Children's Home run by Brinscall Care (NW) Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2710949 1 Registered provider: Brinscall Care (NW) Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private company. It provides care for up to three children with social, emotional or learning difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted March 2023. The manager registered with Ofsted in February 2025.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, three children were living at the home. All three children were spoken to during the inspection.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2710949 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/05/2024 Full Good 11/10/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2710949 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is a warm and welcoming environment. Staff help the children to personalise their bedrooms and communal spaces. The children’s wishes and feelings are sought through regular consultation. There is evidence that the children’s views are considered in the day-to-day running of the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide regular discussions and support sessions for the children to help them explore the risks during episodes of them going missing from home. As a result, the number of these episodes has reduced. Children are engaged in constructive activities that promote a sense of belonging and security at the home, reducing the risk of them going missing from home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the children to see their families and people who are close to them. The staff maintain regular communication with parents and carers and keep them updated about children’s progress. This helps children to maintain their identity and continue to see people who are important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s engagement in education and learning is good. Children’s attendance at school has improved, which helps to ensure that they have the best chance of success later in life.

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

Recruitment procedures and practices are safe and effective. All staff are checked and vetted before starting to work at the home. These checks ensure that only suitable adults are employed to work with children at the home.

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

Staff use positive behaviour management strategies, based on therapeutic training, to support children without resorting to punitive measures. A collaborative incentive system is used effectively by both staff and children, promoting mutual engagement. This includes the use of the ‘DOJO system,’ where positive behaviour is recognised and rewarded in real time, which reinforces positive behaviour and develops self-regulation skills.

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

Children have bespoke missing-from-home plans, and staff are aware of the procedures to follow should any child go missing from home. Missing-from-home incidents are managed consistently and effectively.

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

The registered manager has investigated concerns relating to their own conduct, resulting in a lack of independent oversight of their practice. This approach may compromise the integrity of future investigations. Additionally, a subsequent investigation into staff conduct did not include the necessary information, analysis or conclusions. Inspection report for children’s home: 2710949 4 Not all physical interventions take place as a last resort. One child was hurt during an attempted physical intervention. The manager’s review of the incidents identified this as a shortfall, and the staff involved have undertaken additional training.

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

The previous manager did not consistently refer incidents in a timely manner. In some instances, significant concerns were not reported to Ofsted, which limited the regulator’s ability to provide effective oversight and respond appropriately. However, since the current registered manager has been in post, all serious incidents have been notified.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led and managed by an ambitious and knowledgeable management team. Leaders and managers demonstrate a clear understanding of therapeutic approaches when supporting children with complex needs and ensure that staff implement these in their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

External professionals have expressed confidence in the staff’s ability to communicate effectively, advocate for the children and provide timely updates on any issues and progress. One teacher reported having no concerns about the home’s management or the child’s care. They described the school’s communication with staff as consistently proactive and effective on a day-to-day basis.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The management team ensures that required local authority documentation is accessible to staff. This means the staff have access to background and current information for each child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff attend regular training, which helps them to better understand the children’s needs. This means that staff develop their skills to ensure that they implement good practice. Training is reviewed regularly to ensure that it meets the changing needs of the staff and children. Staff receive regular support through team meetings.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is good management oversight of children’s progress and staff practice. However, external monitoring lacks regular consultation with stakeholders, including children, which is a missed opportunity to gather important feedback. Inspection report for children’s home: 2710949 5

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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

Restraint in relation to a child is only permitted for the purpose of preventing—

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Requirement Due date

injury to any person (including the child);

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Requirement Due date

serious damage to the property of any person (including the child); or

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate. (Regulation 20 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager must ensure that physical intervention is only used when necessary and that all steps are taken to avoid the use of holding children. Also to ensure that all staff are trained to ensure that they use holds that do not cause harm to children. 28 August 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the independent visitor consults regularly with a range of stakeholders as part of their assessment of the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 65, paragraph 15.5)  The registered person should ensure that all investigations or allegations are conducted thoroughly, ensuring the inclusion of the perspectives of all relevant parties, clear evaluation of the incident, and feedback provided to the child following the determination of the outcome. This process supports accountability, transparency and the safeguarding of children’s welfare. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 44, paragraph 9.18)

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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 Inspection report for children’s home: 2710949 6 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: 2710949 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Brinscall Care (NW) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Mailboxes Etc, Peel House, 30 The Downs, Altrincham WA14 2PX

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Inspector

James Meeks, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2710949 8 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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