Children's Home run by Northridge Care Group Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2679574 1 Registered provider: Northridge Care Group 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 is owned managed by a private provider. It is registered to provide care for up to 2 children who may experience social and emotional needs and/or special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

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Information about this children's home

At the time of this inspection, 1 child was living at the home and spoken to by the inspector.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted judged this children's home to be inadequate at the full inspection, which concluded on 7 January 2026. Two 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 monitoring visit was to review the providers progress and the actions taken to meet these compliance notices. Since the last inspection, one child has moved on from the home.

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This monitoring visit

There are detailed safety plans that give clear guidance to staff on how to reduce risks for the child. However, staff who are unfamiliar with the home do not consistently follow the child's individual safety plans and assessments.

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This monitoring visit

There are ongoing staffing shortages, which mean that staff from the provider's other homes are supporting care in this home. The manager does not ensure that these staff are familiar with the child's individual plans. As a result, they do not have Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2679574 2 the essential information they need to meet the child's care and safety needs. The manager has taken immediate action to address this shortfall.

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This monitoring visit

There have been two occasions when staff did not seek medical attention for one child in a timely manner. Although these shortfalls did not result in significant impact for the child, they show that staff did not prioritise the child's health needs.

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This monitoring visit

There is an inconsistent approach to addressing shortfalls in staff practice. Leaders and managers take appropriate action to address practice concerns about the core staff. However, they do not always address the shortfalls with agency or staff supporting from another home. This means practice does not consistently meet expected standards.

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This monitoring visit

There is an interim manager in post, and they have applied to become the registered manager. The manager has completed a review of all significant behavioural incidents in the home and identified development needs for core staff. The manager has strengthened core staff practice through additional training, reflective sessions and structured workshops. Staff also have regular opportunities to reflect on their care of the child during regular supervisions and team meetings.

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This monitoring visit

The child is developing their understanding of risk. Staff carry out regular direct work with the child to help them learn how to keep themselves safe. Restrictions on internet enabled devices also support the child to keep safe online.

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This monitoring visit

A new pre-admission risk assessment has been introduced. This includes additional prompts for the manager to consider when evaluating all relevant factors before children move into the home.

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This monitoring visit

The child describes being happier in the home and has positive, trusting relationships with core staff. They enjoy taking part in a variety of activities both inside and outside of the home. Staff speak about the child with genuine care and affection and the child presents as comfortable in their care. However, insufficient core staffing continues to impact consistency for the child and affect their sense of stability.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted does not consider that the shortfalls identified at the inspection on the 7 January 2026 have been fully addressed. Further concerns have been identified at this inspection. As a result, a restriction of accommodation notice has been issued to prevent any further children from moving into the home. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2679574 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/01/2026 Full Inadequate 06/02/2025 Full Good 29/01/2024 Full Good 24/01/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2679574 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

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; and

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home's child protection policies is monitored regularly.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(e)) 12 April 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2679574 5 This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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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 have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of 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

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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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.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(e)(f)(g)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 12 April 2026

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and 12 April 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2679574 6 positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child's behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child's age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand, in a way that is appropriate according to the child's age and understanding, personal, sexual and social relationships, and how those relationships can be supportive or harmful;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop the understanding and skills to recognise or withdraw from a damaging, exploitative or harmful relationship;

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Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child's respect and trust;

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Requirement Due date

understand how children's previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(ix)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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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

a child protection enquiry involving a child — 12 April 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2679574 7 is instigated; or

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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.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

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; and

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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

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.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 12 April 2026

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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 12 April 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2679574 8 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

The registered person must ensure that the local authority is actively involved in all discussions necessary to support safe and well-informed decisions about children moving into the home. They must implement an effective system for assessing and understanding the combined risks presented by children living together.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should have a workforce plan which can fulfil the workforce-related requirements of regulation 16, schedule 1, paragraphs 19 and 20. The plan should be updated to include any new training and qualifications completed by staff while working at the home and used to record the ongoing training and continuing professional development needs of staff – including the home's manager. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,' page 53, paragraph 10.8)

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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: 2679574 9

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Northridge Care Group Limited

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Richard House, 9 Winckley Square, Preston PR1 3HP

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Inspector

Leanne Carr, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2679574 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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