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

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2774125 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 organisation. It provides care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties and/or learning difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, there were no children living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2024.

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This monitoring visit

A full inspection was undertaken on 4 and 5 August 2025. During this visit, inspectors identified serious and widespread concerns in relation to the care and protection of children and the leadership and management of the home.

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This monitoring visit

Following the full inspection, Ofsted made a decision to suspend the accommodation at the children’s home under section 14A of the Care Standards Act 2000 (the Act) with immediate effect.

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This monitoring visit

The monitoring visit was carried out to monitor the suspension of accommodation notice. The inspector found that the provider has complied with the suspension of accommodation notice.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, a new responsible individual has been appointed. She has extensive relevant experience for the role. The registered manager is confident in her ability to provide effective support and guidance.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager has reviewed and evaluated previous safeguarding incidents to identify shortfalls in practice and any staff learning and development needs. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2774125 2 Staff have received a range of training and attended workshops. This included training on managing allegations and self-harm. The learning from this has been tested during staff debriefs. In addition, staff have worked in other homes owned by the provider, where their practice has been observed. These observations have been shared with the registered manager to confirm that staff are competent in their roles.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have attended reflective sessions that encouraged them to explore what has worked well and to identify areas for improvement. Leaders and managers have listened to staff concerns about feeling unsupported and have introduced measures to strengthen the support for staff.

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This monitoring visit

New systems have been introduced to ensure that management oversight of incidents improves. The responsible individual and registered manager now review and evaluate each incident to ensure that staff practice is safe and effective.

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This monitoring visit

A case review was held following this visit. The period of suspension has now ended. Requirements made at the full inspection have not been considered as part of this visit and are restated.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/08/2025 Full Inadequate 21/01/2025 Full Good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2774125 3

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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 with 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

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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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)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(b)) 29 September

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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—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 29 September Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2774125 4 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;

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Requirement Due date

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

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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; and

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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))

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must establish a procedure for considering complaints made by or on behalf of children.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 39 (1) (3)) 29 September

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Requirement Due date

After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

take adequate precautions against the risk of fire, including the provision of suitable fire equipment in the children's home; and

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Requirement Due date

make arrangements for persons working at the home to receive suitable training in fire prevention. (Regulation 25 (1)(a)(c)) 29 September

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered manager receiving supervision in line with the provider's timescales. 29 September Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2774125 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,' page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: 2774125 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Northridge Care Group Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Chibuzo Otache, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2774125 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 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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