Children's Home run by Lancashire County Council in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC064735 1 SC064735 Registered provider: Lancashire County Council

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This local authority home provides care for up to 3 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Two children were living at the home at the time of this inspection. They spent time speaking with the inspector.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The registered manager post has been vacant since May 2025. There has been a new manager in post since August 2025, who has applied to register with Ofsted.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

requires improvement to be good

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

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

p.1

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.

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: The last full inspection started on 1 October 2025. Inspectors returned on 21 October 2025 to gather additional evidence in line with Ofsted inspections and visits: deferring, pausing and gathering additional evidence policy. The home was judged inadequate and compliance notices were issued under regulation 8, the education standard, regulation 12, the protection of children standard and regulation 13, the leadership and management standard. Inspectors Inspection report for children’s home: SC064735 2 completed a monitoring visit on 9 December 2025, when the notices were deemed to be met. Inspection report for children’s home: SC064735 3

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/10/2025 Full Inadequate 04/02/2025 Full Good 05/03/2024 Full Good 08/03/2023 Full Good 06/10/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC064735 4

p.3

improvement to be good

Children feel unsettled because of recent changes within the staff team. At times, they are unsure who the permanent staff are and who is visiting the home. Some staff demonstrate nurture, warmth and empathy in their daily practice. Children are beginning to build early, trusting relationships with staff; however, this is not yet consistent across the team.

p.4

improvement to be good

Children are beginning to benefit from recent improvements to the home’s maintenance. Leaders and managers now have stronger oversight of the environment, damage is addressed more promptly and broken items are replaced more quickly. Children enjoy access to a new games room and there are plans to improve the usability of the garden. Leaders and managers continue to take steps to reduce the institutional feel of the home.

p.4

improvement to be good

Children’s health needs are not being met consistently. While there has been some progress in addressing smoking in the home, children continue to vape and there is a persistent smell of cannabis in some areas. Children do not attend all essential health appointments, including those for dental care. Staff have not yet identified effective strategies to support and improve children’s overall health outcomes.

p.4

improvement to be good

Children’s engagement with education is improving. One child, who was previously not attending school at all, has begun to attend with staff support. However, their attendance remains low. Staff are working to understand the patterns in the child’s behaviour and are using incentives to encourage more regular participation. Another child receives only one hour of formal education each week. The manager is advocating for a more appropriate package of education, but little progress has been made. Although children have made some progress from their starting points, they are still not accessing education in line with their peers, as required.

p.4

improvement to be good

One child has moved out of the home since the last inspection. They continue to receive a useful package of support to ease the transition. However, staff did not provide well- planned support before the child moved out. Children are not being well prepared for independence.

p.4

improvement to be good

Consistent safeguarding practice is beginning to be embedded. All staff have completed training to develop their confidence and skills in supporting children’s behaviour and responding to incidents. However, children continue to experience inconsistent approaches to rules and boundaries. Inspection report for children’s home: SC064735 5 Staff have needed support from emergency services several times to help them to manage incidents. This includes a serious incident involving a fire being started in the property. Effective action was taken in response to this incident and stringent fire safety measures are now in place. However, staff have not prevented the escalation of such incidents.

p.4

improvement to be good

Staff now have a better understanding of when it is necessary to use physical intervention and they are using such measures appropriately to keep children safe. Records of these interventions contain the required information to support effective oversight. Staff are also beginning to develop their own skills and confidence in de-escalation, which is helping to reduce the need to contact the police.

p.5

improvement to be good

Children’s behaviours sometimes adversely affect one another. Staff are not consistently able to promote socially acceptable and respectful interactions between children. When one child experiences a crisis, this can result in an escalation of risk for the other child. However, staff are continuing to build their competence and professional judgement in supporting children’s behaviour.

p.5

improvement to be good

Staff are beginning to use expert guidance to inform safeguarding practice. Specialist advice and guidance are incorporated into children’s plans, helping staff to develop a clearer understanding of the psychological factors influencing each child’s behaviour. Staff are starting to recognise behaviour as a form of communication and are developing more trauma-informed responses as a result.

p.5

improvement to be good

Staff know what to do when children go missing from home. Staff follow children’s missing-from-home plans and share information with other professionals effectively. Staff successfully advocated for changes to one child’s care plan to address the risk of them going missing. As a result, the child’s risks have greatly reduced.

p.5

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

There is now a permanent manager in post and they have applied to register with Ofsted. With the support of the responsible individual, the manager has made significant improvements to management oversight. As a result, staff are beginning to feel better supported in their practice.

p.5

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

Leaders and managers use a range of helpful trackers and monitoring tools, which are beginning to assist in identifying patterns and trends in children’s behaviour. The impact of this approach is still in its early stages, but managers are developing a useful foundation of evidence and understanding for both children.

p.5

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

The quality of written recording has improved, but remains inconsistent. Some records, including those relating to the fire, do not contain sufficient detail about the actions taken by staff. This limits the effectiveness of managerial oversight and represents a missed opportunity to learn from significant incidents. Inspection report for children’s home: SC064735 6 Staff now receive regular supervision. Managers provide opportunities for staff to reflect on their experiences, consider the needs of the children and discuss their own development. Managerial oversight of staff practice has improved. The manager has identified shortfalls in staff performance and taken appropriate action to address this.

p.5

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

Staff are beginning to support children to understand and participate in important care planning decisions. Children know how to raise concerns verbally, but they are not confident in using the formal complaints process. Managers are developing more inclusive approaches to ensure that children can participate fully and have their views heard.

p.6

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

Team meetings, debriefs and reflective discussions are now being used more effectively as a forum for learning and sharing good practice. As a result, the team dynamic is beginning to improve. Inspection report for children’s home: SC064735 7

p.6

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.

p.7

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—

p.7

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.7

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;

p.7

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

p.7

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

p.7

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

p.7

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;

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.

p.7

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(e)(f)(g)(h)) 30 May 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: SC064735 8 Specifically, the registered person must ensure that staff have the skills, knowledge and confidence to manage challenging behaviour and de-escalate crises.

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the team uses a consistent approach to caring for children, specifically in relation to rules, boundaries and safeguarding practice.

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that they have effective oversight of written records, particularly in relation to incidents. When information is missing or records lack detail, the registered person must have an effective process to follow this up with staff.

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff know how to maintain records in a way which is helpful to children.

p.8

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.8

Requirement Due date

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.

p.8

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children are equipped with the skills they need for independence.

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff support and prepare children for adult life in plenty of time before they move to independent living.

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that support provided to children is well planned and documented. 30 May 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: SC064735 9 The health and well-being standard is that—

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.9

Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

p.9

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.9

Requirement Due date

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

p.9

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;

p.9

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

p.9

Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well-being;

p.9

Requirement Due date

that each child has access to such dental, medical, nursing, psychiatric and psychological advice, treatment and other services as the child may require.

p.9

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iv)(c))

p.9

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children do not vape or smoke cannabis in the home.

p.9

Requirement Due date

The registered person must provide appropriate smoking and vaping cessation support for children.

p.9

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that children attend all essential health appointments. 30 May 2026

p.9

Requirement Due date

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

p.9

Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and 30 May 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: SC064735 10 positive responses to other children and adults.

p.9

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.10

Requirement Due date

meet each child's behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child's relevant plans;

p.10

Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

p.10

Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child's behaviour, in accordance with the child's age and understanding;

p.10

Requirement Due date

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

p.10

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;

p.10

Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child's respect and trust;

p.10

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;

p.10

Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children;

p.10

Requirement Due date

understand and communicate to children that bullying is unacceptable; and

p.10

Requirement Due date

have the skills to recognise incidents or indications of bullying and how to deal with them; and

p.10

Requirement Due date

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

p.10

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 11(1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(viii)(ix)(xi)(xii)(xiii)(b)) Inspection report for children’s home: SC064735 11 Specifically, the registered person must make sure that staff have the skills, knowledge and confidence to manage challenging behaviour and de-escalate crises.

p.10

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must make sure that the team use a consistent approach to caring for children, specifically in relation to rules, boundaries and safeguarding practice.

p.11

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: SC064735 12

p.11

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Lancashire County Council

p.12

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: PO Box 100, Preston PR1 0LD

p.12

Inspector

Nicola Shaw, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC064735 13 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.

p.12

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.13

Inspector

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.13

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.13

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.13