Children's Home run by Bluebell children’s care Ltd in Lancashire

Inspection report for children's home: 2813238 1 Registered provider: Bluebell Children's care limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

The home is run by a private provider and offers care for up to 3 children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

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

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Information about this children's home

The registered manager post is vacant. A new manager has been appointed.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

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

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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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.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 30 September 2025

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

On 6 October 2025, the provider was served with a restriction of accommodation notice, as well as compliance notices under regulations 8, 12 and 13. A monitoring visit was undertaken on 6 November 2025, and the provider had not shown that they had taken sufficient action to meet the compliance notices. The restriction of accommodation remained in place. A further monitoring visit took place on 23 December 2025 at which it Inspection report for children's home: 2813238 2 was determined that the provider had made progress in addressing the concerns identified. The restriction was therefore lifted. Inspection report for children's home: 2813238 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/09/2025 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children's home: 2813238 4

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improvement to be good

The provider has not looked after any children at this home since the last inspection. Therefore, it has not been possible to measure care, progress and outcomes for any specific children.

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improvement to be good

Managers have improved their approach to planning for children moving into the home. They now gather information from a range of relevant sources to assess whether the home is the right place for a child. Managers now recognise the importance of ensuring that any future admissions are suitable and that children's needs can be met safely. Although decision-making is now based on a clearer understanding of children's needs, the effectiveness of this approach cannot yet be demonstrated in practice.

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improvement to be good

Managers now have effective oversight of maintenance and repairs. Children's bedrooms are ready for children to move in, and staff are preparing welcome baskets for each child. Children will be supported to decorate their room how they choose.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers have strengthened planning for children's education. Staff now demonstrate a clearer understanding of how to support and encourage children to attend school. They have completed activity planners and learning materials for hypothetical scenarios, which has helped them to think more practically about how they would meet children's educational needs. Staff are now better prepared to support children with their education, employment or training.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers have implemented clearer policies and procedures to support staff in advocating for children and escalating concerns when necessary. Staff are developing a better understanding of the importance of effective partnership working in securing positive outcomes for children.

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improvement to be good

Staff also have an improved understanding of their responsibilities in providing children with good-enough day-to-day care. Leaders and managers have delivered a range of training to help staff consider how they would provide children with positive daily routines, activities and relationship-based care. As a result, staff are developing the knowledge they need to meet children's needs.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers are providing staff with ongoing training to strengthen their understanding of risk and their responsibilities in keeping children safe. Staff have completed a variety of relevant training courses, workshops and quizzes. Team meetings have also included group exercises focused on safeguarding scenarios. Inspection report for children's home: 2813238 5 Staff continue to lack confidence in some areas of safeguarding practice. Some members of staff are uncertain about how they would keep children safe in key areas of care, such as internet safety and whistleblowing. The requirement made under Regulation 12 at the last inspection is therefore not met and will be restated.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers have updated safeguarding policies and procedures. Staff also have clearer guidance about how to support and manage children's behaviour.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers have made improvements to recruitment processes. Each member of staff member is now subject to suitable checks before coming to work at the home. However, effective oversight is not yet embedded.

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

There is a new leadership team in place, with a manager and responsible individual both in the process of registering with Ofsted. Leaders and managers are providing staff with a stronger sense of direction. Staff say that they are benefiting from clearer expectations and improved support.

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

Leaders and managers are taking appropriate steps to strengthen the home's care planning systems, staff training and arrangements for oversight. They have reviewed key processes, updated documentation and provided staff with training that targets the concerns identified at the last inspection. Improvements have yet to be fully embedded.

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

Leaders and managers are implementing a new electronic recording system. Staff are receiving training to ensure that they know how to keep good ‑ quality records for children. Systems are in place to support more consistent and accurate recording.

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

Staff now receive regular supervision, which managers use to provide constructive feedback and set clear goals for development. The manager is also developing a workforce plan to guide further improvement. Some information required by regulation was missing; however, the manager addressed this during the inspection.

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

There has been significant change in the staff team. There is a mix of experience and skills. Currently, only one member of staff holds the required level 3 qualification. The rest of the staff are working towards achieving this. Staff are beginning to build on their existing skills and knowledge; however, the team is still developing and the impact of their progress is not yet evident in practice. Inspection report for children's home: 2813238 6

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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

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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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;

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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)(iii)(v)(vi)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that children's individual risk management plans provide staff with clear strategies to manage and reduce risk.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must make sure that staff are confident in their safeguarding responsibilities.

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Requirement Due date

This also relates to managers and staff following safeguarding procedures.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 1 April 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2813238 7

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Recommendation

 The registered person should maintain good employment practice. They must ensure that recruitment, supervision and performance management of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. The registered person should have robust oversight of all pre-employment checks. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 61, paragraph 13.1)

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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: 2813238 8

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Bluebell Childrens care limited

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Inspector

Nicola Shaw, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2813238 9 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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