Children's Home run by Therapeutic Care Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2739580 1 Registered provider: Therapeutic Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and provides care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties or have learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, two children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered provider has recently appointed a new responsible individual, and we are currently checking this person has the relevant capacity, experience and skills to carry out the role.

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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: 2739580 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/06/2024 Full Good 19/03/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2739580 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

During the inspection, the inspector spoke with the children living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both children have lived at the home for over a year. They have made progress in many aspects of their lives. Staff provide warm, nurturing care and support, which helps children develop a sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children said they are happy living at the home and have developed trusting relationships with staff. One social worker said:

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

‘The child has had several positive experiences while living at the home. They have been able to build trusting relationships with staff, which has provided them with a sense of safety and stability. The child has expressed that they feel safe and happy in the home, which highlights the positive impact the staff are having on their well- being and development.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager has high aspirations for children to attend education provision and is working with other professionals to ensure that children have an appropriate education, health and care plan in place. In the meantime, children are provided with one-to-one tuition and other more informal learning opportunities. One child who has not been in education for several years is now engaging with their tutor and is developing more confidence in their learning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported in spending regular quality time with their families. Staff take children to see their family and engage in activities together in the community. Staff are currently assisting one child in spending quality time with their family on holiday abroad. As a result, they are developing strong bonds and enjoying positive shared experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are being met. Staff ensure that children receive appropriate support from community and specialist health services and that they attend their appointments. Staff have helped one child to overcome their phobia of attending the dentist. Both children are supported by the in-house therapist. This multi-agency working supports children’s physical and emotional health and well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to participate in various activities and support their interests. One child attends weekly football tuition and wishes to eventually join a local football team. Staff encourage the other child to spend time with friends and will invite them to join in activities they plan. This support is developing children’s social skills, confidence and self-esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is welcoming, bright, clean and tidy. However, one child’s bedroom has some broken furniture and does not smell fresh. Inspection report for children’s home: 2739580 4

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

Children said they feel safe in the home. Children’s safety is consistently at the centre of staff’s practice. Staff speak to children regularly to ensure that they understand what to do if they have any concerns. Children are clear on the complaints process. There has been one complaint, which has been managed appropriately.

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

Staff have a good understanding of children’s needs and individual vulnerabilities. The manager is quick to identify emerging risks for children and is working with other professionals to ensure that they are safeguarded. To support the staff in managing these risks, there are clear risk assessments in place, which are kept up to date.

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

Children receive support to manage their frustrations and emotions safely. Staff establish clear boundaries and are consistent in their approach. When physical intervention has been used, it has been appropriate to keep the child and others safe.

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

Positive behaviour is supported in the home. Staff talk to children about their feelings to help them understand their emotions. When consequences to behaviour have been used, records show that the approaches are restorative. There is clear management oversight to ensure that these approaches are fair and effective.

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

On the two occasions when children have gone missing, staff responded quickly and followed the missing-from-home procedures. They actively looked for the child and worked in partnership with the police to locate them and promote their safe return.

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

There has been one allegation raised about a staff member’s practice. The manager took immediate action to keep the child safe. The manager notified the local authority. However, she did not notify the regulator.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is experienced, child focused and aspirational. She has good management oversight of the day-to-day running of the home. The manager is visible and has a strong presence in the home, and she offers support to both children and the staff team. One staff member said, ‘[Name of the manager] is very approachable, understanding and genuinely committed to both the well-being of the children and the staff team.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection, there have been several staff changes. The manager’s daily presence has ensured that these have had little effect on children and the consistency provided for their care. There is now a stable staff team at the home. Staff said that they enjoy their work and are extremely well supported by the manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that staff complete a comprehensive training programme, which includes a clear induction for all new staff members. Through this training, staff have Inspection report for children’s home: 2739580 5 developed the knowledge and skills to meet children’s needs. Staff said they value the training, as it helps them develop their skills and gives them confidence in their roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that staff receive regular supervision. This is an opportunity for staff to reflect on their practice and identify any learning needs. New staff receive additional supervision sessions as part of their induction to help develop their knowledge. One staff member said, ‘I always feel listened to and respected. [Name of manager] is proactive in offering guidance, encouraging professional development, and making sure we all feel confident and capable in our roles.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that team meetings take place regularly. These are a forum for staff to come together and share their experience and skills. The manager also involves the company’s clinical team in some of the meetings to offer additional support and guidance. This ensures that the whole team is consistent in its approach to supporting children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has strong working relationships with other professionals. There is clear communication and multi-agency working. The manager is a strong advocate for children and will actively challenge other professionals who are not meeting the children’s needs. Inspection report for children’s home: 2739580 6

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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 registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child—

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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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)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must have clear systems in place to ensure that significant incidents are notified to all safeguarding partners within appropriate time frames, including the regulator for full transparency. 4 November 2025

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the home is maintained and that any hazards identified are quickly repaired, such as the damage to a child’s bedroom drawers. Additionally, children should be supported in keeping their bedrooms clean and fresh. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) Inspection report for children’s home: 2739580 7

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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: 2739580 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Therapeutic Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Errigal House, Avroe Crescent, Blackpool FY4 2DP

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Inspector

Simon Jones, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2739580 9 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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