Children's Home run by Outbound Care in Blackpool

Inspection report for children’s home: 2523036 1 Registered provider: Outbound Care Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and operated by a private provider. It offers care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties and/or have learning disabilities.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

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

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2025.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 11 February 2025

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2523036 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/02/2025 Full Good 12/09/2023 Full Good 15/06/2022 Full Outstanding 14/12/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2523036 3

p.2

improvement to be good

Children have varied experiences living at the home. One child experienced a long and stable placement. Another child left after a brief period because staff were unable to meet their needs and staffing levels were insufficient, preventing a well-structured and well-prepared move. This demonstrates that transitions out of the home are not always managed well due to the staffing challenges.

p.3

improvement to be good

The manager actively promotes children’s education. One child successfully completed secondary education and achieved functional skills qualifications in mathematics and English. Staff supported the child during college enrolment days to help them identify their preferred course before moving out of the home.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff carry out targeted work with children to prepare them for semi-independent living. They help them develop practical skills, such as budgeting, self-care, laundry and meal preparation. This ensures that children are equipped to support their future plans. Staff also take the time to celebrate children’s transitions with themed parties, practical gifts and thoughtful memorabilia about their time at the home. One child’s grandmother said, ‘Staff did an excellent job in supporting them. They are doing well in semi-independence, which is testament to the staff team.’

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff ensure that children are registered with key healthcare professionals and encouraged to attend routine check-ups to ensure that they are fit and healthy. Referrals to specialist services are made when necessary to support children’s mental health. Staff also have discussions with children about their healthcare needs, ensuring that they are informed about the benefits of healthy lifestyles and being active to promote their physical and emotional well-being. This approach helped one child to stop smoking.

p.3

improvement to be good

The manager ensures that children’s moves into the home are well planned and child centred. The manager met with one child’s network to ensure that the staff had all the relevant information before the child moved into the home. Children are provided with a copy of the children’s guide and are given the opportunity to meet with staff, explore the local area and visit the home before moving in. This helps children feel welcome and ensures that they have key information about the home and the staff who will care for them.

p.3

improvement to be good

The home is well furnished and well decorated, providing a warm and homely environment. Inspection report for children’s home: 2523036 4

p.3

improvement to be good

Allegations are taken seriously and are fully investigated. Leaders and managers liaise with relevant professionals to ensure that investigations are thorough. Appropriate action is taken to address practice issues and ensure that social workers and lead professionals are informed and updated on outcomes.

p.4

improvement to be good

Children know how to make a complaint. Children’s complaints are taken seriously, and leaders and managers thoroughly investigate concerns raised. Children’s social workers are notified to ensure that children have the right support during the investigation process. Referrals are made to appropriate professionals to allow for independent oversight. However, children are not always made aware of the outcome of their complaint. This does not reassure children that they are being listened to.

p.4

improvement to be good

Leaders and managers do not consistently engage with specialist services or the placing authority to develop support plans to reduce risks and stabilise placements during periods of disruption. Additionally, leaders and managers do not always work together to fully explore alternative plans of support before making decisions. This has resulted in one child’s placement ending after a short period with very little notice.

p.4

improvement to be good

Staff know and understand children’s individual risks. There are detailed protocols in place to direct staff in crisis situations. However, during one incident, staff did not work together or follow protocols effectively, which led to other services supporting the child.

p.4

improvement to be good

Staff have a good understanding of safeguarding and whistle-blowing procedures, and they know how to report concerns. However, on one occasion, staff failed to follow the safeguarding procedure and contact the on-call manager for advice after an incident as required.

p.4

improvement to be good

Staff are trained in the use of physical intervention and methods of de-escalation. Physical intervention is used as a last resort to keep children and others safe. Staff exhaust all de-escalation methods before using physical intervention. Follow-up work is carried out with children following physical interventions to ensure that they understand why the intervention was used, to explore their feelings and to help staff understand how they can best support children during crisis situations. Children can discuss incidents of physical intervention with someone who was not involved in the incident.

p.4

improvement to be good

Reflection work is carried out with staff following the use of physical intervention and challenging situations, which ensures that they are appropriately supported. However, the manager and deputy do not always reflect on practice. This does not ensure that practice concerns are addressed or that staff are provided with guidance in managing complex situations.

p.4

improvement to be good

Leaders and managers follow safer recruitment procedures. This ensures that they are fully assured of staff integrity and character before they are entrusted to provide care to children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2523036 5

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager is focused on her vision for children and staff. She has a clear plan in place to rebuild the staff team before considering new admissions to the home. Her approach demonstrates a commitment to improving outcomes for children.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager has good oversight of the home. All reports and plans have evidence of management oversight. The manager carries out monthly audits, and the audit reports include clear actions for the upcoming month. Senior managers also carry out quarterly audits.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The home’s quality of care review is carried out and shared with Ofsted in a timely manner. However, the report lacks a detailed analysis and evaluation of the care provided to children and does not always consider feedback from children, professionals or staff. Actions to improve the quality of care are not specific to the children, staff or improvements required at the home.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Care planning processes for children’s moves into the home are not robust. Leaders and managers do not consider the mental health challenges for children alongside the skills and ability of the staff team. Some staff have felt overwhelmed in their role, which has led to them taking time off or leaving their employment. This has resulted in the home not being fully staffed. Consequently, children’s needs are not always met, which has affected their overall experiences and resulted in them moving out of the home.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Team meetings take place monthly and are well attended. Team meetings are used to discuss current issues for the children, review routines and boundaries, and ensure that staff are familiar with and can respond to the children’s severe allergies. This supports consistent practice and promotes collaborative working.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff receive regular supervision from the manager and deputy. Supervision sessions are reflective and focus on outcomes for children and staff’s well-being. Annual appraisals have a clear focus on staff development and are used to plan personal progress. Staff feel supported by the management team to develop in their role and enjoy working at the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2523036 6

p.5

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

p.6

Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(v)(vii))

p.6

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that staff are fully confident in their safeguarding roles and responsibilities. This includes contacting on-call managers when they have concerns about children’s welfare and following children’s safety plans in crisis situations. 16 December 2025

p.6

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—

p.6

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; 16 December 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2523036 7 ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(c)(d))

p.6

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that staff have the necessary knowledge, skills and experience to provide safe and effective care to children.

p.7

Requirement Due date

Additionally, the registered person must ensure that there are sufficient staff to provide good-quality care to children.

p.7

Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

p.7

Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (a))

p.7

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that they have informed discussions with placing authorities and other support services when experiencing disruptions in placement. 16 December 2025

p.7

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

p.7

Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.7

Requirement Due date

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

p.7

Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(a)(b)(ii)(iii)) 16 December 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2523036 8 Specifically, the registered person must carefully consider children’s care needs and how staff will meet them before they move into the home.

p.7

Requirement Due date

Additionally, the registered person must ensure that children’s placements are reviewed with placing authorities to ensure that their moves out of the home are planned and child focused.

p.8

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children are able to see the results of their views being heard and acted on, particularly when they have raised concerns. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.11)  The registered person should carry out a review that focuses on the quality of the care provided by the home, the experiences of children living there and the impact the care is having on outcomes and improvements for the children. The review should consider the views of the children about their experiences of the care they are provided in the home and enable the registered person to identify areas of strength and possible weakness in the home’s care. The report should clearly identify any actions required for the next six months of delivery in the home and how those actions will be addressed. The whole review process and the resulting report should

p.8

Recommendations

be used as a tool for continuous improvement in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.4)

p.8

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: 2523036 9

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 2, Metropolitan Business Park, Preston New Road, Blackpool FY3 9LT

p.9

Inspector

Renée Sims, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2523036 10 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.

p.9

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.10

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.10

Inspector

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

p.10