Children's Home run by Springboard Care Services Limited in Lancashire

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2823693 1 Registered provider: Springboard Care Services Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home was registered with Ofsted in May 2025 and is owned by a private provider.

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Information about this children’s home

It offers care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, there was no registered manager. An interim manager was responsible for the day-to-day running of the home.

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Inspection date: 17 March 2026

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 17 March 2026

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 has 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: 2823693 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

Since the last inspection, a new manager has been appointed. They have applied to register with Ofsted. The manager has reviewed policies and procedures in the home, and an improvement plan is in place.

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Findings from the inspection

At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home. The home is warm and comfortable, with a large living room, kitchen and back garden. The child’s bedroom is personalised to their taste and additional renovations for their room are planned.

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Findings from the inspection

The child has established routines which are supported by staff. They attend college regularly and have received certificates for their educational successes. Their achievements are celebrated by the staff team.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff work closely with partner agencies to make sure that the child receives appropriate referrals to specialist services. This includes weekly contact with a therapist commissioned by the provider. This has helped the child build their emotional resilience.

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Findings from the inspection

Following the appointment of the interim manager, the child’s risk assessments have been reviewed more consistently. These assessments now provide staff with clear actions to reduce the risk of harm to the child. Staff understand the child’s risks and know what they need to do to keep the child safe. When necessary, the manager escalates concerns to key stakeholders and the regulator.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff work with the child to help them to understand the risks associated with safe relationships and substance misuse. When the child has gone missing, staff have followed missing-from-home protocols. When the child has returned home, they have been able to speak to external professionals to help them understand why they went missing from home. This has helped staff to revise strategies that reduce risk.

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Findings from the inspection

The interim manager has recruited new staff who have previous experience in caring for children. They have been supported with improved induction plans, which has helped to strengthen the team and enhance the overall quality of care provided.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff attend monthly team meetings, which helps to strengthen practice and promote consistency across the team. The manager ensures that staff have access to training that is relevant to their roles and experience.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff benefit from monthly consultations with a psychologist, which has helped them develop a deeper understanding of the child’s therapeutic needs. Staff receive regular supervision; however,. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2823693 3 Systems for monitoring and oversight are still being embedded and are not yet applied consistently across the home. The manager recognises that the review of the quality of care has not met regulatory requirements. A new requirement has been issued in relation to this.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/08/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2823693 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 registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (“the quality of care review report”).

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed; and

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Requirement Due date

make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5)) 23 June 2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2823693 5 Specifically, leaders and managers must submit a quality of care review in line with regulation.

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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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must consistently implement monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements.

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must ensure that each employee receives reflective supervision as identified in the home’s workforce development plan. 23 June 2026

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff complete records in a way that is helpful to children and write in a non-stigmatising way. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2823693 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Springboard Care Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Chandler House, 7 Ferry Road Office Park, Riversway, Preston, Lancashire PR2 2YH

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Sarah Littlechild

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Inspector

Jon Dutton, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2823693 7 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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