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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2857870 1 Registered provider: SBL CARE SERVICES (UK) Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private provider operates this home. It provides care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered with Ofsted in 2025.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager was on annual leave for the inspection.

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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

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: 2857870 2

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Summary of findings

The child has settled into the home and is building positive relationships with the staff team. They are well supported by staff through regular direct work, which is helping the child understand the importance of attending health appointments and eating a balanced diet.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has lived in the home since it was registered. The manager undertook a detailed assessment to understand the needs of the child before they moved in.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is well maintained and in keeping with a family home, with photos of the child displayed throughout. The child has helped to personalise their room. Staff say they have seen the child grow in confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s engagement in education is encouraged by staff who have taken the time to understand the child’s barriers to learning. Staff have supported the child to work with a tutor in the home. However, a more structured approach to education is needed as they move towards the child’s return to full-time education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s health is promoted by staff, and the child has made progress with personal care routines. When the child has been worried about attending health appointments, staff have used helpful resources to help ease the child’s fears. This includes conversations centred on helping the child to understand what will happen during a pending operation.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is supported by staff to learn about the importance of eating a balanced diet and taking regular exercise. As a result, the child has been trying a wider variety of foods.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has taken part in a range of activities, such as trips to local parks, beaches and ice cream parlours.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of family time. The child is supported to stay connected with family members. Staff are responsive to the child’s culture and identity. They have encouraged the use of the Quran, and planned festival celebrations such as Ramadan and EID.

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

Safeguarding practice in the home is effective. Positive behaviour is promoted, and staff have a good understanding of the child’s behaviours and are consistent in their Inspection report for children’s home: 2857870 3 responses to these. Risk and behaviour management plans are regularly reviewed. The child’s risks have reduced as they have become more settled in the home.

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

Staff understand the risks that the internet poses for the child. The child has access to a games console headset that they use to play games online, which is monitored by staff every day. However, the manager has not ensured this is suitably risk assessed or set out clear expectations for staff to manage any risks. A recommendation has been made to address this.

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

Staff understand their roles and responsibilities and know what action to take in the event of any child protection concerns, including if the child goes missing from home.

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

When the child moved into the home, staff ensured that they took part in a fire evacuation. Weekly fire checks are completed. Additionally, staff supported the child to complete an online fire-safety course to understand in more detail the dangers of fire.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and responsible individual were absent from the home during the inspection. Another leader oversaw the inspection. There is a suitable and fully staffed team in place. Staff say they enjoy working in the home and they feel listened to and valued.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers and staff use electronic recording systems in the home. However, not all records were available during the inspection, including supervision records. Therefore, the quality of supervision is not clear, nor is the management oversight of the frequency and effectiveness of supervision.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff spoke about receiving a good-quality induction, and they have completed a range of training, such as county lines, attachment and child development. However, staff have not completed training in relation to knife crime and weapons, despite this being a previous risk for the child. An online course was identified during the inspection for staff to complete.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Regular team meetings take place; the minutes of these are detailed and reflective. The manager upskills staff by facilitating workshops, which include topics such as the inspection framework, teamwork and research-based practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Feedback from professionals was positive. One professional said that the child is making good progress and that they feel safe and get on well with the staff team. Inspection report for children’s home: 2857870 4

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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

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

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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)(b) (2) (c)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the manager ensuring that all records are accessible in the home and that all staff have completed training in knives and weapons. 10 July 2026

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff continually and actively assess the risks to the child when they are using their gaming console and that there are suitable written arrangements in place to protect them. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)  The registered person should ensure that staff work closely with the placing authority so that the child is supported and enabled to resume full-time education as soon as possible. In the interim, the child should be supported to sustain or regain their confidence in education and be engaged in suitable structured activities. These activities should be robustly reflected in the child’s daily planner. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.15) Inspection report for children’s home: 2857870 5

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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: 2857870 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: SBL CARE SERVICES (UK) Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Jessica Bowler-Hargreaves

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Inspector

Judith Birchall, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2857870 7 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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