Children's home run by Lancashire County Council in Preston

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC039689 1 SC039689 Registered provider: Lancashire County Council

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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 local authority. It provides care for up to six children who may 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. Four children spoke with the inspectors.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has not had a registered manager since June 2025. An acting manager is in place and has applied to register with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 22 and 23 October 2025.

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This monitoring visit

Inspectors identified serious concerns in relation to staff safeguarding practices and poor and ineffective leadership and management oversight. As a result, Ofsted issued compliance notices under sections 22A and 14 of the Care Standards Act 2000.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the compliance notices and review any action taken by the provider.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, the provider has taken effective action to address the shortfalls identified.

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This monitoring visit

Staff understand safety plans and risk assessments and ensure that these are consistently followed. Risks to children are assessed and risks from children towards each other are managed effectively. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC039689 2 Staff complete direct work with children to help them understand how to keep safe. Children confirm that staff keep them safe. Records show that staff and children have frequent meaningful and focused discussions.

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This monitoring visit

The home now has sufficient staffing to meet the needs of all children. Children confirm that they receive care from staff who know and understand them. However, the staff rota does not contain the full names of the staff team.

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This monitoring visit

The management monitoring systems have improved and are now more effective. Therefore, there is an improved level of oversight and evaluation of significant incidents at the home.

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This monitoring visit

All staff, including casual staff, receive supervision of their practice. This promotes consistency of care.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has not ensured that significant incidents are notified to Ofsted. This requirement has been restated.

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This monitoring visit

A case review held on 12 December 2025 concluded that the provider has taken sufficient action to address the shortfalls identified at the full inspection. Therefore, both compliance notices have been met. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC039689 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/10/2025 Full Inadequate 23/07/2024 Full Good 26/09/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 25/10/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC039689 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 with 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

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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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

a child protection enquiry involving a child—

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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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)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that significant incidents are notified to Ofsted. 8 February 2026

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Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are kept up to date; and

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Requirement Due date

retain the records for at least 15 years from the date of the last entry. (Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c)) 8 February 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC039689 5 The registered person should ensure that the staff rotas include the full names of staff members.

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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: SC039689 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Lancashire County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Lancashire County Council, PO Box 100, Preston PR1 0LD

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Claire Rose-Dudley

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Inspectors

Amanda Ellis, Social Care Inspector Sophie Thomson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC039689 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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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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