Children's Home run by Prospera Group Ltd in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2794450 1 Registered provider: Prospera Group Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home registered with Ofsted in November 2024 and is operated by a private provider. It offers 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 the visit, two children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left in March 2025. The interim manager has applied for registration.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, one child has left the home, and one child has moved in. One child was spoken with during the inspection.

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This monitoring visit

The children reported receiving support in understanding how cannabis can affect their health. A child said staff will search their bedroom if they have any suspicions. The child understands that searches are carried out to ensure that they are safe. No substances have been found or removed.

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This monitoring visit

The children have received support for their moves into the home. Leaders and managers have spoken with the placing authority social workers and other professionals, such as child sexual exploitation workers, to consider the risks for both children. A clear assessment has been implemented that considers children’s risks and how they affect each other, as well as staff’s skills and their ability to keep children safe.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have received training specific to children’s needs, covering topics including ligature awareness, county lines and missing from home. A therapist attends the home to speak with children. The therapist has met both children and has a focus on developing trusting relationships so they can discuss any concerns they may have. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2794450 2 Staff understand their roles and responsibilities in relation to children going missing from the home. Risk assessments set out clear actions for staff to take. Staff have carried out local area searches, attended known addresses and contacted professionals such as police and social workers. Children have received independent return home interviews to understand the reasons why they have been missing. Plans are updated following incidents.

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This monitoring visit

The manager ensures that there is oversight of safeguarding incidents involving children. This allows for staff to understand and learn from any shortfalls so that practice continues to improve.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has introduced a new process for daily handovers. Staff understand their responsibilities and set out the plans for children each day. However, there are shortfalls for one child who is not engaged in employment or education. Routines are not in place to help the child focus on activities or prepare for returning to education or employment.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have put in place a development plan to promote improvements. This includes appointing a new independent visitor to carry out monthly quality assurance visits. Although improvements have been made in some areas, there are still shortfalls in relation to support for staff. Not all staff have received regular supervision. This does not provide staff with the opportunity to reflect on their practice and develop.

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This monitoring visit

The compliance notices issued at the last inspection have been met. Two have changed to requirements. The requirements raised at the last inspection will be considered at the next full inspection. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2794450 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/04/2025 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2794450 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

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

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Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

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Requirement Due date

maintain regular contact with each child’s education and training provider, including engaging with the provider and the placing authority to support the child’s education and training and to maximise the child’s achievement;

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Requirement Due date

raise any need for further assessment or specialist provision in relation to a child with the child’s education or training provider and the child’s placing authority;

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Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of 14 September Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2794450 5 exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible;

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Requirement Due date

help each child who is above compulsory school age to participate in further education, training or employment and to prepare for future care, education or employment. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(ix)(x))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that managers and staff advocate for children to receive education.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, the registered person must ensure that children have a clear structure and routine. Children must have opportunities to learn, and activities must be in place to help them prepare for returning to education or employment.

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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

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e)) 14 September

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home.

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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

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home;

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Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority; 14 September Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2794450 6 that, subject to regulation 22 (contact and access to communications), contact between each child and the child’s parents, relatives and friends, is promoted in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(d))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the home’s care plans for children are in line with the local authority care plans.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(d))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that references are received for all staff who work with children in the home. 14 September

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)) 14 September

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2794450 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Prospera Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Langholme, Longsight Road, Langho, Blackburn BB6 8AD

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Inspector

Nicola Forrester, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2794450 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 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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