Children's Home run by Therapeutic Care Limited in Lancashire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2744719 1 Registered provider: Therapeutic Care Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home provides care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There were no children living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home currently does not have a registered manager.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: not previously inspected

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At these inspections, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2744719 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

This assurance inspection was completed to ensure that the home is a safe place for children. Since the home was registered, two children have lived there. Both children have since moved out due to unsafe behaviour, which resulted in two small fire incidents at the home. Staff could not meet children’s specific needs to ensure their long-term safety. The provider made the decision not to have any children move in for a period, so that the team could reflect on the learning and make repairs to the home. The home has now been redecorated, and improvements have been made to the layout of the home to give children an opportunity to have more-individualised space if they choose.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff understand the vulnerabilities of children. Staff responded appropriately to incidents and took appropriate action to keep children safe. They involved other professionals, such as the fire safety officer and local knife crime officer, to offer additional support and guidance to children. Robust risk assessments were in place, and these were regularly reviewed.

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Findings from the inspection

The provider recognises that the home has experienced an unsettled period. There has been a change in the management of the home. The new manager is in the process of submitting his application to be registered. The manager has completed a review of the quality of care. They have recognised the shortfalls and have a clear plan in place to rectify these and bring improvement to the care provided to children.

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Findings from the inspection

The new manager is child centred and has high expectations and aspirations to provide a high quality of care to children. He has developed a more robust pre- admission assessment process to ensure that he can identify the level of the child’s complexities and needs, and that staff have the experience and knowledge to meet these needs.

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Findings from the inspection

Children were not attending school or engaging in education. Staff were not able to engage children in suitable structured daily activities to support learning when they were not in school.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff had not implemented age-appropriate routines and boundaries for children. This resulted in children’s lack of progress and positive experience while living at the home. The new manager identified this shortfall and has provided staff with additional training around behaviour strategies, the importance of routines, and appropriate boundaries.

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Findings from the inspection

When children went missing, staff responded appropriately to ensure that they returned safely. Staff adhere to missing-from-home protocols, including involving Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2744719 3 other professionals and actively looking for children. Records reflect a proactive approach by staff to support children’s safe return to the home.

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Findings from the inspection

There have been two incidents of physical intervention. Staff ensured that this was only used as a last resort to keep the child safe. There are clear records, and the child was given an opportunity to reflect on why the hold was necessary to keep them safe.

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Findings from the inspection

There is a stable staff team in place. The manager has ensured that staff have been recruited safely. Staff are committed to developing the quality of care provided. The manager and staff have reflected on their practice and are enthusiastic about the support and changes implemented by the new manager.

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Findings from the inspection

There is a comprehensive training programme available to staff. The manager has a system in place for monitoring staff training, which is effective and ensures that all mandatory training has been completed. While there have not been any children living in the home, the manager has ensured that staff have received additional training to help to develop their knowledge and skills.

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Findings from the inspection

The previous manager did not consistently report serious incidents to Ofsted in the required timescales. This means that the regulator has no initial oversight of what action staff take to keep the children safe. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2744719 4

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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 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—

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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;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child —

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered provider must ensure that significant incidents are reported to Ofsted without delay. 13 July 2024

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

that staff— 13 July 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2744719 5 support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

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Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

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Requirement Due date

help each child who is above compulsory school age to participate in further education, training or employment and to prepare for future care, education or employment. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(ii)(iii)(v)(ix))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered provider must ensure that when children are not in education, there is clear structure and routine in place at the home to support independent study.

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those 13 July 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2744719 6 expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand, in a way that is appropriate according to the child’s age and understanding, personal, sexual and social relationships, and how those relationships can be supportive or harmful;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop the understanding and skills to recognise or withdraw from a damaging, exploitative or harmful relationship;

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Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child’s respect and trust;

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Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children;

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Requirement Due date

are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same;

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Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children; and

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Requirement Due date

understand and communicate to children that bullying is unacceptable. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(ix)(x)(xi)) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2744719 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Therapeutic Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Therapeutic Care, Errigal House, Avroe Crescent, Blackpool FY4 2DP

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Jacqueline Titterington

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Inspector

Simon Jones, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2744719 8 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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