Children's Home run by Therapeutic Care Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report children's home: 2762096 1 Registered provider: Therapeutic Care 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 privately owned children’s home provides care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties. At the time of this inspection, two children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2023. This is the home’s first inspection since registration.

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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: not applicable Inspection report children's home: 2762096 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide a caring, supportive and nurturing environment for children. Children are settled and make good progress living at the home. Children enjoy positive relationships with the adults who support them. They benefit from well-tailored plans that promote their needs effectively. A social worker said, ‘The staff have been amazing. [The child’s name] has settled in really well and has positive relationships with staff.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to spend time with their friends and families. This ensures that children sustain their familiar relationships with the people who are most important to them. Staff provide children with continuity of care, so that they have stability and consistency in their lives. Children benefit from a homely and comfortable living environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to attend school regularly. Staff work closely with the providers of children’s education to promote their learning, attainment and achievement. Staff encourage children’s interests and hobbies. Children enjoy going on holiday, playing football, going go karting and army cadets. Both children have recently acquired pet rabbits as a result of their requests for a pet.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that the health needs of children are met effectively. They ensure that children have access to the services they need to be healthy. They support children to attend their health appointments and work in partnership with the company therapist to promote their emotional well-being. A social worker said, ‘The placement is amazing and meeting all the child’s needs to an excellent standard. They have access to a psychotherapist to provide advice to staff to support young people.’

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

Children are kept safe and feel safe living at the home. They develop a strong sense of personal safety. The safety of children is consistently at the centre of staff’s practice. A child said, ‘I like the home and get on with the staff. They are all nice.’

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

There have been no complaints or allegations since the home was registered. Staff are trained in child protection so that they know how to report suspected abuse. Staff have a good understanding of the specific needs and vulnerabilities of children and take appropriate action to protect them from harm. Safe working practices and the use of clear risk management plans promotes the safety of children.

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

Staff have high expectations of behaviour. They reinforce and praise positive behaviour. They support children when they are struggling with behaviour and take action to prevent behaviours from escalating. There have been no restraints, and behaviours that challenge are managed safely and effectively. A social worker said, ‘They have made Inspection report children's home: 2762096 3 great progress with their mental health and there have been no further episodes of missing from home, drug use and challenging behaviours.’

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

Significant incidents are reported to the appropriate authorities so that the right action is taken by the right people. Effective partnerships with social workers and other safeguarding agencies promote the safety and well-being of children.

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

There have been no missing-from-home incidents for children. Clear protocols and reporting procedures are in place. Staff keep in regular contact with children when they out in the community and are always alert to the possibility of missing-from-home incidents occurring.

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

Health and safety matters are addressed effectively to promote a safe environment for children, visitors and staff. Safer recruitment practices are adhered to ensure that adults employed to care for children are vetted and selected carefully.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children benefit that a home that is managed efficiently and effectively by an experienced registered manager. The manager is a visible and active presence in the children’s lives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has high expectations of staff, and leads them, by example. The team has created a culture of high aspiration for children, with a staff team that delivers effective support and aspires to make a real difference to the lives of children. A staff member said, ‘The help and support of the manager and entire team has been second to none. The genuine care and focused attention on the children we have is fantastic.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A stable staff team is employed to care for children safely. Staff benefit from regular, child focused team meetings and reflective practice related supervision. These meetings focus on staff’s well-being and monitor the progress and experiences of children. Staff benefit from good quality training to help them meet the specific needs of children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

An independent person visits the home to review the standard and quality of the children’s care. These visits help the manager and staff to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the care provided for children. As a result, they act on any recommendations made by the independent person to secure continuing improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has reviewed the home’s safe area report to ensure that they are familiar with any risks in the wider community. However, they have not used or applied this learning when deciding which children should move in. Additionally, the manager’s quality-of-care review does not consider the arrangements for the protection of children. Inspection report children's home: 2762096 4

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the safer area report is used when considering a new referral to the home. (‘Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 17, paragraph 3.23)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the six-monthly quality of care review includes the manager's monitoring and evaluation of records that relate to the protection of children standard. (‘Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24)

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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 children's home: 2762096 5

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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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Inspectors

Anthony Kyem, Social Care Inspector Eve Ostridge, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: 2762096 6 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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