Children's Home run by Aspris Care North West Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2605512 1 Registered provider: Aspris Care North West Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in January 2021 and is operated by a private company. It provides care for up to 2 children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, 2 children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2025.

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This monitoring visit

On 6 January 2026, Ofsted carried out an assurance inspection and identified serious and widespread concerns at the home. Following the inspection, compliance notices were issued under regulation 12 (the protection of children standard) and regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard).

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to review the actions taken by the provider to meet the steps outlined in the compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

Following the assurance inspection, the provider developed an action plan to address concerns in care practices and strengthen management oversight. Two experienced interim managers are now in post to lead the home, and they have made positive progress towards meeting the steps outlined in the compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

The daily presence of managers provides consistent guidance to staff, ensuring that they feel supported in their roles and can meet the children’s needs. Clear expectations, rules and boundaries have now been implemented, resulting in greater consistency for children and staff. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2605512 2 Staff team meetings, development days, training, professional discussions and supervision sessions are now consistently taking place to provide opportunities to reflect on practice, focus on safeguarding and discuss the implementation of age- appropriate boundaries and routines for children.

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This monitoring visit

Although staff have received training and guidance on managing allegations, one member of staff did not follow safeguarding procedures when a child made an allegation about a colleague. Senior managers identified this shortfall the following day and took prompt action. The local authority designated officer, police and the child’s social worker were all notified.

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This monitoring visit

Through team meetings, briefings and daily updates, staff now receive key information about children who go missing from care. When a child goes missing, staff follow the agreed missing-from-home protocol and work closely with police to support the child’s safe return. The child is then offered an independent return home interview to explore any triggers for the incident and to identify strategies to reduce future risks.

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This monitoring visit

Risk management plans are now up to date and consider all key information and appropriate strategies to reduce and manage the children’s risks and vulnerabilities. Staff have attended refresher training on topics including safeguarding, recording and reporting, and substance misuse. This supports the staff in their role and gives them the necessary skills to meet the children’s needs.

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This monitoring visit

The interim managers have introduced effective monitoring and review systems that give them clear oversight of the home’s management, staff practice, and the effect on children’s safety and experiences. They now also provide weekly summaries and share any incident reports with the children’s social workers, enabling timely oversight and scrutiny.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has taken action to meet the steps outlined in the compliance notices under regulations 12 and 13. However, a requirement was raised due to shortfalls identified in the management of allegations.

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This monitoring visit

The requirements and recommendation raised at the last inspection are outside the scope of this visit. The requirements will be reviewed at the next inspection. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2605512 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/05/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 18/03/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 27/02/2024 Full Good 06/03/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2605512 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 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; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered provider must ensure that staff follow the correct safeguarding procedures in a timely manner for any allegations children raise about staff. 22 March 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or 22 March 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2605512 5 if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that full and satisfactory information is available for agency workers.

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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

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;

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Requirement Due date

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home and 22 March 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2605512 6 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;

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Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(iii)(c))

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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;

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Requirement Due date

take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs; and

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Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well- being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that if a child makes a disclosure of harm, appropriate health advice is sought immediately. 22 March 2026

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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; 22 March 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2605512 7 there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(e))

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(v))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that children are supported in developing life skills in preparation for adulthood. 22 March 2026

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that children are consulted regularly on their views about the home’s care to inform and support continued improvement in the quality of care provided. Due consideration should be given to the child’s cognitive ability in the development and implementation of any consultation processes. Children should be able to see the results of their views being heard and acted on. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.11)

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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: 2605512 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Aspris Care North West Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2 Barton Close, Grove Park, Enderby, Leicester LE19 1SJ

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Inspector

Julie Elder, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2605512 9 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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