Social care · Children's home inspection (SCCIF)
Children's Home run by A-Triangle Care Limited in Lancashire
Summary
Katie Tomlinson (lead), Joy Viles
What we read, and from where
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- Group verified
A-Triangle Care Limited
- Inspection date verified
2 Apr 2026
- Inspectors verified
Joy Viles, Katie Tomlinson
- Helped and protected verified
Good
- Leadership and management verified
Good
- Overall effectiveness verified
Good
- Name on report verified
2641790
- URN verified
2641790
Deep dive
What this report says
In plain English
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Grade profile
Hollow rings show the previous inspection, 2025.
- OverallGood
- Helped and protectedGood
- Leadership and managementGood
70% of comparable inspections in the last three years were graded Good (12,716 inspections).
Tone of the report
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In line with other reports of this type graded Good.
Markers show where typical reports of each grade sit.
How the report reads, start to finish
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Strengths
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Concerns
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Next steps
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What the report dwells on
Topics by how often they come up, coloured by how they are described. Open one for an example.
Leadership & governance10
“Since the last inspection, leaders and managers have implemented positive changes.” p.3Wellbeing & mental health3
“On such occasions, staff offer first aid and emotional support to the child.” p.4
Anatomy of the report
How the report is built, against others of the same type and grade.
- Pages
- 8
- Words of findings
- 1,078
- about usual (typical 1319)
- Reading level
- Fairly hard
- Flesch 53, typical 51
- Average sentence
- 15 words
- Next steps
- 1
- typical 4
- Hedged sentences
- 1%
- “some”, “not always”, “most”…
Where the words go
Full report text
Inspection report children's home: 2641790 1 Registered provider: A-Triangle Care Limited
p.1
Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework
p.1
Information about this children's home
This home is operated by a private company. It provides care for up to 2 children who experience social and emotional difficulties and have learning difficulties.
p.1
Information about this children's home
At the time of this inspection, there was one child living at the home.
p.1
Information about this children's home
The registered manager post has been vacant since January 2026.
p.1
Overall experiences and progress of
children and young people, taking into account
p.1
good
How well children and young people are helped and protected good
p.1
good
The effectiveness of leaders and managers good
p.1
good
The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.
p.1
good
Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate
p.1
Enforcement action since last inspection:
This home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 9 and 10 July 2025. Following the inspection, a compliance notice was issued under The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 regulation 13, the leadership and management standard.
p.1
Enforcement action since last inspection:
A monitoring visit was carried out on 28 August 2025. Following this visit, a case review was held where the compliance notice was deemed to have been met. Inspection report children's home: 2641790 2
p.1
Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement
09/07/2025 Full Inadequate 10/04/2024 Full Good 04/07/2023 Full Good 26/04/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report children's home: 2641790 3
p.2
Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good
Since the last inspection, leaders and managers have implemented positive changes. This has resulted in an improvement in the quality of care provided to the child living at the home.
p.3
Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good
Staff and managers work with relevant professionals and parents to ensure that there is a wraparound approach to supporting the child’s progress in line with their individual targets and goals.
p.3
Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good
The child is supported to build positive relationships with staff. Staff treat them with dignity and respect. Staff spoke fondly about the child and the progress they have made.
p.3
Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good
When the child moved into the home they were welcomed sensitively. Leaders and managers completed robust assessments prior to agreeing for the child to move in. This demonstrates a child centred approach to assessing their needs and ensuring that staff have the skills, training and experience to meet the needs of the child.
p.3
Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good
Staff welcome the child’s family to the home and maintain regular contact with them to ensure that they are up to date on the child's progress. Staff support the child to see their friends. This aenables the child to maintain relationships with people who are important to them.
p.3
Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good
Staff support the child to take part in meaningful activities in and out of the home. When possible, the child is supported to enjoy activities in the community such as the beach, trampoline park and beauty appointments.
p.3
Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good
The child is not currently attending a school. The manager and staff are working with parents, the placing authority and education providers to ensure that they have access to a suitable education provision. Staff support in-house education and work with a home tutor to provide education whilst a suitable provision is being identified.
p.3
Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good
Staff ensure that the child's health needs are met. They are registered with all relevant health providers such as the dentist and doctors and attend routine appointments. When urgent medical care or specific health input is required, staff ensure that the child has access to this.
p.3
How well children and young people are helped and protected: good
When the child raises concerns, they are suitably explored and acted upon. Leaders and managers involve the relevant professionals and the child is kept informed of the outcome of any investigations. Staff understand the whistleblowing process and put this into practice when needed. Inspection report children's home: 2641790 4 Support plans and risk assessments are detailed documents. They are regularly reviewed and updated and staff understand the child’s needs. Plans include clear strategies and guidance for staff to provide consistent care and support to the child.
p.3
How well children and young people are helped and protected: good
When it is necessary to hold the child to keep them safe, it is reasonable and proportionate. Staff are trained to undertake this safely. Children and staff are supported to reflect on the incident afterwards. Follow up sessions take place with the child to explore their emotions and support their welfare. Leaders and managers have effective oversight of incidents to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the measure used and to identify any triggers, updates needed to support plans and to support staff development.
p.4
How well children and young people are helped and protected: good
The child feels able to speak to staff and share their feelings when they have caused harm to themselves. On such occasions, staff offer first aid and emotional support to the child. In addition, staff seek support from external medical and wellbeing professionals when necessary to support the child.
p.4
How well children and young people are helped and protected: good
Individual support sessions take place regularly with the child. Some sessions are completed reactively following incidents to support the child to reflect and to support their emotional wellbeing. Other sessions are planned and help the child prepare for upcoming events and to express their wishes and feelings. Staff use their positive relationships with the child to discuss topics which they may find difficult to talk about.
p.4
How well children and young people are helped and protected: good
When errors have occurred in the administration of medication, suitable action has been taken to improve administration processes. However, medication records do not include the reasons why pain medication or non-routine medication such as antibiotics are required. This limits staff ability to monitor the effectiveness of the medication.
p.4
The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good
There have been changes to the leadership and management of the home since the last inspection and these arrangements are still being embedded. However, there is evidence of improvement. A new manager is in post and has submitted an application to register with Ofsted. She is supported by senior managers and works closely with the previous manager to ensure that an effective and well-planned handover in place.
p.4
The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good
Leaders and managers have implemented systems to improve staff development. They also have systems in place to ensure that they have effective oversight of the day-to-day running of the home.
p.4
The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good
A new staff team is now in place who are working together to build relationships and provide stability and consistency for the child. The child’s parents said, 'Staff are fantastic and dedicated to [child’s name]'. When agency staff or staff from other homes within the company are used, these are regular staff who know the child. This ensures that the child is cared for by familiar and trusted staff. Inspection report children's home: 2641790 5 Staff supervisions take place regularly and are child centred. They are used to identify lessons learnt, address practice issues, support staff development and drive improvements.
p.4
The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good
Staff have completed a range of training to support their development and to meet the child's individual needs. In addition to formal training, leaders and managers use team meetings to deliver sessions on relevant topics to support staff learning and development. Inspection report children's home: 2641790 6
p.5
Recommendations
The registered person should ensure that records are kept of the administration of all medication, which includes occasions when prescribed medication is refused and the reason why medication is administered. ('Guide to the Children's Home Regulations'. Page 35, paragraph 7.15)
p.6
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 children's home: 2641790 7
p.6
Children's home details
Registered provider: A-Triangle Care Limited
p.7
Children's home details
Registered provider address: 5 Crescent East, Hardhorn Road, Thornton-Cleveleys, Lancashire FY5 3LJ
p.7
Inspector
Katie Tomlinson, Social Care Inspector Joy Viles, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: 2641790 8 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.
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Inspector
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Inspector
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Inspector
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