Children's Home run by Brinscall Care Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2661511 1 Registered provider: Brinscall Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and run by a private company. It is registered to provide care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, four children were living in the home. All four children were spoken with during the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered with Ofsted in April 2022. The manager registered in May 2025.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2661511 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/04/2024 Full Good 03/10/2023 Full Good 18/10/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2661511 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children say that they love living in their home. One child said, ‘Who couldn’t be happy living here?’ Children have created their own song to celebrate their love of the home and the staff team. The inspector was privileged to see a live performance of the song. This showcases the confidence the children have gained during their time in this home. Children are supported to be children. Children spend time together creating song and dance routines together. Another child said that they would stay here forever if they could.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

A sister and brother have been supported to live together. Both children say that they love being able to live together again.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children live in a home that is extremely welcoming, friendly and safe. Children benefit from a consistent and nurturing approach to care from staff, an ethos that permeates throughout the staff team. Children’s achievements are celebrated through photos and life-story work. One parent said that they would not want their child to live anywhere else.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The home has a homely feel, with walls covered with children’s photos and experiences. The manager ensures that the home remains homely, encouraging staff to use terms such as ‘who’s home today’ as opposed to ‘which staff are on shift’. This ensures that the home removes any institutional undertones.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children’s existing and emerging health needs are fully met. This is significant progress for one child. Children now attend all routine health appointments and reviews. One child has been supported to manage their lifelong health condition independently, something the consultants did not think achievable. This is as a result of the tenacity and confidence of the manager and their knowledge of the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are supported to understand their own behaviours in a reflective, fun and safe way. Staff know the needs of the children extremely well, and there is a seamless link from risk assessments to support plans. If children’s needs change, support plans are reviewed and updated in collaboration with the placing authority. Staff use their ‘behaviour-opoly’ game, which is a behavioural support mechanism. This game is a fun and innovative way to ensure that children’s positive behaviour is always recognised and rewarded. This process also ensures that rewards are collaborative, which encourages children to work together to gain additional rewards or praise.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Social stories are used as a therapeutic tool to support children to make sense of their emotions, routines and social expectations. The ‘no name no shame’ ethos helps children to make sense of situations they are facing in a solution-focused and strength- based manner. Inspection report for children’s home: 2661511 4 Children receive strong positive behaviour support from staff who care for them; this is most evident in the love and attention given to each child. Staff regularly offer praise for children’s achievements or simply for being themselves.

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

A strong safeguarding culture underpins practice in the home. As a result, children say that they feel confident talking about anything that might be worrying them. Children have comprehensive safe care plans, which are reviewed and updated regularly. These clearly outline the known behaviours of the children and provide staff with clear guidance to support them effectively.

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

Staff actively support children to take age-appropriate risks in a safe and considered manner. Through direct work sessions, children are supported to develop an understanding of their behaviours, with clear boundaries and safe opportunities to explore their feelings. Key-work sessions enable children to reflect on the risks they may encounter. This approach helps to build children’s skills, resilience and life experiences.

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

Safer recruitment checks are carried out for all staff members. This ensures that only those who are safe and suitable to work with children are employed at the home. The recruitment process is thorough and robust, including enhanced DBS checks, verification of identity, employment history, references and the right to work in the UK.

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

Staff work effectively with external agencies to ensure that children make exceptional progress in their lives. For example, one child received timely and targeted support following the manager’s referral to the counterterrorism programme, the ‘Prevent’ duty. This intervention was pivotal in securing a safe and positive outcome for the child. Over the subsequent seven years, the child has gone on to achieve significant personal success, becoming a dedicated martial arts student and securing sponsorship from a global gym brand.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff team benefits from inspirational leadership that places the care, well-being and unconditional positive regard for children at the heart of practice. Leaders and managers model a child-centred ethos that prioritises love, empathy and emotional safety.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers are inspirational and lead by example. Team morale is excellent and staff say that they feel a sense of shared ownership of the care provided, which helps to drive improvement. Leaders and managers are held in exceptionally high regard by staff, children, family members and external professionals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Understanding the needs, wishes and feelings of children is a priority for the manager and staff. Feedback from children is obtained in a variety of ways, such as through regular children’s meetings, day-to-day feedback and direct work. Inspection report for children’s home: 2661511 5 There are robust monitoring and review systems in place. The registered manager reviews all records on a regular basis. There are systems in place to ensure that all placing local authority care plans and other important records are clearly accessible and factually accurate.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff team is stable, providing consistency and continuity of care for the children. A high proportion of staff hold the relevant qualifications for their roles, and those who do not are actively working towards achieving them within the required timescales. Staff work collaboratively, demonstrating strong teamwork and a shared commitment to the children’s well-being. They report feeling well supported by both managers and colleagues, with regular supervision, team meetings and access to ongoing training.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The independent visitor provides regular evaluation of the home, and this is provided in a timely manner. However, the voices of the children are often absent from the evaluation. This limits the independent person’s ability to evaluate their lived experiences. The registered manager has made efforts to rectify this. Inspection report for children’s home: 2661511 6

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Recommendation

 The registered manager should ensure that the independent visitor consults regularly with the children as part of their assessment of the home and the quality of care the children are receiving. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.5)

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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: 2661511 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Brinscall Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Suite 27, Barnfield House, Sandpits Lane, Accrington Road, Blackburn BB1 3NY

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Inspector

James Meeks, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2661511 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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