Children's Home run by Springcroft Homes Ltd in Lancashire

Inspection report for children's home: 2815209 1 Registered provider: Springcroft Homes Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children's home

This home is owned and managed by a private company. It is registered to provide care for up to 2 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children's home

There was one child living in the home at the time of this inspection. The inspector spoke with the child living in the home.

p.1

Information about this children's home

The manager of the home has been registered with Ofsted since the home opened in May 2025.

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 requires improvement to be good

p.1

good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 11 November 2025

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection : none Inspection report for children's home: 2815209 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/11/2025 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2815209 3

p.2

Summary of findings

The manager and team provide good-quality care to the child living in the home. The child is settled and making good progress.

p.3

Summary of findings

The child is supported by a staff team that has the skills and knowledge to build meaningful relationships, promotes the child's welfare and brings about positive and sustained change.

p.3

Summary of findings

Some shortfalls were identified in the manager's systems for reviewing the quality of care in the home. However, these have not impacted on the standard of care provided to the child.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have built strong and trusting relationships with the child living in the home. The team has taken the time to understand the child's likes and interests, which has helped to develop trust and emotional security. The staff team and manager are consistently child focused. This has resulted in the child feeling safe and valued and confident in sharing their views.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff and the manager recognise the importance of promoting the child's health needs. The child is registered with all relevant health professionals, and all appointments have been attended. Staff hold open and sensitive discussions with the child about personal and delicate topics, helping them to feel comfortable speaking about their health. The team also promotes the child's independence by supporting them to book their own appointments and communicate directly with professionals.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child living in the home is making progress in their education. Staff support them to engage in learning, and although they are not currently accessing full-time education, they are participating well in tutoring within the home and are preparing to sit exams this year. The manager has been proactive in challenging the local authority and has taken clear steps to ensure that securing a full-time educational placement remains a priority.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff and the manager recognise that the child currently has a limited social network. The team has been proactive in identifying activities and groups to help address this, although these efforts have not been successful. Despite this, staff provide the child with a wide range of activities that reflect their likes, skills and interests. The child said they enjoy the activities offered and appreciate the time staff take to find things they will like. As a result, the child feels heard, valued and well cared for. Inspection report for children's home: 2815209 4 The therapeutic support that is delivered within the home is having a positive impact for the child. Weekly sessions with a trained professional have allowed the child to build their self-confidence and discuss difficult topics. Additionally, the team has received specific training for supporting the child, such as PACE (Playfulness, Acceptance,

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Curiosity and Empathy) model of care, positive boundary setting and motivational interviewing.

p.4

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

Safeguarding practice in the home is effective. Risk assessments are in place for all known risks, with clear strategies that staff understand and implement consistently. This has resulted in a reduction in risk for the child.

p.4

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

Incidents are clearly recorded, with staff detailing what occurred and the actions taken. Staff complete follow-up work with the child, and the manager has oversight. However, the manager has not reported significant safeguarding incidents to the regulator.

p.4

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

Physical interventions are infrequent. Staff manage the child's behaviour well and use positive behaviour management approaches when needed. A key strength of the team is its ability to build strong relationships with the child, enabling it to address challenging behaviour in a way that works for the child and ensures that boundaries are respected.

p.4

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

The manager has ensured that the staff team has completed all relevant training to keep the child safe and meet their needs consistently. As a result, staff have been able to carry out meaningful work with the child, leading to a significant reduction in all areas of risk.

p.4

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

The team has a good understanding of online safety. Effective safety measures are in place to ensure that the child cannot access inappropriate material on their devices. Staff complete regular checks of the child's devices and are knowledgeable about what to look for.

p.4

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

There is a registered manager in place who is passionate and cares for the child living in the home. The manager has high regard for the team and high aspirations for the child.

p.4

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

The home does not display the characteristics of good leadership and management. There are shortfalls in the systems used to monitor the quality of care. Although this has not impacted on the care provided to the child, it creates the potential for both positive and poor practice to go unnoticed.

p.4

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

Staff are not currently receiving regular good-quality supervision. Although the staff team members say that they feel supported by the manager, there is limited evidence to demonstrate that this support is consistent. This is a missed opportunity to show that staff are being given space to reflect on the emotional impact of their work Inspection report for children's home: 2815209 5 Regular visits to the home are completed by an independent visitor. However, the quality of these visits is poor. Not all reports have been submitted to the regulator within the required timescales, and those provided lack evaluation and clear actions.

p.4

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

The provider has completed a review of the quality of care. However, it is of poor quality and lacks evaluation and feedback. This lack of reflection on practice means that leaders and managers do not have the information needed to fully understand the child's experiences and progress.

p.5

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

The manager has ensured that the home environment is safe and that maintenance issues are addressed appropriately. However, the home appears tired in some areas and, although clean and well maintained, lacks the personal touches needed to create a warm and homely setting. Inspection report for children's home: 2815209 6

p.5

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.

p.6

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—

p.6

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

p.6

Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

p.6

Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

p.6

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)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h))

p.6

Requirement Due date

Specifically, that the registered manager has robust monitoring and reviewing systems in place to ensure that they have good oversight of the running of the home, allowing them to continue to provide a good level of care to children. 2 July 2026

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— 2 July 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2815209 7 a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

p.6

Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

p.7

Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child —

p.7

Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

p.7

Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(d)(i)(ii)(e))

p.7

Requirement Due date

Specifically, that the registered manager must notify Ofsted of any incidents as outlined above.

p.7

Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

p.7

Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home's records (except for a child's case records, unless the child and the child's placing authority consent) as the independent person requires.

p.7

Requirement Due date

A visit by the independent person to the home may be unannounced.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit ("the independent person's report") which sets out, in particular, the independent person's opinion as to whether—

p.7

Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children's well-being.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person's report to— 2 July 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2815209 8 HMCI. (Regulation 44 (2)(a)(b) (3) (4)(a)(b) (7)(a))

p.7

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that the independent person who completes the visit has a clear understanding of The Children's Homes (England) Regulations (2015). The independent person must review children's care plans, with their consent, and incident records in the home. They must clearly state their opinion about whether children are effectively safeguarded and their wellbeing promoted, and must send their report to Ofsted within 28 days of the visit.

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months.

p.8

Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

p.8

Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

p.8

Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children's home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

p.8

Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review ("the quality of care review report").

p.8

Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home. 2 July 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2815209 9 The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5))

p.8

Requirement Due date

Specifically, that the registered manager must produce a review of the quality of care provided to children. The review must be evaluative of the care being provided and contain clear actions for the home and the impact of these for children. It must also contain clear feedback from children, family, external professionals and the staff team.

p.9

Recommendation

 The registered manager should ensure that the house is decorated and maintained to provide a homely environment to the children living in it. (Guide to the children's homes regulations, including the quality standards', page 15, paragraph 3.9)

p.9

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: 2815209 10

p.9

Children's home details

Registered provider: Springcroft Homes Ltd

p.10

Children's home details

Registered provider address: 55 Hemsworth Road, Manchester M18 7SE

p.10

Children's home details

Registered manager: Silethokuhle Zinyemba

p.10

Inspector

Rose Maddocks, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2815209 11 regulates and inspects to 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.

p.10

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 .

p.11

Inspector

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.11

Inspector

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

p.11

Inspector

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

p.11