Children's home run by True Care Northwest Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2722666 1 Registered provider: True Care Northwest Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a private provider. It is registered to 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 inspection, one child was living at the home. They spoke with the inspector about their experience of living there.

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Information about this children’s home

A manager is in post and has submitted her application to register with Ofsted.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2722666 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/07/2024 Full Good 21/11/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2722666 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has recently moved into the home. They had opportunities to meet with staff before moving in. The child has been helped to settle in well and they like living in the home. The child said, ‘It’s good here. I like all the staff, and I like the house.’ Staff provide the child with a good level of nurturing care, and the child is starting to make progress in all areas of their life.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are focused on meeting the needs of the child and building trusted relationships with them. The child is provided with different opportunities to share their views, and they are involved in decisions about their care. The child enjoys spending time with staff members, both inside and outside of the home. The child’s interests are nurtured, and they are encouraged to try new things. The child’s choices are acted on, for example day trips to Blackpool and to a theme park and walks to the park to feed the ducks.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the child’s healthcare needs and support the child to attend routine and specialist health appointments. The child is encouraged to maintain a healthy lifestyle, including learning about the health risks associated with vaping and smoking. Staff promote healthy eating and encourage the child to take an interest in cooking and baking. The child enjoys being involved in shopping and choosing food for the menus each week.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child with their education. The manager has advocated to find appropriate learning opportunities for the child. Alternatives are in place for when the child cannot attend school, and staff find creative ways to support the child’s learning, which the child responds well to.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is supported to spend time with people who are important to them. Staff have developed a positive relationship with a family member who is close to the child and communicate with them regularly. The family member said, ‘Staff are friendly. They keep me updated. [Name of child] is happy there.’ Staff ensure that the child regularly spends time with the family member, who lives some distance away. This has helped the child to feel more settled, secure and happy.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child lives in a warm and welcoming home. The child’s bedroom is well furnished and personalised to their tastes. Other areas of the home are spacious and comfortable.

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

The child is kept safe, and they say that they feel safe. Their risk and behaviour management plans are individualised and provide staff with clear information about what to do if risks arise. Inspection report for children’s home: 2722666 4 The child has not gone missing from the home despite this being an area of high risk before they moved in. Staff have not needed to use physical intervention to keep the child or others safe. This indicates that the child feels settled, safe and secure.

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

On occasion, children who previously lived at the home went missing from the home overnight. Staff took appropriate action to keep children safe, and most of the serious incidents were notified to the regulator as required. However, some were not, and others were notified late. There have been three allegations made by children about staff since the last inspection; appropriate action was taken to investigate them. However, only one allegation was notified to the regulator. This limits the regulator’s oversight of practice at the home.

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

Positive behaviour is consistently promoted in the home. Clear routines, boundaries and expectations are in place, which the child responds well to. Regular discussions take place with the child about topics relevant to them. This helps the child to understand and manage their feelings and behaviours.

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

Staff and the child benefit from the company’s appointment of an external therapy service, which visits the home regularly. The therapists provide help and advice to staff, which is tailored around the specific needs of each child. This helps to develop safeguarding practice in the home.

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

Staff are resilient and provided nurturing care to the children who have moved out of the home since the last inspection. Staff worked effectively with other agencies and adapted their practice to help protect children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The acting manager is new to the role. However, she was previously the deputy manager and is supported by senior leaders and managers. The manager is fully involved in the child’s life and is an effective and reliable advocate for them. Providing a high level of nurture and care is a key priority for leaders and managers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff enjoy working in the home and work well together as a team to provide consistent care to the child. Staff feel valued and supported by the manager and senior leaders. One staff member described the manager as ‘supportive, helpful and approachable’ and someone who ‘leads by example’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff team meetings are regular and effective. They focus on the child’s well-being and progress and provide opportunities to reflect on practice. Therapists employed by the company regularly attend team meetings to help develop staff’s therapeutic practice. However, individual supervision sessions do not always take place regularly, and not all staff have had their performance and practice appraised within the timescales. Inspection report for children’s home: 2722666 5 The manager works proactively and positively with other agencies and professionals. A social care professional described her experience of working with the home as ‘very positive’ and the communication and quality of care provided as ‘very good’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from regular training opportunities to keep their knowledge and skills up to date. Leaders have taken action to find improved ways of recording all the training staff members complete.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have good oversight of the home and take effective action to address any areas of vulnerability. They regularly monitor the quality of care provided to the child and develop their practice when needed. Leaders and managers know the strengths and vulnerabilities of the home and take swift action to make improvements. Inspection report for children’s home: 2722666 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 registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)(e)) 18 February 2026

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)(c)) 18 February 2026

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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: 2722666 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: True Care Northwest Limited

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Inspector

Zillah Brooks, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2722666 8 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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