Children's home run by Northridge Care Group Limited

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2738398 1 Registered provider: Northridge Care Group 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 owned and managed by a private provider. It provides care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home.

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Inspection date: 25 March 2025

Date of last inspection: 22 October 2024

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Inspection date: 25 March 2025

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 25 March 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: 2738398 2

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Findings from the inspection

There has been a change in the management of the home since the last inspection. An interim manager is in post and his monitoring and reviewing of the home have improved the management oversight of the home. Since the last visit, two children have moved on from the home and one child has moved in and was the only child living at the home at the time of this inspection. The child, who is new to the home, is building meaningful, trusting relationships with staff.

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Findings from the inspection

Children have positive experiences of moving in and out of this home. When children move into the home, they are welcomed sensitively and with care. Children visit the home beforehand and meet staff. Endings are a positive experience for children who move out of the home. The manager ensures that children can visit their new home. For two children, a well-planned transition was implemented, including two visits and two overnights stays at their new home prior to moving in to help them build relationships with unfamiliar adults. Additionally, staff visited the children after they moved to help them to settle into their new home.

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Findings from the inspection

The child living at the home is currently not in education. The child’s learning and development are supported by a comprehensive education timetable created by staff while a long-term solution is identified. The manager advocates for the child's educational needs effectively, ensuring that the child’s views and wishes are consistently communicated and acted on by external professionals.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s health needs are consistently met, with staff ensuring that children are taken to regular routine health appointments. Health conditions are closely monitored and any emerging concerns are promptly addressed. Staff work closely with healthcare professionals to ensure that any necessary interventions are implemented for children.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are actively encouraged by staff to maintain and strengthen relationships with people who are important to them. Staff create a variety of opportunities for children to spend quality time with their families, supporting fun and enjoyable activities together.

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Findings from the inspection

On the few occasions when children have gone missing from the home, staff are proactive and professionally curious in their attempts to locate and return the children home safely. Practice is supported by detailed written information about the children from their placing authorities and clear multi-agency working. There are clear safety plans in place with guidance for staff to follow when children go missing from the home. Staff seek to understand the reasons why children go missing in an attempt to reduce the risk of future incidents.

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Findings from the inspection

Risks to children are known and understood by staff. Children’s individual risk assessments are detailed with guidance for staff. Staff are proactive in using professional curiosity, consistently seeking to deepen their understanding of community-based risks and safeguarding concerns. They carry out searches of the Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2738398 3 children’s bedrooms when required. However, records do not evidence actions taken by staff to dispose of harmful items found.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s behaviour is generally well managed through a range of positive strategies, including rewards, de-escalation techniques and distraction methods. Any consequences imposed are natural and proportionate to the behaviour displayed. However, there has been one occasion when a child has been physically held by staff. Staff do not have a clear understanding of their responsibilities regarding court-ordered restrictions in place concerning physical intervention. This limits staff’s ability to manage such situations appropriately. This is being taken seriously by leaders and managers, who have plans in place to address this shortfall.

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Findings from the inspection

Children know how to make a complaint. A QR code is readily accessible in the home so that children can make a complaint confidentially. However, the one complaint made directly to staff, has not been shared in a timely manner with the manager for appropriate action to be taken. The manager has plans in place to address this shortfall.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager is committed to staff’s learning and development. Staff attend a wide range of training, including specialised courses to meet children’s individual needs. The manager completes training sessions with staff during team meetings and tests their knowledge. Supervision is of good quality. Staff discuss and reflect on their care of children. Any identified shortfall in practice is raised in supervision sessions, and staff are given clear guidance on actions to be completed. Staff say that they are supported by the manager and enjoy coming to work. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2738398 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/10/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 20/06/2024 Full Inadequate 13/02/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2738398 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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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

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(v))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that staff understand their responsibilities in adhering to court- ordered restrictions in place. 25 April 2025

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must establish a procedure for considering complaints made by or on behalf of children.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 39 (1) (3) (5)) 25 April 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2738398 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Northridge Care Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Richard House, 9 Winckley Square, Preston, Lancashire PR1 3HP

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Michelle Donaghey

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Inspector

Leanne Carr, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2738398 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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