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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2821688 1 Registered provider: Yourcare (Northwest) 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 is owned and managed by a private company. It provides care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left his role in April 2025. An interim manager is currently managing the home.

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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: 2821688 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child living in the home has been supported to build positive and trusting relationships with the staff team, despite having only lived in the home for a short while at the time of inspection. The child has responded well to the staff team’s nurturing approach and staff speak about the child with warmth and affection. Staff know the child well and they share kind and playful interactions with one another. There is a family-style approach in the staff team and the home is beautifully decorated and welcoming.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has already had lots of opportunities to try new things and take part in a variety of activities. The child said that this is one of their favourite things about living in the home. The child has also been supported to continue horse riding, which is something they have done for several years prior to living in this home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is not attending an educational provision but is accessing online tutoring in the home. Staff also encourage educational activities during school time. The child has expressed a desire to attend a mainstream provision. This is something that the staff support and have set this as a realistic and achievable goal for the child. The manager is working with and challenging external agencies to source the right educational setting for the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is listened to and involved in making decisions about their care. They are empowered to share their views, wishes and feelings through regular key-work sessions, and weekly consultations are used to capture the child’s views about their home life. Any appropriate changes are then actioned as a result.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s identity is understood and respected by the staff team and staff sensitively manage discussions with the child to explore their identity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child enjoys regular family time, and this is supported by staff who understand the importance of familial relationships. Staff have built a positive relationship with the child’s family. However, communication at times has been inconsistent.

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

The child said that they feel safe in the home, and they were able to identify several staff they would approach if they had any worries or concerns. Staff share a unified approach to set clear and consistent boundaries, which the child has responded positively to.

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

Child-friendly, focused language is used throughout all plans and assessments. Leaders and managers have a thorough understanding of the impact of language and ensure that staff always write about the child with unconditional, positive regard. Inspection report for children’s home: 2821688 3 There are relevant, up-to-date risk assessments in place which provide staff with strategies to help minimise and manage risks. The child is supported to contribute to their assessments and share strategies they wish staff to use to keep them safe.

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

Incidents in the home are few and no physical interventions have been used since hte home was opened. Staff use a calm and supportive approach, and the manager has clear, effective oversight of any incidents. It has been recognised and voiced by the child that they find the current level of staffing overwhelming. The manager has plans in place to challenge this with the local authority.

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

There were four incidents of the child being missing from home, with two incidents lasting under 20 minutes. Staff work proactively when the child is missing and follow the child’s missing-from-home plan. The manager evaluates records to ensure that staff have taken appropriate action to safeguard the child and to implement preventative strategies.

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

Staff know how to respond to any incidents of self-harm and support the child with care and empathy. Staff know the child’s behaviour support plan well and understand any potential triggers which may initiate an incident of self-harm. When a room search has been undertaken, staff have sought the child’s consent and managed this appropriately. However, some staff have misunderstood the guidance around daily room checks which support the child’s room cleanliness and all staff need to be clear that the child’s bedroom should only be entered with their consent unless risks and safety dictate otherwise.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The previous registered manager left the home following circumstances that necessitated their departure. Since then, a new manager has been appointed and is currently in post. The new manager is suitably experienced, and they have begun to implement systems which ensure that children benefit from continuity of care and stability.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say that they feel extremely well supported by the new manager and this is evident throughout records of supervision and in team meetings. The manager leads the team to remain child focused and staff have lots of opportunity to reflect on their practice and ensure there is a consistent, caring approach across the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have high standards and expectations of care in the home and use regular meetings and training opportunities to promote this. Where standards fall short, the manager approaches and addresses this in a restorative manner, which enables staff to be receptive to feedback and implement any changes to their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is an open and honest culture within the home and staff can confidently raise any concerns to leaders and managers, which are swiftly and appropriately addressed. Inspection report for children’s home: 2821688 4

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff only enter children’s bedrooms with consent from the child unless required due to risk or health and safety reasons. Children should be informed of any room search and attempts to gain their consent clearly recorded. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.2)  The registered person should ensure that the child’s family is appropriately involved with supporting their child’s health and well-being needs and informed of any changes in a timely manner. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 34, paragraph 7.14)

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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: 2821688 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Yourcare (Northwest) ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 64 St Georges Park, Kirkham PR4 2DZ

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Inspector

Justina Henry, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2821688 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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