Children's Home run by Therapeutic Care Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children's home: 2818434 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 home registered with Ofsted in December 2024 and is operated by a private company. It is registered to provide care for two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2024.

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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

Date of last inspection: Not previously inspected

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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 for children's home: 2818434 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

During the inspection, the child spoke to the inspector.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the home registered with Ofsted, one child has moved into the home. The move was managed in a sensitive way, with the child being able to visit and bring their belongings in preparation. The child has been able to form positive relationships with staff and said, ‘I love it here, and I like all the staff.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is a welcoming and safe environment. There are family photos, artwork and certificates belonging to the child throughout the home, and they have been able to personalise their bedroom. This gives the child a sense of ownership of the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is from a large family. However, there have been some difficulties in arranging family time between brothers and sisters. The manager fully accepts the importance of the child maintaining familial relationships. The manager is working with other professionals to formulate a more robust plan around family time. Staff encourage the child to develop new interests and friendships and recognise the benefits of social interaction with peers in a positive way. The child has had a birthday party at a venue of their choosing, which was attended by one of the child’s brothers and friends from school.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is valued in the home. The manager has recognised the importance of consistency in education for the child. Staff transport the child a long distance to their current educational provision. This has allowed the child to maintain their friendships and relationships with school staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff meet the child’s health needs. Referrals are made to specialist services when required. When physical health needs emerge, the manager ensures that strategies are put in place to minimise the impact of these. The child is supported with their emotional health by staff who understand the effect of trauma and the need to employ a high level of nurture.

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

The child is kept safe by staff who are attuned to their needs and vulnerabilities. There are clear plans in place that help staff understand how to meet the child’s needs. Incidents are generally well managed, and staff are trained and skilled in de-escalation techniques. This promotes a positive and non-confrontational culture.

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

There has been some use of physical intervention to keep the child safe. Staff only hold the child as a last resort. When this has happened, it has been proportionate and necessary. There is clear recording, and the manager ensures that they review the Inspection report for children's home: 2818434 3 incidents and reflect on them with the child and staff. This allows learning to be taken from the incidents and different strategies to be used when necessary.

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

Staff promote positive behaviour through rewards and incentives. The child receives regular praise, and their achievements are celebrated. There has been minimal use of negative consequences. However, on two occasions, the consequence has not been fully documented by staff. This has reduced the manager’s oversight and their ability to ensure that the measures were fair and effective.

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

Staff receive training on safeguarding issues and understand how to escalate concerns. The provider has safely recruited new members of staff in an attempt to ensure that only suitable individuals work with the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is suitably experienced and qualified. He has management responsibility for another home with this provider. His practice is child centred, and he is aspirational for the child and the service. There is a strong deputy manager who is being supported to progress in his career. This promotes staff retention, which provides consistency and stability for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The child is cared for by a committed staff team. There has been minimal use of staff from other homes, which ensures consistency for the child. However, there have been some occasions when the full names of those working in the home have not been recorded on the rota.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team has a range of experience. Some staff are experienced and qualified in childcare. New members of staff complete a thorough induction and probation period before being enrolled to complete a recognised childcare qualification. Staff have access to a range of training that supports them to care effectively for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say that they feel well supported by the management team. Staff receive regular supervision sessions that allow them to reflect on their practice. Regular team meetings serve as a forum for discussion and learning.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has embedded a range of systems to monitor the quality of care provided to the child. The manager has reviewed the home’s safe area report to ensure that they are familiar with any risks in the surrounding area. However, he has not fully considered this when deciding if this home was suitable for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff and the manager work effectively with other agencies and professionals. They attend all relevant meetings and advocate for the child when necessary. An assistant headteacher said, ‘They are one of the best residential homes I have worked with. They really care for the child and know them well.’ Inspection report for children's home: 2818434 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

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure ("the user"), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)) 15 June 2025 Inspection report for children's home: 2818434 5 In particular, the registered person must ensure that any negative consequences put in place for the child are recorded by staff. Additionally, these must be reviewed by the manager to ensure that they are proportionate, fair and effective.

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Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are kept up to date; and

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Requirement Due date

retain the records for at least 15 years from the date of the last entry. (Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the staff duty roster of persons working at the home contains the full names of staff members. 15 June 2025

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the safer area report is used and considered 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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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: 2818434 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Therapeutic Care Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Eve Ostridge, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2818434 7 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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