Children's Home run by Yourcare (Northwest) Limited in Lancashire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2773192 1 Registered provider: Yourcare (Northwest) Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private provider. It offers care for up to two children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, two children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

A new manager has been in post since October 2024, but they are not yet registered with Ofsted.

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Inspection date: 26 February 2025

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 26 February 2025

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, 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. The inspector has 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: 2773192 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

The manager is in the process of applying to register with Ofsted. She has implemented suitable systems for the internal monitoring of the home. This ensures that she has oversight of significant events and identifies areas of good practice and areas for improvement, including training.

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Findings from the inspection

There have been improvements to the home environment. It is warm, welcoming and homely and has a relaxed feel to it. One child commented that they feel less stressed and more relaxed at home with the new manager, saying, ‘Things get done now.’ Children’s bedrooms are kept clean and tidy, and children are no longer keeping controlled medication in their rooms. However, over-the-counter medication was found in one child’s bedroom.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s plans provide clear guidance and strategies for staff to follow. They are informative and detailed; however, they are not written in a child-friendly style. Risk assessments are up to date. They are easy to follow and evidence partnership working with the police and local authority, alongside behavioural therapists to help support children to reduce risk.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager and staff are dedicated to supporting children’s educational needs. A teacher commented that one child is ‘thriving’ in school. Managers advocated for another child to secure a college place on a course of his choice.

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Findings from the inspection

When children are missing from home, staff take appropriate measures to search for them. Staff collaborate with the police and the children’s family to facilitate a safe return. When a child refuses to return, the manager and staff coordinate with the social worker to ensure that the child is safe, including administering daily prescribed controlled medication.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has good oversight of the home and is aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the staff team. Staff are now up to date with the provider’s mandatory training, and they have also received additional training specific to the individual needs of the children.

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Findings from the inspection

There is a stable staff team in the home. Staff say they feel supported in their roles, and since the last inspection, there has been a significant emphasis on staff development. Children spoken to said there are clear boundaries in place around behaviour, and they are consistently put in place by all staff.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff understand the whistle-blowing process. Safeguarding concerns raised about staff conduct are suitably explored and referred to the relevant professionals. Appropriate action is taken following an internal investigation. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2773192 3 Managers and staff now have a clear understanding of safeguarding procedures and the correct way these are to be documented. However, staff have failed to report an incident involving a child smoking an illegal substance to the relevant agencies.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff receive regular supervision. Children’s behaviours and past incidents are discussed during these sessions. However, the sessions are not practice related, and they do not focus on meeting the needs of the children, including their experiences, requirements and well-being.

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Findings from the inspection

Team meetings are well attended. They provide staff with opportunities to discuss the children and the running of the home. The meetings are not practice related or reflective, and they are poorly documented, which does not provide an accurate picture of the meeting. This is a missed opportunity to actively engage staff in self- development and shared learning across the team. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2773192 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/10/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2773192 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, 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 make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

medicines kept in the home are stored in a secure place so as to prevent any child from having unsupervised access to them; and

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Requirement Due date

a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(a)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the child’s medication should be stored in a locked and secure place, where no other child has access to it, and records should show when children are taking their medication. 31 March 2025

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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, sexual exploitation.

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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 any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

the matter; 31 March 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2773192 6 the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter.

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Requirement Due date

must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40 (a)(b)(e) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, when a child is found to be in possession of cannabis, the matter must be reported appropriately.

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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

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;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(f)(g)(i))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, team meetings should be reflective and practice related. 30 April 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, supervision should be reflective and practice related. 30 April 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2773192 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Yourcare (Northwest) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Pathways, Blackpool Road, Newton, Preston PR4 3RJ

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Inspector

Nicola Jeffery, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2773192 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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