Children's Home run by Therapeutic Care Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2762095 1 Registered provider: Therapeutic Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private provider runs this home. The home provides care for up to 2 children who may experience emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living in the home. The child spoke to the inspectors.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has applied to register with Ofsted.

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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: 2762095 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/04/2025 Full Good 30/04/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2762095 3

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Summary of findings

Both children who have lived in this home during the inspection period have made good progress in most areas of their lives.

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Summary of findings

Children have access to a wide range of activities and are encouraged to maintain good links with their families and friends.

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Summary of findings

Children are well supported by staff and the manager, who have their best interests at heart.

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Summary of findings

The home is clean and comfortable, and thought has been given to how to create a sense of this being a family home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Moves into and out of the home are well planned and managed sensitively. One child has moved to live independently after thorough preparation by the staff and manager. Children who have moved out of the home have been able to maintain links with some staff members. This has enabled them to feel supported and continue to make progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has moved into the home. The manager ensured that consideration was given to the suitability of the home for the child and the ability of staff to meet their needs. The child has settled in well and has formed positive and trusting relationships with staff and managers. The child said, ‘I really like it here; it’s the best home I’ve lived in.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is valued, and the staff and the manager are aspirational for children. One child has been supported to attend college and to secure a part-time job. Staff a considerable distance to their school. This has allowed them to maintain peer relationships and links to their home area.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children with their health needs. Specialist referrals are made when needed, and children are encouraged to attend health appointments. Staff speak to children about health issues such as sexual health, contraception and the dangers of vaping. However, robust plans to actively prevent children from vaping have not been implemented in a timely manner.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to spend time in a safe way with those who are important to them. The child attends horseriding lessons accompanied by a family member, and their family dog also has a weekly sleepover. This enables the child to still feel part of their family and community and promotes typical childhood experiences. Inspection report for children’s home: 2762095 4 The home is a safe and welcoming environment. Children can personalise their bedrooms and choose soft furnishings and items for the home. Children have a say in how rooms in the home are used. A former chill-out room has now been repurposed into a beauty treatment room to reflect the child’s interests and wishes.

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

Staff have a good awareness of children’s needs and vulnerabilities. Staff form nurturing and supportive relationships with children. Staff help children understand how to stay safe. Regular welfare checks are completed when children are in the community, and appropriate monitoring of devices keeps children safe. This has all contributed to a significant reduction in missing-from-home episodes and exploitation risks for both children who have lived here.

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

Staff are given clear direction by the manager in comprehensive risk assessments. Staff manage incidents in the home in line with their training. Staff employ a range of techniques to avoid situations escalating. This gives children a sense of safety. There are positive routines in the home that are encouraged with the use of incentives. Negative consequences are rare, and when they are used, they are proportionate and necessary.

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

There is a strong therapeutic ethos in the home. The provider employs a therapy team that provides advice and guidance to staff about the best ways to work with the children. When children have low mood, staff offer nurturing support and reassurance. However, following self-harm or potential substance misuse incidents, staff do not always look in children’s bedrooms for items that could be potentially harmful.

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

There is a cohesive team of staff who want the best outcomes for children. They speak and write about children with warmth. This allows children to feel accepted and cared for. Staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities and know how to escalate concerns, including to external safeguarding partners. Recruitment of new staff has been completed safely. This limits the risk of unsuitable individuals working with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been significant changes in the leadership of the home. A new manager has been appointed who is suitably qualified. The previous manager has taken a new role in the company and remains involved in the running of the home to ensure that the new manager has a good handover. This has ensured consistency for the child and staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is supported by a committed staff team. Staff have regular and good- quality supervision sessions that allow them to reflect on their practice. Team meetings are held regularly and are used as a forum for learning and discussion. The organisation provides access to an employee assistance programme, and staff say they feel supported by the management team. This supports staff retention, which provides consistency for children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2762095 5 Leaders have ensured that staff have the skills to meet the needs of children. Most staff are experienced and qualified in residential childcare. New staff complete a robust induction before they are enrolled to complete a relevant qualification.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The management team has formed good working relationships with professionals and family members. Managers and staff are strong advocates for children, who are encouraged to express their feelings and wishes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The leadership team has good oversight and has a range of tools to monitor and improve the care provided. Visits from the independent person are regular and support the team to identify where improvements need to be made. However, children have not been regularly consulted by the independent person to obtain their views. Inspection report for children’s home: 2762095 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies; and

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff look in children’s rooms and remove harmful items after disclosures of self-harm or suspicions of substance misuse. 4 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; 4 June 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2762095 7 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

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans; and

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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)(a)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the use of vapes and electronic cigarettes by children is actively discouraged. Children must not use vapes or electronic cigarettes on the home’s premises.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that any individual appointed to carry out visits to the home as an independent person makes a rigorous and impartial assessment of the home’s arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children in the home’s care. This includes regularly speaking to children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 65, paragraph 15.5)

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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: 2762095 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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Inspectors

Eve Ostridge, Social Care Inspector Melanie Cotterill, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2762095 9 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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