Children's Home run by Lifetime Opportunities Limited in Lancashire

Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC063103 1 SC063103

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Registered provider: Lifetime Opportunities 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 and managed by a private provider. It is registered to provide care for up to 5 children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)

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Information about this children's home

The manager registered with Ofsted in February 2024.

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Information about this children's home

At the time of this inspection, 2 children were living at the home. 1 child was spoken to by the inspectors.

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Information about this children's home

The manager also manages another setting.

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Information about this children's home

Date of last inspection: 4 November 2025

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Information about this children's home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children's home

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: SC063103 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Children enjoy meaningful relationships with staff who know them well. Staff offer nurturing and supportive care to children and speak about them with genuine care and affection. One child enjoys a range of activities with staff both inside and outside of the home. Another child has recently begun to engage in regular activities with staff outside of the home to broaden their experiences.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are making good progress in their communication and life skills. Staff complete a range of direct work with children using creative approaches to help them develop important skills. For one child, this includes learning about independent travel and preparing for adulthood. Another child is developing their ability to communicate verbally.

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Findings from the inspection

Following concerns about one child’s unexplained bruising, staff worked closely with the school to develop a robust plan of support. This included staff accompanying the child on their journey to and from school, providing consistency and helping to identify any emerging concerns. Additionally, leaders and managers introduced daily body mapping to support staff in identifying patterns and to improve information sharing. When children express discomfort, staff demonstrate appropriate professional curiosity and share this information with relevant agencies. No further concerns have been raised regarding unexplained injuries.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff regularly use praise, rewards, de-escalation strategies and distraction methods to manage children’s behaviour. Occasionally, staff physically hold or guide children to keep them and others safe. Following one physical intervention, the level of scrutiny and oversight by the manager was not sufficient to determine whether the hold was necessary or proportionate. Additionally, there are limited resources available to support children to make a complaint after being physically held should they wish to do so. This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff receive regular, reflective supervision and have ample opportunities to discuss their care of children. Their strengths and future aspirations are discussed, and they are provided with clear guidance on the tasks they need to complete. Any identified shortfalls in staff practice are addressed.

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Findings from the inspection

The home is a spacious environment, and children are encouraged and supported to decorate and personalise their bedrooms. However, there are cleaning and maintenance repairs required throughout the home. The presence of locks on doors leading to communal areas means that children cannot freely access all areas of the home. This does not ensure that children are provided with a homely and nurturing environment. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC063103 3 Shortfalls in the keeping and quality of children’s records were identified throughout this inspection. This is a missed opportunity to capture the progress and experiences of some children. Additionally, safeguarding incidents are not always notified to the regulator in line with statutory requirements. This means that Ofsted is unable to scrutinise information to ensure that children are kept safe. This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. The requirement issued under

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Findings from the inspection

Regulation 45 at the full inspection was not considered during this inspection. For this reason, it is restated.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/11/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 11/02/2025 Full Good 13/03/2024 Full Good 07/02/2023 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC063103 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, 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 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

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'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)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that they complete an evaluation of all incidents to review the quality of care provided, identify any shortfalls and improve practice. 3 April 2026

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who— 3 April 2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC063103 5 understand the children's home's overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for

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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

understand and apply the home's statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home's statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child's welfare;

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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

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. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iv)(viii)(ix))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that children are provided with the resources and opportunities to help them to communicate, make choices and express their wishes and feelings.

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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

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;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child —

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Requirement Due date

is instigated; or 03 April 2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC063103 6 concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter; and

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Requirement Due date

must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40 (4)(b) (c)(d)(i)(ii) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must inform the regulator of any referral made to the local authority designated officer and any incidents when police attend the home.

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Requirement Due date

children can access all appropriate areas of the children's home's premises; and

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Requirement Due date

any limitation placed on a child's privacy or access to any area of the home's premises—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home;

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Requirement Due date

is kept under review and, if necessary, revised. (Regulation 21 (1)(b)(c)(i)(ii)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the use of locks on internal communal doors does not prevent children from accessing all safe areas of the home. 3 April 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; and

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Requirement Due date

are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)) 3 April 2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC063103 7 The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children's home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure there is a quality-of-care review that focuses on the care provided to children, the experiences of children living in the home and the impact the care is having on outcomes and improvements for the children. This review should be completed every six months and shared with the regulator. 03 April 2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC063103 8

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Lifetime Opportunities Limited

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Windsor House, Bayshill Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL50 3AT

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Children's home details

Responsible individual: Shona Wands Alderson

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Inspectors

Leanne Carr, Social Care Inspector Jennifer Quest, Regulatory Inspection Manager Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC063103 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 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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