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Social care · Children's home inspection (SCCIF)

Children's Home run by Contemporary Concept Care Limited in Lancashire

Inspected 16 Oct 2025 · published 2 Dec 2025 · URN 2790126

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Original PDF ↗

Summary

RI to be good

Chibuzo Otache

What we read, and from where

Click a reading to see it highlighted in the report.

  • Group verified

    Contemporary Concept Care Limited

  • Inspection date verified

    16 Oct 2025

  • Inspectors verified

    Chibuzo Otache

  • Helped and protected verified

    Requires improvement to be good

  • Leadership and management verified

    Inadequate

  • Overall effectiveness verified

    Requires improvement to be good

  • Name on report verified

    2790126

  • URN verified

    2790126

Page 1 of 12
Page 1 of the report

Deep dive

What this report says

In plain English

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Grade profile

Each judgement on its scale, weakest to strongest.

  • OverallRI to be good
  • Helped and protectedRI to be good
  • Leadership and managementInadequate

13% of comparable inspections in the last three years were graded Requires improvement to be good (12,716 inspections).

Tone of the report

How positive or critical the inspectors' language is, from the words they chose. No AI involved.

−48Criticalmore positive than 19% of reports of this type graded Requires improvement to be good
OutstandingGoodRIInadequate

In line with other reports of this type graded Requires improvement to be good.

Markers show where typical reports of each grade sit.

Praisepositiveeffectiveclearpositivelysafeconsistentfailuresengaging
Criticismnot alwaysunacceptablenot consistentlyfailedinadequatecompromiseharmrisk of harm

How the report reads, start to finish

Every paragraph in order, sized by length. Tap one to see it on the page.

FindingsAbout the inspectionWhat needs to improve positive critical
  • Findings1224w−51
  • What needs to improve1467w−37

Strengths

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Concerns

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Next steps

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What the report dwells on

Topics by how often they come up, coloured by how they are described. Open one for an example.

Anatomy of the report

How the report is built, against others of the same type and grade.

Pages
12
Words of findings
2,691
longer than usual (typical 1899)
Reading level
Hard
Flesch 49, typical 50
Average sentence
18 words
Next steps
8
typical 8
Hedged sentences
6%
“some”, “not always”, “most”…

Where the words go

Findings 40%What needs to improve 48%About the inspection 12%

Full report text

Inspection report for children's home: 2790126 1 Registered provider: Contemporary Concept Care Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private organisation. It provides care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home and manager registered with Ofsted in May 2025.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home and was spoken to.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

requires improvement to be good

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

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

p.1

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.

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2790126 2

p.1

improvement to be good

The home does not present as a warm or welcoming environment. The child’s bedroom was very messy with piles of clothes, several empty water bottles on the floor and writing all over the walls. There are obvious signs of damage in some areas of the home, including damage to flooring and lighting. Some walls require redecoration. Garden furniture that poses a potential hazard has not been removed from the garden. These issues compromise the safety and overall quality of the home environment for the child.

p.2

improvement to be good

The child was supported to move into the home in a planned way. However, care planning documentation from the placing authority does not accurately reflect the child’s circumstances.

p.2

improvement to be good

There is a lack of routine and structure for the child. The child is often awake for most of the night and sleeps during the day. This impacts on the child’s progress and prevents them from engaging in education. Although leaders and managers are aware of this, effective action has not been taken to address it and ensure that the child has a clear structure and routine.

p.2

improvement to be good

The child’s education is not prioritised. An appropriate college has been identified for the child to attend and the child is currently on the waiting list. However, leaders and managers have failed to put in place a clear plan of alternative education that supports the child’s learning and development in accordance with their age and ability in the interim.

p.2

improvement to be good

The child is not consistently supported to complete meaningful direct work to help them develop the skills and knowledge needed to manage independence safely and successfully.

p.2

improvement to be good

The child’s wishes and feelings are not always considered and acted on. Although leaders and managers say that these are captured through direct-work sessions and meetings with the child, there is little evidence to demonstrate this. For example, the child expressed a wish to decorate the home for Halloween for the month of October. At the time of this inspection, this had not been done.

p.2

improvement to be good

The child receives care from a consistent and stable staff team. Staff speak warmly about the child, who speaks positively about the relationships they have developed with staff since moving into the home.

p.2

improvement to be good

The child is registered with local health services and is encouraged to attend all health appointments. When appointments are missed, staff ensure that these are rescheduled so that the child receives the necessary healthcare and treatment. Inspection report for children’s home: 2790126 3 The child is supported to participate in social activities, such as visits to the farm and ice skating. Consequently, they enjoy positive experiences in the community.

p.2

improvement to be good

The child is supported to maintain relationships with important people in their life. Family members are welcomed into the home and staff work closely with them to ensure that their time at the home is positive. This supports the child to retain their identity and strengthens their sense of belonging.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff are aware of and understand the child’s risks. However, risk assessments are incomplete and do not effectively address the child’s risks and vulnerabilities. Furthermore, risk assessments do not provide staff with clear guidance on the action they should take to manage these risks.

p.3

improvement to be good

The child is not consistently supported to develop socially acceptable behaviours. For example, when the child uses inappropriate language, staff do not always address this. There have been no meaningful discussions with the child to help them to understand why such behaviour is unacceptable. Similarly, the child has not been supported to recognise that writing on the walls in the home is inappropriate. Furthermore, staff have not discussed with the child the unacceptable and profane content of the words written on the walls.

p.3

improvement to be good

Leaders and managers have not consistently ensured that safeguarding practice prioritises the child’s safety and welfare. Staff have been allowed to work without the required safeguarding training and some members of the current staff team have not had their safeguarding training renewed in the required timescales. This presents a potential risk to the child and undermines safeguarding arrangements.

p.3

improvement to be good

Safer recruitment processes are in place to ensure that staff working at the home are safe to do so.

p.3

improvement to be good

The child says that they feel safe and can identify a trusted adult who they can speak to if they are worried.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There are serious shortfalls in the leadership and management of the home that compromise the quality of care provided to the child. Leaders and managers do not understand the strengths and weaknesses of the home. The registered manager has not demonstrated sufficient assurance to the regulator that all necessary actions are being taken to meet the child’s support needs.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers have failed to identify inaccuracies in children’s plans. Care planning documents, such as the child’s pathway plan, looked after child health Inspection report for children’s home: 2790126 4 assessment and personal education plan are either out of date or not relevant to the child’s current living arrangements.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The home’s statement of purpose does not contain all relevant information and fails to provide an accurate representation of the home. Significant details are either missing or incorrect, which limits the ability of external partners to make informed decisions about the home’s suitability for children in relation to their individual needs.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Systems to support new staff are not being used effectively. Essential training, including safeguarding training, is not always completed before staff start working at the home with children. A new staff member with no previous experience of children’s residential care was allowed to work at the home without completing any training. This compromises the member of staff’s ability to provide good-quality, safe care. Additionally, the same staff member does not receive fortnightly supervision as agreed when their employment commenced. This reduces the ability of leaders and managers to identify any learning needs and support improvement in the member of staff’s practice.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The monitoring and review systems are not effective. Leaders and managers have not identified that core training for most staff has not been renewed in the required timeframe. They have not addressed the poor home environment or that important documents relating to the operation of the home are not compliant with the regulations.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Team meetings are regularly held and are an opportunity for staff collaboration. Practice- related supervision regularly takes place. However, these meetings do not always prompt staff to reflect on their practice. In addition to practice-related supervision, staff have access to an independent service that focuses on their emotional wellbeing. This contributes to staff feeling valued and supported.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

External professionals and family members speak positively about their relationship with leaders and managers and say they are regularly updated on the child’s care . Inspection report for children’s home: 2790126 5

p.4

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

p.5

Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)(ii))

p.5

Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that damaged flooring and lighting is repaired. In addition, redecoration to walls in the home should be done in a timely manner.

p.5

Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that when garden furniture is not in use, this is stored away. Furthermore, leaders and managers must ensure that the trailer in the back yard is removed or stored in a way that does not pose a hazard to children.

p.5

Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that children’s bedrooms are well presented. This includes ensuring that bedrooms are clean and tidy and writing on bedroom walls is removed. 22 January 2026

p.5

Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who— 22 January 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2790126 6 take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

ascertain and consider each child’s views, wishes and feelings, and balance these against what they judge to be in the child’s best interests when making decisions about the child’s care and welfare;

p.6

Requirement Due date

help each child to express views, wishes and feelings;

p.6

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how the child’s views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child;

p.6

Requirement Due date

regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home’s care. (Regulation 7 (1)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

p.6

Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders, managers and staff must ensure that children are consistently supported and encouraged to express their views, wishes and feelings about the care they receive.

p.6

Requirement Due date

Furthermore, leaders and managers must ensure that there are clear records evidencing what action has been taken to ensure that children’s wishes are responded to appropriately.

p.6

Requirement Due date

Additionally, leaders, managers and staff must ensure that children are aware of any action taken to fulfil their wishes. Where action is not taken because it is not in the child’s best interests, leaders, managers and staff must ensure that children are notified and there is a clear record of this discussion.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

that staff— 22 January 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2790126 7 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;

p.6

Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child's relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(ix)(x))

p.7

Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that children have a clear education plan that supports them to learn in accordance with their age and ability.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

p.7

Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

meet each child's behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child's relevant plans;

p.7

Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

p.7

Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child's behaviour, in accordance with the child's age and understanding;

p.7

Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child's behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child's age and understanding. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v))

p.7

Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders, managers and staff must ensure that direct work with children is completed to support them to understand the risks associated with their behaviour and how to keep themselves safe. 22 January 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2790126 8 Furthermore, leaders and managers must ensure that they put measures in place that encourage children to take responsibility for keeping their bedrooms clean.

p.7

Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that children are supported to understand why it is inappropriate to write on bedroom walls. This includes talking to children about the inappropriateness of the profane content of what they have written on the walls.

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

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.8

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(v))

p.8

Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that risk assessments are complete and provide staff with a thorough understanding of the reason for the risk assessment and how they should respond to reduce the risk of harm.

p.8

Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that staff receive training in safeguarding to ensure that they understand their role and responsibilities to safeguard children. 22 January 2026

p.8

Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

p.8

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 22 January 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2790126 9 lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

p.8

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

p.9

Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

p.9

Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(f)(h))

p.9

Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that newly recruited staff have completed training in accordance with the home’s policies and procedures before being allowed to work at the home.

p.9

Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that staff are encouraged to reflect on their practice during supervision.

p.9

Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that there are effective systems in place to monitor the quality of care that children receive. This includes ensuring that leaders and managers are aware of staff training renewal dates before it expires and that documents related to the home’s operation, including the workforce plan and statement of purpose, are accurate.

p.9

Requirement Due date

Furthermore, leaders and managers must ensure that they have a good understanding of the needs of children living in the home and the quality of direct work being completed with them in response to their identified needs.

p.9

Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that effective action is taken to help children develop healthy sleep patterns and daily routines.

p.9

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

p.9

Requirement Due date

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

p.9

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— 22 January 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2790126 10 that arrangements are in place to—

p.9

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. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(b)(iii))

p.10

Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that they have all relevant placing authority documentation for new children moving into the home to ensure that they can provide appropriate care to meet children’s needs.

p.10

Requirement Due date

Furthermore, leaders, managers and staff must ensure that they evidence what work has been completed with children based on their identified support needs and how this has contributed to their progress.

p.10

Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (“the statement of purpose”) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1. (Regulation 16 (1)) 22 January 2026

p.10

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: 2790126 11

p.10

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Contemporary Concept Care Limited

p.11

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 7 Wyndham Close, Eastham, Wirral CH62 0DH

p.11

Inspector

Chibuzo Otache, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2790126 12 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.11

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 . 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.12

Inspector

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p.12

Inspector

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

p.12

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