Children's Home run by Take Time 2 Care Limited in Lancashire

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2808528 1 Registered provider: Take Time 2 Care Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

A private company operates the home. The home provides care for up to two children who may be experiencing emotional and/or social difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

There is a new manager in post, who started work at the home in October 2025. She has applied to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children's home

This home registered with Ofsted in April 2025.

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Information about this children's home

Judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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Information about this children's home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At these inspections, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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'. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2808528 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

At the time of this inspection, no children were living at the home. One child has moved out of the home since the last inspection. The child did not have a well- planned move out of the home because managers recognised that they could not meet their needs. This had been identified earlier by previous managers who did not act promptly to review the child’s placement with the placing authority and plan a move on to somewhere more appropriate.

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Findings from the inspection

Suitable education arrangements were put in place for the child prior to their move. These were tailored to the child’s needs and considered their previous education circumstances.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff now meet children’s health needs and advocate well for them to ensure that they receive relevant specialist assessment when required.

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Findings from the inspection

The standards of the home environment have improved. Damage to one child’s bedroom has been repaired and a garden shed that was in a state of disrepair has been removed. This, alongside the recent refurbishments that have taken place in the home, now creates a comfortable home environment for children to be proud of.

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Findings from the inspection

Medication is well managed. The manager and staff carry out regular audits of medication, and staff receive training on the administration and recording of medication. There have been no errors in medication administration or recording.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff supported the child to spend time and remain in contact with their family. This encouraged the child to stay connected with people who are important to them, and supported their identity and sense of belonging.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have received training in risk and behaviour management. Consequently, staff are now beginning to have a better understanding of their roles and responsibilities to promote children’s safety and welfare.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, there have been no missing-from-home incidents for the child. However, there are up-to-date and clear missing-from-home protocols in place. Leaders ensure that the protocols are shared with external professionals and the police. In addition, the management team has provided staff with missing-from- home training and updates to statutory guidance in team meetings. These actions develop staff confidence and equip them with the skills to safeguard children who may go missing from the home. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2808528 3 When appointing staff, the manager follows safer recruitment practice guidelines. This means that only those deemed suitable are allowed to work with children at the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have reviewed processes and practice in the home, including addressing issues relating to the culture at the home at the time of the previous inspection. Increased oversight from leaders and managers and improved monitoring and review processes are now in place. Support has been put in place for the manager, and staff have access to learning and development opportunities.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff receive regular supervision. These sessions help staff to feel supported in their role. Staff say that the manager is supportive and that they ‘enjoy working in the home’. Managers also feel supported by the home’s responsible individual. This supportive network helps to improve staff and managers confidence and awareness.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has implemented a new electronic recording system. This will help and support staff to complete daily logs and record children’s risk management plans and documentation. The manager told the inspector that the new system requires management oversight for the quality assurance of records, which will strengthen the monitoring of the quality of recording.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has reviewed the services provided to children and has reviewed staff training. This is to make sure that staff have the skills and competencies necessary to meet the diverse needs of the children who they look after. There are systems in place to make sure that training is regularly updated or refreshed. The manager has recruited some new staff and provided platforms for the staff to have an active voice in the running of the home. Consequently, staff morale is much improved.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, there has been a change of the independent person to improve the independent and impartial monthly reviews of the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Senior managers have reviewed the process for admitting new children. These changes bring greater involvement of the home’s manager when the organisation is considering any new referrals and looking more closely at matching.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers recognise the strengths and areas for development of the home. They have made good progress in making positive changes and they have met some of the requirements raised at the last inspection. Three requirements have been carried over from the last inspection, with one additional requirement made at this inspection. The home is still on a journey of improvement, with changes yet to be fully embedded into practice. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2808528 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/08/2025 Full Inadequate Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2808528 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

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;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff understand and follow children’s risk assessments and safety plans.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make sure that all safeguarding incidents are recorded in sufficient detail and are effectively evaluated. Any identified shortfalls in practice must be addressed appropriately. 30 November 2025 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2808528 6 The registered person must make sure that staff have all the information they need to understand children’s vulnerabilities and risks.

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that when children move on from the home it is a planned, positive experience. 30 November 2025

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

treat each child with dignity and respect;

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Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

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Requirement Due date

make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(ii)(iii)(iv)(ix))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must make sure that staff have all the information they need about how to support and care for children. This includes ensuring that all local authority paperwork is up to date. 30 November 2025

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff— 30 November 2025 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2808528 7 seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs;

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans; and

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Requirement Due date

seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5 (a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that they advocate on behalf of the child and their needs in care planning processes.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make sure that the child’s identified needs are being met and that any required specialist services are in place.

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Requirement Due date

Also, the registered person must effectively challenge other professionals when they are not meeting the child’s needs. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2808528 8

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Take Time 2 Care Limited

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: c/o Ams Corporate, Floor 2, 9 Portland Street, Manchester M1 3BE

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Inspector

Dave Carrigan, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2808528 9 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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