Children's Home run by Lancashire County Council in Lancashire

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1241782 1 Registered provider: Lancashire County Council

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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 managed by a local authority. It provides care for up to 6 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties. At the time of this inspection, 6 children were living at the home.

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Information about this children's home

Two children spoke with the inspectors. The home has not had a registered manager since August 2025. The acting manager has left, and a new acting manager has been appointed.

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Information about this children's home

Date of last inspection: 2 December 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 these inspections, 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. 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: 1241782 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 describe positive relationships with staff and feel understood and supported. Observations during the visit demonstrated warm and affectionate interactions, with staff greeting children attentively and providing nurturing responses.

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Findings from the inspection

There is a clear educational structure in the home; each child has an educational plan, and educational materials are easily accessible. Completed work was seen during the visit, and staff ensure that learning activities are available.

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Findings from the inspection

Most children's bedrooms are personalised, although one was notably sparse and doesn't reflect the child's identity. Children reported frustrations regarding delays in communication and practical decisions, such as requests for wi-fi or replacement furniture.

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Findings from the inspection

The arrangement for dispensing children's prescribed medication is much improved. Each child has clear records which are signed by staff, and all now have their own lockable box which is clearly labelled. Managers now audit the medication files each week and this is clearly recorded.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have called for police assistance on occasion during times where children have been in crises, which has led to distressing experiences and potential criminalisation for children.

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Findings from the inspection

A serious incident where a child was missing overnight was not reported to the regulator or to senior managers. This prevents effective oversight by the regulator.

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Findings from the inspection

Consequences given by staff for children's misbehaviour were not proportionate and did not support children's learning.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders acknowledge the inconsistencies in the approach of the previous manager and have acted by appointing a new permanent manager who is due to begin shortly

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Findings from the inspection

Managerial oversight of incidents has been inconsistent, with some records showing little or no evidence of management review. Internal monitoring processes lack depth and do not always demonstrate how lessons learned from incidents are applied to develop practice.

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Findings from the inspection

Staffing levels remain suitable and extra staff are deployed when it is necessary to support children. Staff report feeling supported, they meet as a team regularly. Staff Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1241782 3 receive supervision of their practice where they are supported to reflect on their work with the children

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/12/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 14/10/2024 Full Good 25/10/2023 Full Good 20/09/2022 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1241782 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 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

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

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

In particular, the registered person must ensure that all incidents are evaluated with scrutiny, taking into consideration any possible learning outcomes that can be implemented within children's risk management plans, or to support the development of staff. 19 April 2026

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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;

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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 staff— 19 April 2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1241782 5 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

help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult;

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(iv)(v)(vi)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children's bedrooms are personalised, clean, tidy and free from any health and safety hazards. The registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that when consequences are used, they are subject to scrutiny to 19 April 2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1241782 6 ensure that their use is fair, that they are also restorative in nature and not punitive. 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,

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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 — is instigated; or 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

(Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that significant incidents are notified to Ofsted. 19 April 2026

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that there is a clear system in place to record room searches and follow up actions when they occur. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 16, paragraph 3.20)  The registered person should ensure that staff are provided with good quality supervisions, that give them opportunities to reflect on their practice and to discuss their ongoing development. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 61, paragraph 13.2) Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1241782 7

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Lancashire County Council

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Children's home details

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

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Inspector

Cathy Wilkins, social care inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1241782 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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Inspector

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