Children's Home run by Lincolnshire County Council in Lincolnshire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC042967 1 SC042967

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Registered provider: Lincolnshire County Council

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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 operated by a local authority. It provides care for up to six children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, five children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since December 2025.

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Inspection date: 17 December 2025

Date of last inspection: 3 September 2025

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Inspection date: 17 December 2025

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 17 December 2025

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspectors evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have 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 report for children’s home: SC042967 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff receive safeguarding training tailored to children’s individual needs. The registered manager has identified gaps in training provision and has taken prompt action to arrange additional training to better meet children’s needs. However, staff do not always consistently apply their learning in relation to responding to incidents of self-harm.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff know the children well and speak about them with warmth and care, demonstrating a clear commitment to achieving positive outcomes. Staff show an awareness of the risks children may face. However, responses to managing behaviours and risks are not always consistent. This is due to risk management plans being unclear or lacking sufficient, relevant detail to guide staff practice effectively.

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Findings from the inspection

Children have made progress, particularly in relation to their education. Inspectors observed warm, positive and enjoyable relationships between children and staff. Children are increasingly able to manage their emotions, which has contributed to a reduction in missing-from-home incidents and a decreased use of physical intervention.

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Findings from the inspection

A serious incident occurred in which a child made a disclosure of abuse. Appropriate safeguarding actions were taken, and relevant safeguarding partners were involved to ensure an immediate and robust response. However, learning and reflective practice following the incident, including how this will inform future practice and the clarity of ongoing support for the child, are not yet sufficiently embedded.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager and senior leaders can recognise shortfalls in practice and the support provided to children. There are clear plans in place to support learning and continuous improvement. The manager has secured improvements in key areas and works closely with staff to reinforce expectations and promote a shared ethos as the team continues to develop.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has developed new and effective monitoring systems. These enable a better oversight of the home. They are now able to identify the home’s strengths and areas for development.

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Findings from the inspection

Some progress has been made towards meeting the recommendations raised at the previous inspection. Three statutory requirements and three recommendations have been restated and will be reviewed at the next inspection. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC042967 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/09/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 05/06/2024 Full Good 09/05/2023 Full Outstanding Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC042967 4

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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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that children’s risk management plans are responsive to all known risks and contain clear guidance for staff to follow to reduce these risks. 28 January 2026

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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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that all staff are using training in responding to self-harm, safeguarding children and understanding the therapeutic approach outlined in the home’s model of support. 28 January 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC042967 5 For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (“the Level 3 Diploma”); or a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1st April 2014, 1st April 2016. (Regulation 32 (4)(a)(b) (5)(a)(b)) 28 January 2026

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff support each child in preparing for adult care or independent living. The depth and monitoring of staff’s support for developing children’s independence should be systematically reviewed and strengthened where necessary. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 17, paragraph 3.27)  The registered person should ensure that all incidents of control and discipline are subject to systems of regular scrutiny. In particular, the use of de-escalation strategies or any alternative strategies should be clearly documented, and the effectiveness of the measure should be reviewed. (‘Guide to Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.36)  The registered person should maintain good employment practice that safeguards children and minimises potential risk to them. In particular, they should ensure

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Recommendations

that written confirmation of all Schedule 2 checks for agency staff is assessed before their deployment. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC042967 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Lincolnshire County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: County Offices, Newland, Lincoln LN1 1YL

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Craig Bristow-Hudaczek

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Inspectors

Eleanor Quanbrough, Social Care Inspector Caroline Coop, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC042967 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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