Children's Home run by Yourcare (Northwest) Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2773192 1 Registered provider: Yourcare (Northwest) 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 is operated by a private company and offers care and support for 2 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, 2 children were living in the home, and the inspector spoke to both of them.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2773192 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/07/2025 Full Good 01/10/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2773192 3

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Summary of findings

Since the last inspection, leaders and managers have implemented positive changes at the home. This has resulted in an improvement in the quality of care provided to the children, and they have both made excellent progress in all areas of their development.

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Summary of findings

There are some concerns around frequent missing-from-home episodes and occasional substance misuse. However, incidents are decreasing in number, and managers and staff are working with relevant professionals to ensure that there is a coordinated approach to supporting the children’s progress, in line with their individual targets and goals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are committed to providing the children with a caring and nurturing home environment where they can thrive . Since the last inspection, the same 2 children have remained living at the home, and both have made substantial progress across all areas of their development and wellbeing.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have made good progress from their individual starting points. They are in good health and making progress physically, emotionally and socially. Their emotional mental health has improved considerably since living in the home, and they are encouraged to spend time outside doing physical activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is promoted by staff, ensuring that both children are actively engaged in learning tailored to their individual needs. When children have faced barriers to their learning, staff have responded quickly to reduce any impact on their learning. One child who struggled with home tutoring has made significant progress since the last inspection and is now in full-time further education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Care plans are up to date and detailed and provide clear and relevant information that helps staff to support the children effectively. Children are regularly consulted in planning their care and staff ensure that their voice is heard in a wider context, including at their care planning meetings. This means children are listened to and are able to influence their future plans and decision-making.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff use research and a range of resources to support children in managing their behaviour and to understand their emotional development, relationships and growing up. Staff engage children in open and age-appropriate discussions about staying safe away from the home, healthy relationships and the risks associated with illegal substances. Inspection report for children’s home: 2773192 4 Staff provide support for children to develop their independence at a pace that suits their individual needs and abilities. They encourage children’s life skills through personalised goals and everyday routines, while being mindful not to place unrealistic expectations on them. Staff recognise that this is an area for ongoing development and are keen to strengthen opportunities for independence in a way that remains supportive and child focused. Staff are aware that the locking of cleaning products away impacts on the

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

children’s development of independence skills.

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

Staff understand children’s risks and vulnerabilities and how to manage and support them, responding swiftly to emerging concerns, such as self-harm, substance misuse and alcohol use. The manager has clear oversight of any safeguarding incidents and identifies further actions needed. Staff support children to reflect on incidents to help them to manage their emotions more effectively.

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

Staff respond to emerging concerns for children and carry out room searches when required. These searches are conducted in a manner that is respectful and promotes children’s privacy and dignity, while also ensuring that there is a proactive approach to safeguarding children’s physical and emotional wellbeing .

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

Children benefit from highly consistent routines and clear boundaries that provide them with stability and emotional security. Staff take a proactive and skilled approach to managing behaviour. They consistently act as positive role models and use everyday interactions to promote socially acceptable behaviour. This helps children to develop their confidence and understand their emotions better. As a result, there has been a reduction in the number of incidents.

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

Staff consistently promote positive behaviour through clear, fair and proportionate responses. Consequences are used appropriately and are clearly linked to the child’s behaviour. Staff support children to understand the reasons for rules and expectations and the impact of their behaviour on others. This approach helps children to feel safe and contributes to a reduction in incidents of challenging behaviour.

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

Staff manage children’s behaviours well and are consistent in their approach. De- escalation techniques are effective. Staff use creative strategies to help children when they are upset, which prevent incidents escalating. This helps children to safely manage conflict or difficult feelings. There has only been one incidence of a child being held since the last inspection. This was recorded correctly and staff debriefs were undertaken by an independent manager.

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

There has been a significant reduction in incidents of children going missing from the home. When such incidents do occur, staff respond swiftly and decisively, following procedures to secure children’s safe return. Staff make persistent efforts to maintain contact throughout missing episodes. They work closely with children to understand and Inspection report for children’s home: 2773192 5 address the underlying reasons for going missing, which has been highly effective in reducing further incidents. Records are of a high standard, providing clear, chronological accounts that detail actions taken and agencies notified.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has good oversight of the home. Team meetings and supervisions are held regularly and provide opportunities for staff reflection, with a clear focus on children’s needs. Practice issues are discussed and the expectations of staff are clearly set out. Staff are encouraged to use research to inform their practice in managing children’s behaviours.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager consistently monitors the quality of care provided to the children. She has established effective systems to maintain oversight of the home, allowing her to identify strengths and weaknesses. The manager and her deputy have a good understanding of the children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been recruitment issues, however, the current staff team cover shortfalls. This provides consistency for the children. Staff say they enjoy working in the home and feel supported by the manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff training is kept up to date and is relevant to the needs of children living in the home. Leaders have effective oversight of staff qualifications and professional development and are proactive in addressing shortfalls. One member of staff has not yet completed the required qualification for working in children’s residential care within the expected timescale, as identified at the previous inspection. Managers are taking appropriate action to monitor progress and support the staff member to complete the work .

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Strong partnership working supports children to make positive progress in all aspects of their development. Feedback from external agencies is positive, with staff praised for the quality of care provided. One social worker said, ‘[Name of child] has made fantastic progress whilst living in the home,’ and another said, ‘The progress [name of child] has made has been unbelievable.’ A headteacher said the home ‘consistently demonstrates a strong commitment to the young people in their care’. Inspection report for children’s home: 2773192 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 registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) ("the Level 3 Diploma"); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1st April 2014, 1st April 2016. (Regulation 32 (1) (3)(b) (4)(a)(b) (5)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that all staff who work in the home in a care role have obtained the appropriate qualification within timescales.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 30 June 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2773192 7

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Recommendation

 Staff must help each child to prepare for any moves from the home, whether they are moving to another placement, adult care or to live independently. This includes supporting the child to develop emotional and mental resilience to cope without the home’s support, and where the child is moving to live independently, practical skills such as cleaning, doing laundry and budgeting. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 17, paragraph 3.27)

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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: 2773192 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Yourcare (Northwest) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 64 St Georges Park, Kirkham PR4 2DZ

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Inspector

Nicola Jeffery, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2773192 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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