Children's Home run by LUCID CO-OP HEALTHCARE LTD in Buckinghamshire

Inspection report for children's home: 2805163 1 Registered provider: LUCID CO-OP HEALTHCARE LTD

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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 privately owned home provides care for up to 3 children who experience emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, there were no children living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager and home registered with Ofsted on 5 August 2025.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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inadequate

There are serious and widespread failures that mean children are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded and the care and experiences of children are poor and they are not making progress.

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inadequate

Date of last inspection: 17 February 2026

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: Requires improvement to be good

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2805163 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/02/2026 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home: 2805163 3

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Summary of findings

The manager and staff have not provided effective and safe care to the child who has recently moved out. There are several shortfalls in practice and leadership, which has left the child at risk of serious harm. These shortfalls are widespread from recruitment of staff, through to their training and ongoing support and practice development, which has resulted in an extremely poor outcome for the child.

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Summary of findings

One child was left at serious risk of harm following the lack of action of staff on one occasion, which resulted in a child being at serious risk of harm. When there are concerns about a child the staff and the manager have failed to take effective action to ensure they are safeguarded.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

One child has recently moved out of the home. Staff had not provided the level of care, support and intervention required to meet their complex needs or to promote their safety, wellbeing and development. This resulted in the child being admitted to hospital and having an unplanned ending to their time in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The child did not make any progress during their time at the home. Their progress had been hindered by poor care planning for the child and staff not being able to meet their complex needs. The staff were unable to build good relationships with the child in order to help reduce risks for them to begin to make progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Behaviour management strategies were ineffective. Staff responses when the child was distressed were inconsistent and failed to establish clear boundaries. This undermined the child’s ability to understand expectations and build safe, respectful relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The child’s emotional needs were not consistently recognised or responded to. Their distress was not sufficiently explored or addressed, limiting opportunities for them to feel heard, understood and supported. On one occasion, when the child was distressed, the staff raised their voices and used inappropriate language. This caused further distress to the child and hinders the ability for the child to build trusting and meaningful relationships with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff do not demonstrate a consistent understanding of the child’s vulnerabilities, particularly in relation to self-harming behaviours and emotional distress. Interventions were largely reactive and observational, rather than proactive and therapeutic. The child was not supported to access education and accessed very few activities in the community. Consequently, the child did not receive the support they needed to make meaningful progress. Inspection report for children's home: 2805163 4 The home environment is not welcoming for children. It lacks personalisation across the home, including the child’s bedroom. There is a lack of lampshades in the property, and it lacks care and attention.

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

There are significant shortfalls in safeguarding practice, with both the manager and staff demonstrating a poor understanding of how to identify, respond to and manage safeguarding concerns effectively. Although training has reportedly been completed, this is not translating into safe, competent day-to-day practice.

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

A serious incident occurred in the home, which resulted in a child being at significant risk of harm. Staff did not follow the child’s plans and provided the child with a screwdriver, the child opened a window and jumped from the first floor out, despite being under close supervision. Staff failed to take the appropriate steps to ensure that the child was kept safe in the lead up to the incident. This incident has had a detrimental effect on the child’s emotional and mental health.

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

The manager failed to respond to allegations of harm, effectively leaving a child at risk of harm. A child reported injury and sustained bruising during inappropriate use of physical intervention, the manager failed to initiate or oversee an internal investigation. Appropriate external referrals were not made, demonstrating insufficient accountability or proactive safeguarding action.

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

Staff failed to recognise the risks for the child online. The child was significantly influenced by online material and interactions with strangers, which contributed to self- harming behaviours. Both staff and management did not implement appropriate safeguards or restrictions to minimise the risks associated with the child’s internet use. This left the child at risk of harm.

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

There are significant shortfalls in risk management. Risk assessments and care plans are not sufficiently detailed or effective, as they primarily identify risks without outlining clear, practical strategies to reduce harm or support behavioural change for the child. As a result, staff lacked clear guidance on how to respond to the child when they were upset or how to support them to develop safer coping mechanisms

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers do not have effective oversight and monitoring systems in place which has led to widespread weaknesses in practice. As a result of these serious and systemic failings, the child’s experiences were poor, their safety was compromised and their progress was significantly limited.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager does not seek to learn from incidents. Records of incidents are not effectively reviewed, and there is no evidence of reflective learning or improvements in Inspection report for children's home: 2805163 5 practice. This prevents the identification of patterns, reduces opportunities to mitigate risk and increases the likelihood of repeated poor practice experienced by children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Recording systems are poor and lack accuracy. Discrepancies between staff accounts, discussions with the manager and information shared with external professionals significantly undermine safeguarding processes. Inconsistent and unreliable records compromise the ability to assess risk, make informed decisions, and protect children from harm.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and management have failed to work collaboratively with wider external agencies, which has further contributed to significant shortcomings in safeguarding to protect the child from harm. Information including safeguarding concerns are not routinely shared with external agencies, including the local authority designated officer and Ofsted.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The staff team are not working in a child-centred way. Their lack of understanding of safeguarding procedures, legislation and regulatory requirements is having a direct and detrimental effect on their ability to prioritise children’s welfare and safety. Staff do not routinely seek to include the child in their own care planning to help them understand the risks for themselves and learn how to stay safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff practice is not sufficiently supported or developed. Supervision is inconsistent and lacks reflection, with little focus on improving practice or learning from incidents. Debriefs with both staff and the child are not routinely undertaken, meaning opportunities to understand behaviours and promote safer outcomes are lost.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Safer recruitment is significantly weak. There are gaps in checking employment history and having Disclosure and Barring Service checks completed on recruitment files. There is no evidence of any exploration as to why staff’s previous employment ended. No evidence or qualification checks or certificates are in files. These leaves children at risk of being cared for by unsuitable staff. Inspection report for children's home: 2805163 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, 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

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(e)(f)(g)(i)(h)) 20 July 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2805163 7 The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand, in a way that is appropriate according to the child’s age and understanding, personal, sexual and social relationships, and how those relationships can be supportive or harmful;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop the understanding and skills to recognise or withdraw from a damaging, exploitative or harmful relationship;

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Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child’s respect and trust;

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Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children;

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Requirement Due date

are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the 20 July 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2805163 8 behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same;

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Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(ix)(x)(b))

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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— that staff—

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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

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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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;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 12 (1)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(e)) 20 July 2026

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Requirement Due date

20 July 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2805163 9 The enjoyment and achievement standard is that children take part in and benefit from a variety of activities that meet their needs and develop and reflect their creative, cultural, intellectual, physical and social interests and skills.

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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

develop the child’s interests and hobbies;

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Requirement Due date

participate in activities that the child enjoys and which meet and expand the child’s interests and preferences; and

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Requirement Due date

make a positive contribution to the home and the wider community; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child has access to a range of activities that enable the child to pursue the child’s interests and hobbies.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 9 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. 20 July 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2805163 10 (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b)(3)(a)(b)(d))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the behaviour management policy”) which sets out—

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Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must keep the behaviour management policy under review and, where appropriate, revise it. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b) (2))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager must ensure that staff do not use punitive discipline that restricts a child’s movement, and use behaviour support in line with the home’s statement of purpose. 20 July 2026

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

treat each child with dignity and respect; 20 July 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2805163 11 provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect;

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Requirement Due date

make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice; (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(ix))

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5 (a)(d)) 20 July 2026

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Requirement Due date

If there is a referral of a person working in the home pursuant to section 35 (Regulated activity providers: duty to refer) of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006(1), the registered person must without delay notify— HMCI; the placing authority; and each other relevant person.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 40 (3)(a)(b)(c) (4)(b)(c)) 20 July 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2805163 12

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing, homely and supportive environment for children. Particularly, managers must ensure that children’s bedrooms are suitably maintained and personalised to the children’s wishes. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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: 2805163 13

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: LUCID CO-OP HEALTHCARE LTD

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2 Frederick Street, Kings Cross, London, United Kingdom WC1X 0ND

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Inspector

Shaheda Dhandia, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2805163 14 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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Inspector

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