Children's home run by Therapeutic Care Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2775486 1 Registered provider: Therapeutic Care Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

A private provider runs this home. The home provides care for up to two children who may experience emotional and/or social difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living in the home. The child spoke to the inspector during this inspection.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2024.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

p.1

inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

p.1

inadequate

There are serious failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded.

p.1

inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2775486 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/10/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2775486 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

There have been three children living in the home during this inspection period. Although children have made some progress, staff do not always take appropriate action to keep them safe. This leaves children at risk of harm. Although the shortfalls are not widespread, there have been two recent incidents where the child currently living in the home has been at risk of serious harm.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Despite these shortcomings in safeguarding, there have been changes in the children living in the home since the last inspection. Two children have moved out in a planned and supportive way. These moves were in line with the children’s wishes and feelings. One child has since moved in. Although this child has faced significant instability in previous placements, they are beginning to settle and have started building positive relationships with staff.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff understand the importance of education. Two children, who had been disengaged from formal education for an extended period, have received dedicated support from both staff and the manager to help rebuild their confidence. The manager works closely with education and social care professionals to ensure that suitable educational opportunities are identified and put in place for each child.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children’s health needs are understood by staff. One child has had a history of non- engagement with health services, and after encouragement from staff and the manager is now accessing a range of health services.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff and the manager ensure that children are supported to maintain relationships with the people who are important to them. Children are supported to build relationships with their peers, giving them opportunities for social interaction. Children take part in a wide range of activities.

p.3

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

Recent incidents have identified that staff have failed to provide adequate supervision of the child and follow security protocols. Before the child moved into the home, the manager did not ensure that staff were provided with clear, comprehensive risk assessments based on the child’s known behaviours. Furthermore, staff failed to follow established handover procedures between shifts. These oversights resulted in the child gaining access to the keys of the company vehicle and driving it on two separate occasions. Staff were unaware that the keys and vehicle were missing at the time, highlighting serious gaps in communication and oversight.

p.3

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

Staff have failed to follow the missing-from-care protocols. On one occasion, the child left the home in the night, and staff did not take appropriate action in an effective or timely manner. The child was not reported missing from home for several hours. During Inspection report for children’s home: 2775486 4 this time, the child drove the company vehicle at speed for a considerable distance. This placed the child at risk of harm.

p.3

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

Since the last inspection, there has been an increased frequency of incidents involving all children who have lived in the home. In most cases, staff have responded appropriately and in accordance with their training. The manager has made efforts to analyse behavioural patterns and trends to inform practice. However, on some occasions staff have not consistently followed the strategies in place to keep children safe. When physical intervention has been required, it has been used only as a last resort and has remained proportionate and necessary.

p.4

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

Safe recruitment practices are not always followed. In one case, a full employment history was not obtained for a member of staff. This leaves children at risk of unsuitable individuals working with them.

p.4

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

The provider has not ensured that the regulator is provided with all relevant information about serious incidents in the home. Furthermore, an allegation against a member of staff was not reported in line with The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager is suitably experienced and qualified. He is supported by a stable staff team whose members have varying levels of experience in residential childcare. However, staff members do not always act in accordance with their training or procedures in place.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager has a range of monitoring tools to oversee the quality of care provided to children. There are regular supervision sessions and team meetings with staff. When the manager identifies shortfalls in staff practice, he takes appropriate action.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

A comprehensive range of training opportunities is available to staff. The manager has taken steps to ensure that staff possess the necessary skills to meet the individual needs of children.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager has formed strong working relationships with professionals. He advocates for children to ensure that their placing authority plans align with their wishes and feelings.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The provider took immediate steps during this inspection to ensure that children are safeguarded. Inspection report for children’s home: 2775486 5

p.4

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

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;

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

p.5

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))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff follow plans in place to safeguard children.

p.5

Requirement Due date

Additionally, the registered person must ensure that risk assessment documents are fully reflective of children’s needs and vulnerabilities. 31 October 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2775486 6 The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

p.5

Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

p.6

Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a) (3)(d))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that a full employment history is obtained for all staff. Additionally, any gaps in employment must be fully explored and analysed. 7 November 2025

p.6

Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

p.6

Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter. (Regulation 40 (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that notifications contain sufficient details to allow the regulator to make a full assessment of incidents and how the level of risk has been addressed. 7 November 2025

p.6

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: 2775486 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Therapeutic Care Limited

p.7

Children’s home details

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

p.7

Inspector

Eve Ostridge, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2775486 8 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.

p.7

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8