Children's Home run by Oaktree Childcare Limited in Lancashire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2740375 1 Registered provider: Rubik Care 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 August 2023 and is operated by a private provider. It offers care for up to three children who may experience social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, no children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in February 2025.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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Information about this children’s home

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: 2740375 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the first full inspection on 3 and 4 January 2024, the home has undergone a number of changes including a change of ownership and in the leadership and management of the home.

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Findings from the inspection

In April 2024, the provider informed Ofsted that there were no children living in the home, the manager had resigned from his post and that the home did not have sufficient staff to care for children. On 30 April 2024, a three-month condition was imposed by Ofsted under section 13 of the Care Standards Act 2000.

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Findings from the inspection

Following a monitoring visit 20 February 2025, Ofsted lifted the three-month condition on the home as the provider had demonstrated that they had taken sufficient action to ensure that the home was ready for children to move in.

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Findings from the inspection

No children have moved in or out of the home since the last full inspection in January 2024. Leaders and managers continue to consider referrals for children whose individual needs they can meet.

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Findings from the inspection

The home is decorated and furnished to a good standard and is ready for children to move in and personalise their space. However, the front and rear gardens are overgrown and have not been tended to for several months. This detracts from the homely presentation and is something that the manager is taking action to address.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, staff have continued to develop in their roles through attending additional training and supporting children in other homes across the organisation.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have ensured that health and safety has been maintained. While the home has remained empty, regular safety checks have been carried out.

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Findings from the inspection

The home’s statement of purpose is kept under review. However, the provider has not shared this with Ofsted as required by regulation. This was a requirement at the last inspection and is restated.

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Findings from the inspection

The provider has failed to appoint an independent person, and visits have not been taking place as required by regulation. This impacts the oversight of Ofsted as the regulator. A requirement has been made regarding this.

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Findings from the inspection

As there have not been any children living in the home since the last inspection, the provider has not been unable demonstrate progress made towards all requirements. These will be reviewed at the next inspection. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2740375 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/01/2024 Full Inadequate Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2740375 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

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs;

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that they provide sufficient professional challenge to ensure that a child’s education is meeting their needs. 30 September

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Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

ascertain and consider each child’s views, wishes and feelings, and balance these against what they judge to be in the child’s best interests when making decisions about the child’s care and welfare;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to express views, wishes and feelings; 30 September Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2740375 5 help each child to understand how the child’s views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child. (Regulation 7 (1)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that children are involved in their plans and that their views and wishes are clearly detailed.

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(x))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that staff are able to de-escalate children’s behaviour effectively and that 30 September Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2740375 6 children are supported to manage their feelings and emotions. In addition, that children receive clear messages about acceptable behaviours.

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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 an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)) 30 September

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that each child’s records accurately reflect what is going on for that child and are completed and maintained, and that any shortfalls are swiftly resolved. 30 September

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that staff know how to respond when children do not take their correct dosage of prescribed medication. 30 September

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement ("the statement of purpose") which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must provide a copy of the statement of purpose to HMCI.

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it;

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. 30 September Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2740375 7 Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must ensure that the home is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose. (Regulation 16 (1) (2) (3)(a)(b) (5))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that the statement of purpose is factually accurate, kept under review and is shared with Ofsted.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is been restated. After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

take adequate precautions against the risk of fire, including the provision of suitable fire equipment in the children’s home;

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Requirement Due date

provide adequate means of escape from the home in the event of fire;

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Requirement Due date

ensure, by means of fire drills and practise’s at suitable intervals, that persons working at the home and, so far as reasonably practicable, children are aware of the procedure to be followed in case of fire. (Regulation 25 (1)(a)(b)(d))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that fire risk assessments are reviewed within timescales and that evacuation procedures are in place and fire drills are undertaken. 30 September

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit ("the independent person’s report") which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to—

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Requirement Due date

HMCI (Regulation 44 (1) (4)(a)(b) (7)(a)) 30 September Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2740375 8

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that all areas of the home, including the garden areas, are maintained to a good standard. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2740375 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Ground Floor, Seneca House, Amy Johnson Way, Blackpool FY4 2FF

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Inspector

Kelly McCurdy, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2740375 10 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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