Children's Home run by Prospera Group Ltd in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2794450 1 Registered provider: Prospera Group 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 registered with Ofsted in November 2024 and is operated by a private provider. It offers care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the visit, one child was living at the home and one child had moved out.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2025.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

Inspection report for children’s home: 2794450 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/04/2025 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: 2794450 3

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improvement to be good

Children have developed trusted relationships with staff, enabling them to disclose concerns safely and receive appropriate support. Staff respond seriously to disclosures and prioritise children’s emotional well-being.

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improvement to be good

Children’s moves into the home have not consistently promoted stability or positive experiences. Although planning was detailed, leaders and managers have not fully considered the staff team’s capacity to meet the complex needs of the children. This has contributed to a high number of safeguarding incidents, including police attendance at the home. Notice was served for both children, but only one moved out. The unplanned move did not support a well-managed or positive transition, impacting on the child’s sense of security.

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improvement to be good

Children are currently attending school on a reduced timetable. Staff have encountered challenges in promoting consistent engagement with alternative educational activities. Although some activities are provided alongside home-based learning opportunities, these are not routinely attended by children. This limited uptake has been particularly evident during periods of reduced school attendance.

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improvement to be good

Children have plans in place that outline how staff should support and encourage daily routines. However, these plans are not always consistently followed. For one child, this has resulted in them remaining in bed during the day and then staying awake throughout the night. Although items such as mobile phones should be removed to promote better sleep routines and encourage school attendance, this does not always happen. This limits opportunities for the child’s progress.

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improvement to be good

Children have opportunities to engage in a wide range of activities, and one child recently enjoyed a holiday with staff. These activities help build relationships and promote children’s confidence and self-esteem.

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improvement to be good

Staff value family relationships and actively support children to maintain them. Family time occurs both in the home and the community and is supervised to ensure that it is safe and positive. Staff are sensitive to children’s emotional needs, stepping in when necessary and ending family time calmly if it becomes overwhelming. This approach helps children feel secure and strengthens family bonds.

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improvement to be good

Staff understand their roles and responsibilities in keeping children safe. Clear plans are in place that set out the actions staff need to take to safeguard children. When concerns have arisen around children misusing cannabis, staff ensure that children are spoken Inspection report for children’s home: 2794450 4 with and supported to understand the risks. Staff apply professional curiosity to explore where the substance may be coming from and share relevant information with other professionals, such as the police, to help reduce and address any concerns.

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improvement to be good

Children living at the home have experienced a significant reduction in involvement with criminal exploitation and incidents of going missing. However, there has been an increase in incidents within the community requiring police intervention, which has led to youth offending services becoming involved. Staff work closely with children to address these behaviours, helping them understand the consequences and supporting safer choices.

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improvement to be good

When incidents between children increased, managers identified alternative arrangements to keep them safe. One child was temporarily moved, allowing staff to speak with them and review the decision for them to move on. Another child was supported to understand the reasons behind the decision and how it affected them. Children are spoken with about their behaviour and involved in decisions that affect them. This approach has helped children begin to take more responsibility for their actions.

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improvement to be good

Room searches are conducted following safeguarding guidance and only when there are concerns for a child’s safety, particularly in relation to suspected cannabis misuse. Searches are carried out sensitively by trained staff, with efforts to involve children where appropriate. All searches are clearly recorded, detailing reasons, risk assessments and management oversight, ensuring that children’s dignity is respected.

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improvement to be good

Safer recruitment processes are followed. These processes help maintain a workforce that is carefully vetted and considered safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, a new registered manager and deputy have been appointed. Several staff have left, and new staff have joined. New recruits complete a face-to-face induction that covers key responsibilities and mandatory training, including safeguarding. This helps staff feel better prepared before working with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

An independent visitor has recently been appointed, adding external oversight to the home. However, the manager has missed opportunities to ensure that children’s bedrooms are regularly checked as part of this process. This limits the effectiveness of external monitoring in identifying issues related to children’s daily living spaces.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

An external therapist supports staff to understand the children’s progress. The therapist is now more visible, and they contribute to team discussions and incident reviews. This ensures better oversight of the care provided to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Although planning for children moving into the home was detailed, the manager recognises that increased incidents led to notice being served, which did not support Inspection report for children’s home: 2794450 5 positive experiences or outcomes for children. This is an area for further development and monitoring.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Records are reviewed by the manager to now identify learning opportunities and support staff development. This process is encouraging staff to reflect on their practice, improve their responses to challenging situations, and strengthen communication with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff now receive practice-focused supervision to support their professional development, well-being and safeguarding responsibilities. These sessions provide space to reflect on challenges, review children’s progress and reinforce team cohesion. Supervision is also used to identify additional training needs, ensuring that staff are better equipped to manage complex behaviours and feel supported in their roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Team meetings now provide a forum for reflection and service improvement. In response to the recent separation of children, staff undertook a comprehensive review of safeguarding and care procedures, resulting in a more consistent and trauma-informed approach. Ongoing clinical input and collaborative discussions have helped staff to understand children’s individual needs. This reflects a responsive and reflective team culture, committed to ongoing learning and development. Inspection report for children’s home: 2794450 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 education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

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Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

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Requirement Due date

maintain regular contact with each child’s education and training provider, including engaging with the provider and the placing authority to support the child’s education and training and to maximise the child’s achievement;

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Requirement Due date

raise any need for further assessment or specialist provision in relation to a child with the child’s education or training provider and the child’s placing authority;

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Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of 29 December 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2794450 7 exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible; and

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Requirement Due date

help each child who is above compulsory school age to participate in further education, training or employment and to prepare for future care, education or employment. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(ix)(x))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that managers and staff advocate for children to receive education.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, the registered person must ensure that children have a clear structure and routine. Children must have opportunities to learn, and activities must be in place to help them prepare for returning to education or employment.

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home;

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Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority; that arrangements are in place to—

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Requirement Due date

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home;

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Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority. 29 December 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2794450 8 (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that assessments of children’s suitability to live together are carefully considered alongside the staff skills and experience and ability to meet their needs.

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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. When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person— to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home’s records (except for a child’s case records, unless the child and the child’s placing authority consent) as the independent person requires. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(b)

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children’s bedrooms are routinely inspected by the independent person. 29 December 2025

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Information about this inspection

The inspector has 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: 2794450 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Prospera Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Langholme, Longsight Road, Langho, Blackburn BB6 8AD

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Inspector

Nicola Forrester, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2794450 10 regulates 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 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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