Children's Home run by Northridge Care Group Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2800616 1 Registered provider: Northridge Care Group Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private provider. It offers care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, there was one child living in the home. The inspector spoke with the child.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager post is vacant. There is an acting manager in post.

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This monitoring visit

At an assurance visit on 23 July 2025, serious and widespread safeguarding concerns were identified. Due to the serious and widespread safeguarding failures and poor leadership and management of the home, a restriction of accommodation notice was issued alongside compliance notices under regulation 12, the protection of children standard and regulation 13, the leadership and management standard.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this monitoring visit was to monitor the restriction of accommodation and review the progress that the provider has made against the steps in the compliance notice.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, the registered manager and responsible individual have left the home. A suitably experienced and qualified manager and responsible individual, both of whom are already working in the company, are in post. These managers have a thorough understanding of the shortfalls in practice and have put together an appropriate action plan to improve the standards of care. Positive changes have been made and are being embedded into practice. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2800616 2 Support for staff from senior managers has improved and staff say that this has had a positive impact. Leaders and managers have a strong understanding of the day-to- day running of the home, which helps them to identify strengths as well as areas for further development. This increased oversight also ensures that leaders and managers are providing meaningful guidance and support to staff.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has taken effective steps to strengthen the suitability of the home’s risk assessment when considering bringing a new child into the home. A new tool has been introduced that draws on the views of senior leaders, therapists and staff, ensuring that all relevant perspectives are considered. This provides a clear understanding of the training needs of staff in relation to each child and enables the therapist to identify key areas of focus. The manager has carefully evaluated the limitations of the previous assessment process and has implemented improvements that provide a more thorough evaluation of whether the home can meet the child’s needs. This approach supports safer and more informed decision-making when considering new children moving into the home.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have updated safeguarding policies. The policies are detailed and provide useful guidance for staff. Managers have supported staff’s understanding of the changes to procedures. Staff say that the changes have been positive.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has used supervision with staff to support staff to reflect on their practice. Supervision is reflective and supports staff to consider how they are feeling. Records from staff meetings demonstrate that staff reflect on their practice and how to support each other as a team. Since the last inspection, staff have had training in several subjects that are relevant to the child’s needs.

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This monitoring visit

The manager demonstrates effective oversight of practice in the home. Incidents are thoroughly reviewed, and reflective practice sessions are used well to support staff learning. As a result, lessons learned are clearly identified and staff are actively involved in developing and implementing actions to improve practice. This ensures that children benefit from a culture of continuous improvement and safer care.

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This monitoring visit

Following this monitoring visit, a case review was held on 15 September 2025 where it was agreed that the compliance notices have been met and the restriction of accommodation could be lifted. Other requirements made at the last inspection were not considered as part of this visit and have therefore been restated. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2800616 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/06/2025 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2800616 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 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)) 23 October 2025

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that an independent person is appointed to make a rigorous and impartial assessment of the home’s arrangements for children’s care and that subsequent reports are shared in a timely manner with the regulator. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 65, paragraph 15.5) Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2800616 5

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2800616 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Northridge Care Group Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Richard House, 9 Winkley Square, Preston PR1 3HP

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Joanne Kitchener

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Inspector

Sally Mitchell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2800616 7 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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