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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2848531 1 Registered provider: SBL CARE SERVICES (UK) Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in October 2025 and is owned and managed by a private provider. It provides care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2025.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

p.1

outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

p.1

outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

p.1

outstanding

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

p.1

outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

p.1

outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2848531 2

p.1

Summary of findings

The child is making exceptional progress since living at the home due to the care provided by the manager and staff. They have supported the child’s progress in all aspects of their life. There has been a significant reduction in risks for the child, and they have returned to education after a period of non-engagement. The leadership and management at the home is highly effective with a focus on maintaining high standards of quality care for the child.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The manager and staff provide the child with highly personalised care that begins before they move into the home. Child focused transition plans include the manager and staff visiting the child, getting to know them and develop relationships. This has helped the child experience a positive and well-planned move into the home where they have settled in quickly and smoothly.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff have built strong relationships with the child. A key priority for the manager and staff is ensuring that the child feels listened to and heard. Staff take time ascertaining the child’s views about their day-to-day care and incorporate these into making positive changes at the home when appropriate. When the child shares a concern, staff take effective and prompt action which helps ensure that they feel heard and valued.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The child is attending school full time after a significant period out of education. The manager has been the driving force in ensuring that the child returned to education in a timely manner. The transition plan to support the child’s return to school was excellent, with the child’s views at the centre. This helped ensure that the child’s return to education was positive and successful, and they are now settled and enjoying school.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff support the child to maintain good physical health. The child is encouraged to eat healthily and attend all their health appointments. Since living at the home, the child is trying different food and actively involved in cooking freshly made meals.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff understand the importance of the child’s relationships with their family, and they have spent time establishing connections with them. The manager ensures that family members are involved in the child’s care when appropriate and there is regular communication about the child’s progress. For example, staff create a weekly newspaper style report to send to the child’s family to share important updates and achievements. The child’s family visit the home and staff support their time together. This has helped the child develop and maintain a positive relationship with their family.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

One family member said that the child has found a place that, ‘they can call home’. The house is personalised to the child’s individual needs throughout and there are photographs on the wall of the child with their family and on activities with staff. The Inspection report for children’s home: 2848531 3 child’s toy collections are proudly displayed at the home. The child is involved in choosing how to decorate areas of the home, including a games room.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff provide the child with a sense of belonging ensuring the home is personalised throughout and involving the child in choices for the home. There are photographs of the child enjoying time with their family and the staff team on the walls, as well as the child’s toy collections being on display. The child has chosen to create a games room in the home and is involved in deciding on the decoration. Staff support the child to be part of the local community and engage in activities in the area which helps promote a strong sense of belonging.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff take a genuine interest in the child’s hobbies and are enthusiastic about how the care for the child. The child is provided with opportunities to engage in a wide range of activities and new experiences, including indoor skydiving and days out to the zoo.

p.3

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

There has been a significant reduction in risks for the child since moving into the home due to the high level of support provided by staff. The child’s risks are identified and well understood by all staff. The child’s plans are detailed and regularly updated to reflect the child’s current circumstances. The child has been involved in developing their plans to ensure staff know how best to support them.

p.3

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

Staff regularly spend time with the child discussing and exploring risk in a reflective and supportive way. They provide the child with opportunities to developing their understanding of risk and explore their emotion and behaviours. Staff provide constructive advice and support to help the child develop strategies to stay safe. Staff help the child understand that their behaviour does not define who they are and support them to manage their feelings. This approach, combined with open conversations with the child, has helped reduce incidents.

p.3

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

Staff have excellent de-escalation skills which has contributed to a reduction in the use of physical intervention with the child. When incidents of physical intervention take place, this is proportionate and only used as a last resort to keep the child and staff safe.

p.3

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

Staff ensure that there are consistent routines and boundaries in place for the child. This helps promote positive behaviours and helps the child feel safe. Staff regularly review and reflect on their practice to identify what works best for the child. For example, they implemented a tracker to identify triggers and supportive strategies about the child’s bedtime routines. This resulted in positive bedtime routines being established for the child in a short period of time.

p.3

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

Staff make effective use of incentives and rewards to further promote positive behaviour. They are tailored to the child’s specific interests, and the child engages well in the process. However, consequences for the child are not always recorded on their records. This limits the monitoring and review of effectiveness of different strategies to support the child’s behaviour. Inspection report for children’s home: 2848531 4 There has been no missing from home incidents since the child moved into the home which is significant progress for them. There is excellent multi-agency working between professionals which is helping promote the child’s positive emotional and physical wellbeing. These strong working relationships also provide managers and staff with opportunities to develop their knowledge and understanding of safeguarding. For example, the missing from home coordinator visited the home to discuss safeguarding

p.3

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

strategies with the staff and they also spent time with the child.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There is a highly skilled and experienced manager at the home. The manager leads with infectious enthusiasm and has high expectations of staff and the quality of care provided to the child. He is dedicated and child focused manager who leads by example.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is a strong advocate for the child. He advocates for what is always in the child’s best interests and ensures that the child’s views are ascertained and heard. The manager is proactive and effective in challenging other professionals to ensure that there is no delay in the child’s care planning. This has helped the child return to school in a positive and timely way. One professional said that the advocacy provided by the manager was ‘phenomenal’ and that they ‘shout from the roof tops’ to ensure the child’s needs are met.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager demonstrates a strong commitment to improving the quality of care provided to the child. He is creative in his approach to the development of staff knowledge and skills, including carrying out quizzes, presentations and reflective team discussions. The manager takes time to research areas specific to the child and shares learning with staff so that they are well prepared to meet the child’s individual needs.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager implements effective systems and processes to ensure that there is robust oversight of the child’s daily care. The manager’s oversight is extremely evaluative and reflects on the child’s experiences as well as their own and staff practice. This provides robust accountability for how the child’s needs are being met and helps identify areas for improvement.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff speak very highly of the manager. They are provided with regular support from the manager and plentiful opportunities for development. Supervision sessions and team meetings are of a high standard with time for meaningful discussion and reflection. One member of staff said that the manager has created an ‘open and supportive environment’ which has enabled them to grow in confidence.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager identifies and addresses issues of staff practice thoroughly and effectively. When concerns are identified, additional support is put in place in a supportive and timely way. This includes providing staff with additional training to support the staff to meet the child’s individual needs. The manager also maintains a clear focus on ensuring that staff well-being is prioritised. Inspection report for children’s home: 2848531 5 Safer recruitment processes are followed so that only those adults deemed safe work with the child. The manager ensures that staff are suitably skilled and experienced. However, there is a gender imbalance in the staff team which may limit the child’s access to a balance of role models and perspectives. Inspection report for children’s home: 2848531 6

p.4

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the behaviour management strategy is followed and that all consequences are recorded and reviewed in line with the home’s policy. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.34)  The registered person should ensure that the gender balance within the staff team is considered when recruiting new staff. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 51, paragraph 10.1)

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 for children’s home: 2848531 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: SBL CARE SERVICES (UK) LTD

p.7

Children’s home details

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

p.7

Inspector

Hayley Smith, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2848531 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

p.7

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.8

Inspector

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

p.8

Inspector

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

p.8