Children's Home run by Outbound Care in Lancashire

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1259061 1 Registered provider: Outbound Care

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

This home is owned and operated by a private provider. It is registered to provide care for up to 2 children with social and emotional needs and learning disabilities.

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Information about this children's home

One child has moved out of the home, and one child has moved into the home since the last full inspection. At the time of this inspection, 2 children were living in the home. The inspector spoke with both children during the inspection.

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Information about this children's home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2024.

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Information about this children's home

Date of last inspection: 2 September 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 inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector 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: 1259061 2

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Findings from the inspection

No serious or widespread concerns were identified in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Children moving into the home benefit from structured move-in plans. The manager considers the child's needs alongside the needs of those already living at the home, as well as the staff skills and training. This ensures that staff can meet the needs of children moving into the home. However, children's placement plans and agreements are not always signed on admission.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager and staff meet with children before they move to the home and children can visit the home. This helps children to build familiarity with the home and staff before moving in.

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Findings from the inspection

When children leave the home, the manager works flexibly with the placing authority to identify suitable placements and ensure that moves out of the home are well planned and supported. Staff celebrate the child's time at the home with a tea party and activities.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are registered with key healthcare professionals and are supported to attend their health appointments.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager works effectively with social workers and virtual school heads to secure suitable education for children. As a result, both children are accessing education and making plans to support their career pathways.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager and staff recognise the importance of family connections. They support children to build and maintain these relationships, including facilitating family time even when this requires long-distance travel.

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Findings from the inspection

The home is warm, welcoming and well decorated. The repairs identified at the last inspection have been completed to a good standard. The children's bedrooms are well furnished and personalised, and staff support children to keep them clean and tidy. However, one child's ensuite bathroom would benefit from a deep cleaning.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers' investigations into staff conduct and practice are thorough, and appropriate action is taken to address concerns and provide support when necessary. Leaders seek guidance from relevant professionals to ensure that the right conclusions and recommendations are made. Referrals to relevant services are made regarding outcomes.

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Findings from the inspection

Children's complaints are taken seriously and investigated fully. Children are updated on the outcomes of their complaints. This reassures children that they are listened to. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1259061 3 The manager has addressed the shortfalls in procedures when children are missing from home and children's safety protocols. This has strengthened practice in crisis situations and missing-from-home procedures. However, staff do not always use professional curiosity following missing-from-home episodes to gather additional information about children's associates. This information could support the quicker location of children in the future.

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Findings from the inspection

Incidents of self-harm are managed well. Staff offer children physical and emotional support. However not all incidents of self-harm have management oversight. Managers notify the regulator when there is a serious incident. However, sometimes, notifications are delayed. This prevents the regulator from having prompt oversight.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff complete direct work with children following incidents to help them understand risks and encourage them to keep themselves safe. Managers ensure that they maintain communication with children's wider network to secure appropriate support and escalate concerns when needed. Children are offered support from outside services, such as drugs and alcohol services and therapists.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has developed a detailed action plan to address the requirements and recommendations following the last inspection. Monitoring and review systems have been strengthened to ensure that they are robust and capture shortfalls, helping the home to maintain regulatory compliance.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have reviewed safer recruitment processes. References are now requested from all previous employment involving children and vulnerable adults, and all references are verified. As a result, staff are fully checked before providing care to children, and managers can be fully assured of an applicant's character and integrity.

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Findings from the inspection

One recommendation and all but one requirement raised at the last inspection have been met. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1259061 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/09/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 05/02/2025 Full Good 20/09/2023 Full Good 08/02/2023 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1259061 5

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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

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

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)(v)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that professional curiosity is incorporated into practice to safeguard children, and any information gathered is effectively used to reduce risks. In addition, managers must ensure that they have oversight of all incidents in the home to ensure that staff responses are in line with safety plans.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 22 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; 22 April 2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1259061 6 are kept up to date; and are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that admission documentation is signed and dated by relevant professionals on the date of admission.

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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;

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(e)) 22 April 2026

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff seek to meet the child's basic needs in the way that a good parent would, recognising that many children in residential care have experienced environments where these needs have not been consistently met – doing so is an important aspect of demonstrating that the staff care for the child and value them as an individual. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,' page 15, paragraph 3.7) Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1259061 7

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Outbound Care Ltd, Unit 2, Metropolitan Business Park, Preston New Road, Blackpool FY3 9LT

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Inspector

Renée Sims, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1259061 8 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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