding incidents.

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outstanding

Children benefit from a wide range of new and enriching experiences, including a recent holiday abroad. This was exceptionally well planned, with careful consideration given to ensuring that both staff and children were fully prepared. Staff prepared tailored risk management plans in Spanish to ensure that, if needed, these documents would be as effective as possible. Organised preparatory visits to the airport also helped children understand what to expect.

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outstanding

Thoughtful and individualised storyboards enabled each child to feel confident and supported throughout the trip. Children spoke enthusiastically about their holiday and the positive memories they created. This experience has contributed meaningfully to their personal development and has been made possible through the staff team’s robust and effective planning.

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outstanding

Feedback from professionals is exceptionally positive. Stakeholders consistently report that children make outstanding progress and that staff know them extremely well. Professionals describe the manager as highly effective, consistently going above and beyond to advocate for children. They said that staff and the manager appropriately challenge partner agencies when required to get the best outcomes for children. One professional said, ‘They are the best children’s home I have worked with.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 2781668 4

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outstanding

Incidents of children going missing have reduced significantly and are now rare. This reduction is the result of highly effective and proactive safeguarding practice. Staff have strong, trusting relationships with children. When a child does go missing, staff respond with urgency and consistency. They follow individual risk management plans and work swiftly with partner agencies to safeguard children.

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outstanding

When children have been missing from home, they are welcomed back with warmth and sensitivity. Staff provide meaningful emotional support and offer children thoughtful opportunities to talk about their feelings and experiences. This nurturing approach ensures that children feel safe, valued and listened to. This has contributed to the continued reduction in children going missing from home.

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outstanding

There is a highly effective multi-agency approach when safeguarding incidents occur. Staff maintain close and proactive communication with schools, clinical teams and social workers. This is to ensure that children receive timely and well-coordinated support. Referrals to external services are made promptly and appropriately, demonstrating strong and purposeful partnership working.

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outstanding

Partnership work for a child displaying sexualised behaviours has been exceptional. Staff have worked closely with the clinical team, securing specialist input from the harmful sexualised behaviours service. This joint approach has strengthened the child’s care and safety plans and provided staff with a clear and consistent framework. School staff have also participated in workshops with care staff to ensure a unified response. Staff feel confident in supporting the child, leading to significant progress and a marked reduction in incidents.

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outstanding

The use of physical restraint has been minimal. On occasions it has been necessary for one child, this has been appropriate, proportionate and used solely to ensure the child’s safety. Staff complete thoughtful and reflective debrief discussions, listening carefully to the child. This has resulted in updates to plans that clearly reflect the child’s voice and introduce effective alternative strategies. The child has made significant progress, with no further physical holds required for over a year.

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outstanding

Plans to support children are individualised and updated promptly following any incident or change in risk or behaviour. Safeguarding information and changes in children’s plans are discussed clearly and consistently during staff handovers, ensuring that children’s safety remains well communicated, understood and prioritised.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff speak positively about the support they receive from the manager and describe this as a highly rewarding place to work. They feel valued and appreciated, with Inspection report for children’s home: 2781668 5 leaders showing a clear commitment to their professional development. This supportive culture has helped create a stable, confident and motivated staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Feedback consistently highlights the exceptional support of the manager and assistant manager, who are described as going above and beyond and genuinely caring for their team. This has created a strong sense of belonging and emotional security among staff. One staff member said, ‘It is like a home from home. I don’t feel like I come to work; I feel like I am at home here.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is a knowledgeable and confident leader. She has created an ethos that is nurturing and clearly reflects the therapeutic model of care outlined in the statement of purpose. This culture is rooted in the nurture and care she shows to both children and staff. Her consistent, hands-on leadership has been adopted by the wider staff team, ensuring that this approach is fully embedded.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Care practice in the home is never static. The manager and staff team continually explore new and innovative ways to enhance the care provided to children. This commitment is reflected in the manager’s strong focus on staff development, ensuring that the team remains skilled, confident and well supported. Staff are therefore equipped to deliver consistently high-quality, child-centred care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Monthly team meetings are child focused and used to review children’s progress and emerging needs. Staff reflect on children’s trajectories and identify next steps, ensuring that support remains responsive, well coordinated and developmentally focused.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Supervision discussions are held monthly and maintain a strong focus on children’s progress, relationships and the quality of support provided. Reflective practice is well embedded, and staff use this space to discuss safeguarding matters openly and confidently. Each supervision session includes an individual development plan, reinforcing that professional development is given high priority.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

No requirements or recommendations were made following this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: 2781668 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: 2781668 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Lincolnshire County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: County Offices, Newland, Lincoln LN1 1YL

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Inspector

Eleanor Quanbrough, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2781668 8 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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