Children's Home run by Northridge Care Group Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2679574 1 Registered provider: Northridge Care Group Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered with Ofsted in August 2022 and is owned by a private company. The home offers care for up to three children who may have social and emotional difficulties or who have learning disabilities.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2679574 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children’s home: 2679574 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is one child living at the home. The home is welcoming and feels like a family home. The child’s bedroom is personalised to their taste.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is provided with good-quality care. The child has an individual care plan with is detailed and shows the child’s aims and objectives. This allows the manager to monitor children’s progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has moved out of the home. They were not attending education. Staff encouraged them to attend and supported them to complete work sent by the school. The child currently living at the home has made progress with education and now attends school full time.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s psychological and emotional needs are met. The child’s mother said that, ‘[child’s name] is much more emotionally stable due to the nurturing and calm environment.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help the child to take part in activities that the child enjoys. For example, they make sure that the child can develop their interests and talents in gymnastics and Police Cadets. This increases the child’s self-esteem and social skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is supported to maintain positive relationships with their family. Staff work closely with the child’s family and both parents commented that their relationships with the child had improved since the child moved to the home.

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

The manager and staff develop detailed risk assessments and management plans for the child. These are monitored and updated so they remain relevant and accurate. Staff supervise the child in line with their risk management plan to ensure their safety in the home and the community.

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

Staff respond well to incidents of the child going missing from the home. Staff follow clear protocols for the child. Such incidents have reduced since the child has been at the home as they build relationships and become more settled. Consequently, the child is safer.

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

Key-work sessions are individualised to the needs of the child. Topics covered show that areas of risk are discussed. This demonstrates that the child is being helped to learn what it means to keep themselves safe.

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

Staff have a good understanding of the child and their individual vulnerabilities. There is a clear procedure for reporting and managing safeguarding concerns, and staff have a good understanding of this process and of their responsibilities. Inspection report for children’s home: 2679574 4 Children live in a home that is physically safe and secure. Staff complete regular health and safety checks and follow a range of safety procedures to protect children from potential hazards.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has recently left the organisation. The deputy manager has been promoted to acting manager. The acting manager is experienced and there is a robust development plan in place. She intends to submit her application to register with Ofsted.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The acting manager and staff team have built good relationships with external professionals. There is clear communication and, when services are not provided to meet the children’s needs, these shortfalls are challenged.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are also provided with a wide range of training that informs their practice and meets the child’s individual and diverse needs. This provides staff with the essential skills and knowledge for their roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Some monitoring is effective and has resulted in practice issues being identified and addressed. However, managers do not always make effective use of internal monitoring systems. This means that not all shortfalls or required improvements are recognised. A requirement has been made.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The acting manager and staff team have good relationships with the child’s wider care team. The child’s social worker and independent reviewing officer gave positive feedback about how the staff team cares for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervision is regular and purposeful. Staff have opportunities to reflect on incidents they have been involved in. Additionally, there are regular team meetings which allow staff to discuss a range of issues in the home and updates to the child’s plans. Inspection report for children’s home: 2679574 5

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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, 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 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

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

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that effective monitoring systems are in place. 31 March 2023

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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: 2679574 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Northridge Care Group Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Fylde House, Skyways Commercial Campus, Amy Johnson Way, Blackpool FY4 3RS

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Inspector

Rachael Crook, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2679574 7 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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