Children's Home run by ROC Northwest Limited in Lancashire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC066428 1 SC066428

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Registered provider: ROC Northwest Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned children’s home. The home provides care for up to 5 children who may have experienced social and emotional difficulties and have physical disabilities and/or special educational needs and/or disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered with Ofsted in 2020. The registered manager is currently on maternity leave. A second manager registered in September 2025.

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Information about this children’s home

There were 5 children living at the home at the time of this inspection.

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Inspection date: 15 January 2026

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: SC066428 2

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Findings from the inspection

We identified the following serious and widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Information in children’s plans is inconsistent and unclear. Staff spoken to during the inspection did not know how to support a child’s teatime routine. Consequently, an incident occurred at one mealtime which led to an unnecessary physical intervention.

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Findings from the inspection

Recently, external professionals have raised concerns with staff about one child’s appearance, reporting holes in one of their shoes and an unsuitable school jumper. It is not clear what action was taken when this information was received, due to the poor quality of records in the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers and staff do not consistently ensure that children have additional support or access to the things they need to maximise their learning and development. For example, one child has not been given support to improve his sleep patterns, while staff do not ensure another child takes his glasses to school every day, despite regular reminders.

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Findings from the inspection

The home is spacious and some areas are personalised for children’s needs. However, the flooring in one child’s bedroom needs to be replaced as there is a strong odour in the room. Additionally, bathrooms should be regularly cleaned, the lights in the lounge should work and the blinds in the dining area need replacing.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s views are not well understood. Communication aids for some children are not being used or are not available to enable children to share their views and make informed choices. Additionally, not all staff have been trained in Makaton, despite some children’s plans stating it as a known communication need. A requirement in relation to this is repeated from the last full inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers do not always escalate child protection matters to the local authority designated officer when they become aware of concerns about staff practice. There is poor-quality evidence of what action has taken by leaders and managers in response to allegations against staff.

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Findings from the inspection

Some of the children’s documents, plans and minutes from meetings were not available during this inspection. Therefore, it is unclear if practice reflects up-to-date care plans or if actions identified at meetings have been completed.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff do not understand children’s risks and some staff do not follow risk management plans. Recently, on one occasion, a member of staff was found to be working with a child despite a risk assessment stating they should not do so due to concerns about their practice. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC066428 3 Children’s family time plans are unclear, and staff have not followed the family time supervision arrangements set out in one child’s plan. As a result, one child did not receive the correct level of support during a family visit. Although the child did not come to harm, this placed them at risk.

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Findings from the inspection

There is a lack of oversight of fire safety in the home. The manager is not up to date with mandatory fire safety training. One fire door was broken and emergency lighting in the staff bedroom was covered. Leaders and managers acknowledged that not all fire safety checks have been regularly completed. Immediate action was taken during the inspection to address this.

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Findings from the inspection

Management oversight is poor. The manager’s review of incidents is not effective and does not ensure robust scrutiny of the quality of care provided for children.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff are not receiving supervision in line with the home’s statement of purpose. When there are concerns around staff practice and conduct, the manager has not taken sufficient action to address this.

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Findings from the inspection

Rotas and daily logs do not always contain accurate information about which staff are caring for the children. Some staff said they were not on shift on the days indicated in the rota and one staff member said they have worked with children when there have been insufficient staffing levels. Despite being made aware of this, the manager has not taken steps to review this and ensure staffing level are always in line with children’s plans.

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Findings from the inspection

External professionals report that communication is inconsistent and information is not always shared in a timely way. One professional said this had recently improved.

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Findings from the inspection

There have been several changes in staffing since the last inspection, which means not all children have trusting relationships with those who care for them. These changes have also impacted on staff morale. The manager has not submitted the updated statement of purpose reflecting staff changes to the regulator.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/08/2025 Full Good 19/11/2024 Full Good 07/02/2024 Full Good 07/03/2023 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC066428 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;

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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

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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Requirement Due date

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

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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

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, managers must ensure the home is adequately staffed, in line with children’s care plans. 15 February 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC066428 5 Furthermore, the manager must ensure that all concerns around staff practice are actioned in line with the organisation’s child protection policies.

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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 has sufficient staff to provide care for 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)(d)(c)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that there are sufficient staff on duty to care for children in line with their plans, and that all staff are suitably trained in communication to help the children express their wishes.

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Requirement Due date

The manager must ensure she has day-to-day oversight of all documents held in the home. 15 February 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC066428 6 The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

treat each child with dignity and respect;

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Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult;

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Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

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Requirement Due date

provide to children personal items that are appropriate for their age and understanding; and

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Requirement Due date

make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(ix)(c)(i)(ii)) 27 February 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC066428 7 This specifically relates to ensuring the premises is maintained to a good standard, and children’s plans include their personalised needs.

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being;

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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

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the manager ensuring that additional support is sought for one child’s sleep and learning needs. 27 February 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement ("the statement of purpose") which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (3)(a)(b)) 27 February 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. 27 February 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC066428 8 (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that there is a clear plan drawn up, in consultation with families and professionals, regarding the use of a child’s harness when travelling in a vehicle and when walking in the community. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)  The registered person should ensure that when consequences are implemented, these are restorative in nature and are fully recorded in line with regulation, so that the manager can review their effectiveness. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.38) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC066428 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: ROC Northwest Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 4th Floor, Parkview, 82 Oxford Road, Uxbridge UB8 1UX

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Children’s home details

Registered managers: Katie Humpage, Jayne Callan

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Inspectors

Judith Birchall, Social Care Inspector Alexandra Pearson, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC066428 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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