Children's Home run by Chrysalis Children Services Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2850414 1 Registered provider: Chrysalis Children Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in November 2025 and is owned and managed by a private organisation. It provides 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, one child was living at the home. The inspector spoke to the child during the visit.

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Information about this children’s home

The post for a registered manager is vacant.

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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 requires improvement to be 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: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2850414 2

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Summary of findings

The child has been supported in moving to the home in a child-focused manner. Their overall needs are well understood and met.

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Summary of findings

The absence of the registered manager and the recent absence of the director have created instability in the management team. This has not affected the quality of the care the child receives. However, the leadership and management of the home are compromised.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child experienced a well-planned move into the home. The child had the opportunity to visit the home before moving in. This allowed them to familiarise themselves with the home and express any concerns they might have had.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff build trusting relationships with the child. They spend time getting to know the child and taking part in activities based on their interests. This helps the child feel valued and lets them know that what matters to them is important.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is warm and welcoming. It is decorated and furnished to a good standard. The child is encouraged to contribute to decisions about the home environment, which includes personalising their bedroom to reflect their preferences. This provides the child with a sense of belonging and acceptance.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child receives support in managing their physical health needs. They are registered with primary health services and are encouraged to attend routine and specialist appointments. Staff have spoken to the child about the importance of good dental hygiene and have purchased items to guide the child on how to improve their oral health. These measures ensure that the child’s health and wellbeing are promoted.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff prioritise the child’s learning and development. They advocate for the child to attend a school that meets their specific needs. Leaders, managers and staff ensure that when the child is not at school, they have access to a tutor and can participate in field trips to places such as museums to broaden their knowledge.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is encouraged to express their views about the day-to-day care they receive. One of these ways is through frequent children’s meetings. Although the child was provided with information on how to raise complaints when they moved into the home, the complaints process is not regularly discussed with them. This means that leaders, managers and staff are uncertain regarding the child’s knowledge of this process should they wish to raise a complaint. Inspection report for children’s home: 2850414 3

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

Staff understand their role and responsibilities to safeguard children. Staff practice is informed by detailed risk assessments that, in the main, guide staff on what action they should take to reduce the risk of incidents occurring and how to respond when they do. However, a safeguarding measure regarding room searches lacks a clear indication of when to carry them out. This does not guarantee that the safeguarding response will be consistent.

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

Incident records are detailed. They are routinely reviewed by leaders and managers and include reflections with staff and the child to understand if there are any staff support needs and to improve staff practice.

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

Leaders and managers ensure that safer recruitment processes are followed. Pre- employment checks are carried out, and references are scrutinised to ensure that only staff who are safe and appropriate work with children.

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

The home is well maintained. Health and safety checks are carried out regularly to ensure that the physical environment is safe for children.

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

Physical interventions are rare. They are used proportionately and as a last resort to keep the child safe. Following incidents, debriefs take place with the child and staff. This helps ensure that the child’s thoughts and feelings inform future practice and that any learning and development for staff are identified.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Since the home’s registration, there have been several changes to the management structure. The post for a registered manager is now vacant. As a result, the responsible individual has increased her presence in the home. The deputy manager is supporting the responsible individual with day-to-day oversight. Additionally, the director, who provided direct support for the responsible individual, is no longer part of the organisation. These changes create instability in the management team and compromise the effectiveness of leadership and management in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Monitoring and review systems are not always used effectively. The use of monitoring devices in the home has not been appropriately assessed and reviewed to ensure that it is proportionate and respects the child’s right to privacy. In addition, supervision documents for one member of staff have not been signed. There was also a delay in staff receiving needs-led training.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Team meetings take place regularly and are well attended. They are child focused and used by leaders and managers to ensure that there is an agreed and shared understanding of management expectations regarding the quality of care that the child receives. Inspection report for children’s home: 2850414 4 Staff rotas are unclear. They do not consistently include details of when the former registered manager worked in the home. Consequently, it is unclear if staff were appropriately supervised and supported during these periods.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff speak highly about the support that they receive from leaders and managers. Their individual support needs are understood and managed well. Staff routinely receive formal supervision to encourage reflection and identify where practice requires strengthening.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Leaders and managers have formed positive relationships with external agencies. The child’s social worker commended the team of staff, describing them as ‘good advocates’ for the child, particularly around their education. The staff team has also been praised for helping the child to make progress. Inspection report for children’s home: 2850414 5

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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 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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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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)(a)(c)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that needs-led training is identified and delivered to staff before children move into the home or soon after the training need is identified.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that supervision documents are signed by the supervisor and supervisee. 15 July 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home; and

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Requirement Due date

is an organisation or a partnership. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)(b)(i)) 15 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2850414 6 The registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4. (Regulation 37 (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that rotas include details of all staff who have worked in the home. This should include the registered manager and any staff who no longer work there. 15 July 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children;

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Requirement Due date

the child’s placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance;

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Requirement Due date

so far as reasonably practicable in the light of the child’s age and understanding, the child is informed in advance of the intention to do the monitoring or surveillance; and

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy.

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Requirement Due date

This regulation is subject to any monitoring or surveillance requirements imposed by a court. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(b)(c)(d) (2)) 15 July 2026

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that in addition to being provided with the children’s guide, which includes details of how they can raise complaints, children are routinely reminded of the complaints process. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 24, paragraph 4.22)  The registered person should ensure that risk management plans clearly outline the timing of room searches following significant incidents. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5) Inspection report for children’s home: 2850414 7

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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: 2850414 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Chrysalis Children Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Office 1a, Ribble Court, 1 Mead Way, Padiham, Burnley, Lancashire BB12 7NG

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Inspector

Chibuzo Otache, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2850414 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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Inspector

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