Children's Home run by The Rubix Care Group Limited in Lancashire

Assurance inspection for report for children’s home: 2799971 1 Registered provider: The Rubix 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

This home is owned and managed by a private provider. It offers care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home. The inspector spoke to the child as part of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has applied to register with Ofsted.

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Inspection date: 11 November 2025

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, 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. The inspector has 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 for report for children’s home: 2799971 2

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Findings from the inspection

We identified serious and widespread concerns in relation to the care and protection of children, and the leadership and management of the home, at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

The child is not always offered the opportunity to reflect on incidents, and staff do not consistently educate the child about risks. This limits the child’s ability to make safer choices and reduces staff’s understanding of emerging risks.

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Findings from the inspection

There are shortfalls in meeting the child’s health needs. On one occasion, staff did not seek medical support when a child was believed to be under the influence of substances, leaving them at risk of harm. Additionally, accident records and details of medical advice following hospital discharge are not consistently documented, which compromises the quality of care and oversight.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff use physical intervention only as a last resort to keep children safe. There has been one such incident. However, the records were not completed in a timely manner. This delay limits the opportunity for meaningful learning and reflection following any use of restraint.

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Findings from the inspection

The child’s risk assessment does not include details of all known risks or provide clear guidance for staff on what action to take when concerns arise. Leaders and managers do not always identify risk reduction measures, meaning that essential steps to keep the child safe are missed. Additionally, staff do not consistently follow the procedures required following significant incidents, which means that the child does not receive consistent care.

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Findings from the inspection

Although the manager reviews incident reports, they do not consistently identify shortfalls in recording or ensure that appropriate follow-up discussions take place. Additionally, shortfalls in staff practice are not always addressed in a timely manner, which negatively impacts the quality of care provided to the child.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager does not routinely work at the home, reducing their ability to observe day-to-day practice and evaluate staff performance effectively. As a result, staff are not consistently supported or challenged to improve their practice. This lack of oversight leads to inconsistency in the quality of care provided to the child.

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Findings from the inspection

The child speaks positively about living at the home. Staff support the child to access community activities such as the gym. This helps to build the child’s relationships with staff and promotes regular physical exercise.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff respond appropriately when the child is missing from home. They actively search for the child and work closely with local police to support a safe and prompt return home. Staff speak to the child to identify and agree incentives, which has Assurance inspection for report for children’s home: 2799971 3 resulted in a reduction in the frequency and duration of incidents of the child going missing from home.

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Findings from the inspection

The child has been out of education for a significant period of time. However, since moving into the home, they have begun to engage with their education plan. While there have been some barriers, one social worker said, ‘[Child’s name] has made a huge step forward in terms of their education.’

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Findings from the inspection

The manager and the responsible individual do not have sufficient oversight of the home or awareness of the extent of the shortfalls identified at this inspection. However, they are now developing a plan to address the concerns identified and improve the quality of care at the home. Assurance inspection for report for children’s home: 2799971 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/04/2025 Full Good Assurance inspection for report for children’s home: 2799971 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

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

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

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(vi)(d))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that children’s plans and risk assessments include details of children’s individual needs, all known risks and appropriate strategies to manage children’s behaviour and safeguard them effectively.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff follow children’s plans and risk assessments to manage and de-escalate behaviour effectively.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff respond appropriately to children’s behaviour, incidents and risks to 4 January 2026 Assurance inspection for report for children’s home: 2799971 6 ensure that children are safeguarded effectively and their behavioural and emotional needs are met.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff support children to understand the risks posed to them and how to keep themselves safe.

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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—

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Requirement Due date

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 work as a team where appropriate;

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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

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to 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;

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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)(b)(c)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that there is consistent and effective leadership and management of the home. This includes ensuring that managers are present at the home to support staff and identify any shortfalls in staff practice.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that there are systems in place to monitor and review staff practice and the quality of care provided to children. 4 January 2026 Assurance inspection for report for children’s home: 2799971 7 The registered person must ensure that staff undertake relevant training and development opportunities to ensure that they have the knowledge and skills to meet children’s needs.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that there are effective systems in place to identify and address shortfalls in the management of the home.

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record 4 January 2026 Assurance inspection for report for children’s home: 2799971 8 confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that any use of physical intervention is recorded within the required timescale and that the child is spoken to about the measure in a timely manner.

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Assurance inspection for report for children’s home: 2799971 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Rubix Care Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 1, Cottam Lane Business Centre, Cottam Lane, Ashton-on-Ribble, Preston, Lancashire PR2 1JR

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Inspector

Kitty Wiper, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection for report for children’s home: 2799971 10 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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