Children's Home run by SBL CARE SERVICES (UK) Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2665747 1 Registered provider: SBL CARE SERVICES (UK) Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was being cared for at the home. The inspector spoke to the child during the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

Since the last inspection, one child has moved out of the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 5 January 2023.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 10 September 2024

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2665747 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/09/2024 Full Good 24/01/2024 Full Good 02/08/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2665747 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are happy and settled in the home and are making good progress from their starting points. They enjoy positive and affectionate relationships with staff, who treat them with dignity and respect.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children feel confident expressing their views and trust that staff will listen and respond to what is important to them. Staff prioritise meaningful conversations with children about what is happening in their lives. Some conversations are planned, while others take place following significant events, ensuring that children receive timely and relevant support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children maintain relationships with their families and friends. They travel long distances to ensure that family time takes place safely and consistently. As a result, children enjoy positive and meaningful time with the people who are important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are well met. Staff ensure that children attend routine health appointments, and they work closely with specialist services when required. This collaborative approach leads to improved health outcomes for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff prioritise children’s education, and all children make good progress at school. Regular communication between staff at the home and school ensures that children receive consistent support. When children prepare to move to a new school, staff and education professionals work together to reduce children’s anxieties and help them build friendships. This means that children settle quickly in their new school environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff actively promote children’s independence and help them build confidence and self- esteem. Children participate in various activities that reflect their interests, and staff encourage them to try new experiences, such as fell walking and paddle boarding.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive support from advocates when making significant decisions about their lives, including where they want to live. One child recently moved out of the home in a planned transition that reflected their wishes and feelings. Staff ensured that the move took place at a pace that suited the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is decorated to a high standard and feels warm and welcoming. Children have their own personal space, which is designed to reflect their individuality. Shared areas of the home contain a range of child-friendly items, and children’s certificates of achievement are proudly displayed throughout the home.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children feel safe and are generally settled in the home. They rarely go missing from home, but when they do, staff are persistent in their efforts to locate them and provide Inspection report for children’s home: 2665747 4 appropriate support when they return. Staff spend meaningful time with children to understand the reasons why they left and to help them stay safe in the future. However, children’s placing authorities do not always ensure that children are offered the opportunity for an independent return home conversation.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff know the children well and understand the meaning behind their behaviours. They respond swiftly to incidents, including substance misuse and self-injury, and seek medical attention for children when required. Staff demonstrate consistent safeguarding practice. This includes carrying out room searches when there are concerns about a child’s safety or welfare. These searches are carried out sensitively, with children’s dignity and needs respected throughout. Children are informed about the process, and where possible, their consent is sought.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Physical intervention is used only when necessary to protect children or others from immediate harm. Records of these incidents are detailed, and the manager reviews them to assess their effectiveness and identify any learning. The views of staff and children are sought and considered, helping reduce risks and improve future practice.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children’s positive behaviour is consistently promoted, and achievements are celebrated, supporting children’s self ‑ worth. When consequences are needed, they are discussed with children, are restorative where possible, and are overseen by the manager to ensure that they are effective and proportionate.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children do not always have positive relationships with one another. Staff understand the strategies needed to keep them safe, and they hold purposeful conversations with children about appropriate behaviours and expectations. However, children’s risk management plans do not always contain clear or up-to-date strategies for managing individual behaviours.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has an experienced registered manager who has a clear vision for the children and the development of the staff team. He is a strong advocate for improving children’s experiences and speaks proudly of their progress. The manager has developed effective systems to monitor children’s progress and its impact.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a stable team of staff who work well together. Children are cared for by staff who know them well and provide consistent support that promotes their safety, emotional wellbeing and stability. However, there is no clear plan outlining how children are supported in maintaining relationships with people from different gender groups.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have the appropriate qualifications and skills to carry out their roles. Training records show that staff training is current and aligned to the needs of the children living in the home. This ensures that staff maintain up-to-date knowledge and are competent in providing effective and safe care. Inspection report for children’s home: 2665747 5 The manager supports staff through regular, practice ‑ related supervision sessions and appraisals. Staff value the manager’s support for their development and wellbeing. Team meetings are held regularly and are well attended, providing opportunities to share information about children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has systems in place to monitor and oversee the home, which he uses effectively to identify good practice and address shortfalls. However, actions in quality of care reports and development plans are not always specific or measurable. Inspection report for children’s home: 2665747 6

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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

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all risks children face are assessed and included in the written plans, including the agreed strategies to protect them from harm.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 15 May 2026

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that when the home employs staff of only one sex, the statement of purpose clearly explains how children will be supported in maintaining appropriate relationships with individuals of different genders. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.22)  The registered person should ensure that children receive a return home interview when they have been missing from home. If this does not occur, they should escalate this with the placing authority. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)  The registered person should make best use of information from internal monitoring, including the quality of care review. Development plans should contain all necessary information to support continuous improvement. Actions should be specific and Inspection report for children’s home: 2665747 7

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Recommendations

measurable. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24)

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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: 2665747 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: SBL CARE SERVICES (UK) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 17 St Peters Place, Fleetwood FY7 6EB

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Inspectors

Samantha Cooper, Social Care Inspector Sarah Billett, Regulatory Inspection Manager Inspection report for children’s home: 2665747 9 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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