Children's Home run by Therapeutic Care Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2818434 1 Registered provider: Therapeutic Care Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home registered with Ofsted in December 2024 and is operated by a private company. It is registered to provide care 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 at the home. Both children spoke to the inspector.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has left. An interim manager has been appointed and been in post since 7 May 2026.

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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: 2818434 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/05/2025 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2818434 3

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Summary of findings

Children make good progress from their starting points. Children’s learning and development are encouraged, and staff promote hobbies and activities in line with children’s interests.

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Summary of findings

Recording of incidents involving children being held by staff lacks sufficient detail, and staff did not seek updated health advice and review for one child in a timely way.

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Summary of findings

In the absence of a registered manager, suitable management oversight has been maintained by the deputy manager, responsible individual and another registered manager from within the organisation.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has lived in the home for over a year. The child is settled and making progress in many aspects of their life. Another child moved into the home on an emergency basis, and due to some issues with communication, the move was not fully planned. However, the manager considered all available information to determine whether the home could meet the child’s needs as well as considering the skills and experience of the staff. The decision to move the child into the home was deemed to be in their best interests.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Family time is actively supported and encouraged. Staff work proactively with children’s families and involved professionals to ensure that children spend time with people who are important to them. This supports children’s sense of identity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are understood, and staff ensure that they are registered with all relevant health services. However, there has been a delay in obtaining a health review and professional advice despite a child continuing to experience some difficulties relating to an identified health concern.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff consistently promote children’s education. They work closely with education professionals to ensure that children are supported to engage in their learning and, when necessary, to secure educational placements that are well matched to children’s needs. As a result, one child is now attending a school suited to their needs and another child has an individualised plan to support a gradual reintegration to school.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to engage in hobbies and activities that reflect their individual interests. Staff provide opportunities for children to discuss meal plans and activities for the week ahead. As a result, children feel listened to and are actively engaged in decisions that shape their daily lives. One social worker said, ‘[Name of child] is thriving, and this is as a direct result of the work that the staff at the home has been doing.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 2818434 4 Children live in a warm, comfortable environment. Their photos are displayed proudly throughout the home. They are given the opportunity to personalise their bedrooms and are involved in making decisions about their home. This gives them a sense of belonging.

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

Children’s safety and wellbeing are at the heart of staff practice. The staff have built trusting relationships with children and have regular discussions about important issues such as emotional wellbeing, staying safe and making positive choices.

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

Staff ensure that children are provided with clear routines and boundaries and encourage positive behaviours through reward charts and incentives. Staff spend time with children to help them understand appropriate behaviour, showing curiosity, and children understand why any consequences are necessary. This helps children to express their emotions in healthier ways.

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

Physical intervention is used as a last resort to keep children safe. Staff are trained in physical intervention and de-escalation techniques. The manager’s oversight of physical intervention records is evaluative. However, there was one instance where the recording did not provide enough detail about the intervention used. This limits the ability to fully assess the appropriateness and effectiveness of the response.

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

The manager ensures that risk management plans for children are in place that identify relevant risks and outline strategies to help staff to keep children safe. However, in some areas, they lack some detail that would support staff practice and ensure consistent responses. Despite this, staff responses to incidents show that staff have a clear understanding of children’s needs and vulnerabilities.

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

Staff recruitment is safe and ensures that only suitable individuals work with children. Most staff are aware of their safeguarding responsibilities and how to escalate any safeguarding concerns. However, this knowledge is not fully embedded with newer staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The interim manager has been promoted from within the organisation and has progressed an application to register with Ofsted. Throughout this period, another registered manager and the responsible individual have provided additional support with the day-to-day running of the home. One staff member said, ‘They are both incredibly supportive and go above and beyond for the staff and children.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have access to a wide range of training opportunities. This ensures that staff are equipped with the skills and confidence to respond to children effectively. New members of staff complete an induction before being enrolled on the recognised childcare qualification. Inspection report for children’s home: 2818434 5 Staff receive regular supervision sessions and appraisals to support their professional development. Supervision sessions provide an opportunity for staff to discuss children’s needs and progress, as well as their own training and development needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings provide regular opportunities for staff to discuss children’s needs, review care plans and monitor progress. The organisation’s therapist attends meetings, providing opportunities to reflect on incidents and explore any challenges arising for staff. This supports staff in developing a deeper understanding of the children’s needs and reinforces consistency in the care being afforded.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staffing shortages are managed effectively. Leaders and managers prioritise the use of familiar staff from other homes in the company to ensure that the children continue to receive consistent care, which promotes stability.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has systems in place to monitor the quality of care provided. Leaders and managers use these to evaluate the children’s progress and identify staff development to ensure that the children’s needs are well met. Inspection report for children’s home: 2818434 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

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that when physical intervention is used, staff clearly record the duration of restraint. 25 June 2026

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff take appropriate action to secure additional health advice and review in response to children’s identified and emerging health needs. 25 June 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2818434 7

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that reactive strategies for managing children’s behaviours are clearly outlined in risk management plans and behaviour support plans to inform staff practice. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)  The registered person should ensure that individual adults in the home are engaged in the safeguarding culture of the home so they understand what they would need to do if they found other staff misusing or abusing their position to the detriment of the safety of a child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.14)  The registered person should ensure that there is effective planning undertaken before introducing children to the home and that this is done in a way that maintains stability for existing children. The registered person should ensure that staff establish

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Recommendations

key information about the child and the expectations of their care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 57, paragraph 11.8)

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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: 2818434 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Therapeutic Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Errigal House, Avroe Crescent, Blackpool FY4 2DP

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Inspector

Shauna Morley, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2818434 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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