Children's home run by Associated Wellbeing Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2807254 1 Registered provider: Associated Wellbeing 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 operated by a private provider. It provides care for up to three children who may have emotional and/or social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, two children were living in the home. One child spoke to the inspector about their experiences of living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and manager were registered with Ofsted in April 2025. This was the first inspection after registration.

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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: 2807254 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to develop positive relationships with staff and each other.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s moves into the home are well planned. Leaders and managers have considered the anxiety moving may cause for some children and have completed a walkaround video as a ‘welcome to our home’ guide. One child spoke of the difference this made to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Leaders and managers are positive advocates for children. When children have experienced difficulties in attending health appointments, leaders and managers have arranged for health professionals to attend the home and provide support for children. This has supported children’s emotional and physical well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is promoted; staff are aspirational for children and want them to learn. Children who have not consistently attended education before moving into the home now attend daily and have developed positive relationships with teaching staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to spend time with people who are important to them and have been encouraged to engage in a variety of leisure activities. Children are encouraged to develop hobbies and interests and have enjoyed groups such as football and martial arts.

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

Children’s risks and vulnerabilities are well understood. However, leaders’ and managers’ opportunities to demonstrate that all risks for children have been considered in the context of group living before children move into the home have been missed.

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

Children’s risks plans are not always thoroughly reviewed after incidents and lack detail for staff to follow. This has not had an impact on children and is something that leaders have taken action to address.

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

Not all consequences issued to children in response to behaviour are recorded. This limits management oversight of consequences used and does not ensure that their effectiveness is measured.

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

Direct work takes place regularly with children to support them on topics that are important for them, such as staying safe online, positive relationships and managing emotions.

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

There has been a number of occasions when it has been necessary to hold children to keep them safe. The manager has ensured that there is a thorough review of all Inspection report for children’s home: 2807254 3 incidents and has identified shortfalls in staff practice, which have been addressed through additional training and support. Both children and staff have had the opportunity to reflect on incidents and discuss their experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by an experienced and child-centred manager who wants the best for children. Professionals and staff spoke positively of the support delivered by the manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Records are not always well maintained. Reports are not always signed by the author, and some children’s records do not include their most recent statutory documents, including care plans and personal education plans. Leaders and managers were not aware that these documents were not in place, and requests for these documents had not been escalated.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are supported through regular team meetings, supervisions, practice reviews and reflective group sessions. These opportunities support staff in discussing and reflecting on difficult incidents and sharing effective behaviour management strategies, improving the support for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Complaints are managed effectively. There has been one complaint from a neighbour. This was addressed by the manager, who ensured a positive outcome.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home’s statement of purpose was not shared with the regulator following its review as required by regulation. Inspection report for children’s home: 2807254 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that all risks for children are considered in the context of group living and that risks plans are reviewed following incidents to support and guide staff in keeping children safe. 26 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 signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that children’s local authority plans are available and that all records are signed by the author. 26 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. 26 September Inspection report for children’s home: 2807254 5 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.

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Requirement Due date

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, when reviewed, is shared with Ofsted.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that all consequences are clearly recorded and subject to systems of regular scrutiny to ensure that their use is fair and that measures are evaluated for effectiveness. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.36)

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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: 2807254 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Associated Wellbeing Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Suite 5, Salesbury Hall Road, Ribchester, Preston PR3 3XR

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Inspector

Kelly McCurdy, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2807254 7 and inspects 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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