Children's Home run by Therapeutic Care Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2744087 1 Registered provider: Therapeutic Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private provider. It offers care for up to 2 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, 2 children were living at the home. One child spoke with the inspector. A child who no longer lives at the home also spoke with the inspector.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2023.

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

Date of last inspection: 22 October 2024

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2744087 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/10/2024 Full Good 26/02/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2744087 3

p.2

improvement to be good

Overall, children experience positive moves into and out of the home. One child who moved out of the home said, ‘It didn’t feel like an ending; they still support me now.’ When one child experienced an unplanned move, staff provided consistent support during this difficult time and visited them in their new home. One social worker said, ‘Children are not forgotten about when they move on.’

p.3

improvement to be good

Children live in a warm and homely environment. Photos of children and staff are proudly placed around the home. Children are encouraged to personalise their bedrooms, and staff involve children when making decisions about the home. For example, children are helping to create a relaxation space in the garage for the upcoming summer months. This helps children develop a sense of belonging and feel part of decisions made about their home.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff talk to children about their health needs and encourage them to attend routine appointments. For one child, anxieties around attending medical appointments are reducing. The manager discusses any identified health needs with professionals and parents. However, there has been a delay in seeking medical advice regarding one child’s barriers to taking prescribed medication.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff support children well in spending time with family and friends. They work closely with social workers to plan safe and meaningful time with people who are important to the children. Family members value the practical support staff provide, such as transport. One parent said, ‘Staff accommodate, support and facilitate me seeing [name of child].’

p.3

improvement to be good

Children’s educational progress is mixed. One child has made progress from their starting point. They are now attending college and have experienced work placements. However, another child, who is not currently accessing education, lacks structure, routine or informal learning opportunities at the home. This does not support the child in maintaining consistent daily routines in preparation for returning to education.

p.3

improvement to be good

Relationships between staff and children are positive and nurturing. Children speak warmly about staff, and interactions observed were caring and supportive. Children participate in a wide range of activities, including go-karting, arcades, cinema trips and baking. These opportunities help children build positive relationships and create happy memories of living in the home.

p.3

improvement to be good

The manager and staff clearly understand their safeguarding responsibilities. They are confident in raising concerns and know how to escalate issues when needed, including Inspection report for children’s home: 2744087 4 using the whistleblowing process. When children raise concerns about staff practice, the manager takes them seriously. He works closely with the local authority designated officer and ensures that all concerns are investigated.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff have a generally good understanding of children’s risks. This is supported by individualised risk assessments. These include strategies to help staff support children when they are upset. However, guidance is not always clear about how staff should support children when they spend time in the community. This lack of clarity could affect their safety.

p.4

improvement to be good

Staff work closely with the police when children go missing. They search local areas and encourage children to return home. One child said, ‘Staff speak to me; they try to get me to come back and try to stop me from going.’ However, staff do not always search known locations persistently, and, on one occasion, there was a delay in contacting the child’s family.

p.4

improvement to be good

Staff speak with children about their known risks. They explore reasons for children’s behaviour and help them make safer choices. This has included seeking involvement from external services. Additionally, staff encourage children to participate in further learning. For example, the manager arranged for training to learn about the risks of knife crime, and one child participated.

p.4

improvement to be good

Physical intervention is used as a last resort to keep children safe. The manager ensures that children and staff are given the opportunity to reflect following any incidents. However, on one occasion, a staff member involved in the incident carried out a post- incident discussion with the child. This meant the child did not have the opportunity to speak with someone independent.

p.4

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

The manager is child focused and wants the best for children. He encourages the staff team to share this ethos. Staff enjoy working in the home and feel supported in their roles. One staff member said, ‘I feel motivated to come to work.’

p.4

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

Staff have access to a wide range of training and development opportunities. However, staff did not receive training in respect of one child’s identified needs before they moved into the home. This affects staff’s confidence and ability to fully support the child’s needs.

p.4

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

Supervision sessions take place in line with the home’s statement of purpose. This enables staff to raise any concerns and identify any areas for development. Additionally, monthly team meetings are informative and provide opportunities for open discussions about the children and the wider responsibilities of the role.

p.4

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

When there are vacancies, the manager acts quickly to recruit staff, ensuring that all safer recruitment checks are carried out. However, recent significant changes in the staff team have affected the continuity and consistency of care provided to children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2744087 5 Professionals and parents speak positively about the manager and staff. One professional said, ‘I am updated regularly; if there is anything urgent, they ring me immediately.’ This reflects the good communication the home has built with external agencies and parents. Inspection report for children’s home: 2744087 6

p.4

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.6

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

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;

p.6

Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

p.6

Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(vi))

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff continue to search known locations when children are missing from home. The registered person must ensure that all relevant individuals are notified of a child’s missing-from-home episode in a timely manner.

p.6

Requirement Due date

Furthermore, the registered person must ensure that risk assessments offer clear guidance to staff regarding children’s free time in the community. 9 April 2026

p.6

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.6

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

promotes their welfare. 9 April 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2744087 7 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(e))

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff receive training to meet children’s individualised needs. Furthermore, the registered person must ensure that the staff team provides continuity of care for children.

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

p.7

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

p.7

Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

p.7

Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(iii)(iv)(v)(viii))

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that children are supported in learning informally. Furthermore, the registered person must ensure that children are provided with routine and structure to support their reintegration into education when reasonably possible. 9 April 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2744087 8

p.7

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that if there are any questions or concerns about a child’s medication, they seek advice from a suitable expert, such as a GP, community pharmacist or looked-after children’s nurse. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.15)  The registered person should ensure that records of physical intervention demonstrate that the child has had the opportunity to speak to a person not involved in the intervention to discuss their experience following the incident. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 50, paragraph 9.60)

p.8

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: 2744087 9

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Therapeutic Care Limited

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Errigal House, Avroe Crescent, Blackpool FY4 2DP

p.9

Inspector

Kitty Wiper, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2744087 10 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.

p.9

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 . 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.10

Inspector

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

p.10

Inspector

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

p.10