Children's Home run by Barracare Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2647022 1 Registered provider: Barracare Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

A private company operates this home. The home is registered to provide care for up to 4 children who may have social and emotional difficulties. At the time of this inspection, there were 4 children being cared for at the home.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The inspector spoke to 3 children during the inspection.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2024.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2647022 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/07/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 11/03/2025 Full Inadequate 19/10/2023 Full Good 10/01/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2647022 3

p.2

Summary of findings

Four children live in the home. Most say they feel safe and happy. They benefit from positive experiences, are making good progress and have respectful relationships with each other and staff. Staff understand children’s needs and respond appropriately to changing risks to help keep them safe from harm.

p.3

Summary of findings

One child chose not to speak with the inspector and is due to leave the home following a best-interests decision. Although this child has made progress from their starting point, their overall experience has been less consistent than that of other children.

p.3

Summary of findings

An experienced and suitably qualified manager leads the home.

p.3

Summary of findings

Several areas for improvement were identified at this inspection. These include ensuring that children’s privacy and dignity are consistently respected and that appropriate independence is actively promoted. Children have not consistently received support from specialist health professionals to help them understand their historical health needs and the impact of trauma. In addition, staff do not yet have the necessary skills to effectively support a child who has experienced trauma, in accordance with the home’s statement of purpose.

p.3

Summary of findings

The manager does not consistently challenge the quality of reports completed by the independent person, and records of staff working in the home lack sufficient clarity. Collectively, these shortfalls weaken monitoring and oversight arrangements, limiting opportunities to drive consistent improvement in practice and enhance the overall quality of care provided to children.

p.3

improvement to be good

The majority of children feel happy and settled in the home. All children are making progress from their starting points, including improved health and education outcomes.

p.3

improvement to be good

The home environment is warm, welcoming and personalised to reflect children’s individuality. Shared areas provide sufficient space for children to relax and engage in preferred activities, including access to a snug. However, bedroom door sensors are in place and are not clearly aligned to children’s individual needs. This compromises children’s privacy and dignity.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff generally promote children’s independence in their daily routines and support them to complete household tasks. However, due to one child’s assessed risks, access to clean clothing is restricted. This impacts on the child’s confidence and self-esteem and does not consistently support their independence or wellbeing. Inspection report for children’s home: 2647022 4 Staff support children to attend routine health appointments and access necessary medical care. However, although referrals have been made to specialist services, such as child and adolescent mental health services and smoking cessation support, some children refuse to engage. This means their emerging mental health needs are not sufficiently assessed or understood. In addition, one child’s historical medical needs were not appropriately referred to the relevant services. As a result, not all children’s physical and emotional wellbeing needs are fully identified and met.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children are supported to move into the home with effective planning. Risks, including the impact on other children, are carefully considered and recorded. One child has moved into the house since the last inspection and will soon be moving on. This decision has been made in their best interests and is being carefully planned. However, information at the point of moving in was not fully considered to ensure staff could meet the child’s trauma-related needs, limiting their ability to provide consistent and informed care.

p.4

improvement to be good

Staff encourage children to take part in a variety of activities that reflect their interests, and they encourage them to try new experiences. Some children have enjoyed their first trip to the beach.

p.4

improvement to be good

Staff help children to improve relationships with their families and friends. Staff travel long distances with children to ensure they are safe when away from home. As a result, children enjoy spending increased positive and meaningful time with the people who are important to them.

p.4

improvement to be good

Staff prioritise children’s education. Some children have full attendance and are making progress beyond expectations. When children experience difficulties with attendance or engagement, staff work proactively with education professionals, including the virtual headteacher, to improve outcomes. When children are not accessing formal education, staff provide structured opportunities for informal learning, such as educational visits and physical activity, to support their development.

p.4

improvement to be good

Most children say they feel safe living in the home. When children go missing from home, staff take prompt and appropriate action to locate them and work with external agencies, including the police and the missing-from-home team, to promote their safety. Staff complete follow-up work to help children understand the risks associated with going missing and to explore their views and experiences. The manager maintains oversight of these incidents and reflects on staff practice. This supports a coordinated approach to safeguarding children.

p.4

improvement to be good

Children’s risk management and safety plans are individualised and up to date. These identify known vulnerabilities, including self-harm and risks arising from poor hygiene, Inspection report for children’s home: 2647022 5 and provide clear guidance for staff to help keep children safe. However, known triggers for children’s distress and strategies for staff to follow are not sensitive to children’s past trauma. Children are supported through direct work to understand how to keep themselves safe. Their views are captured, including when they choose not to engage.

p.4

improvement to be good

Staff respond promptly to children’s disclosures, including those relating to suicide, self- harm and abuse. They take appropriate safeguarding action, including seeking medical attention, completing welfare checks and liaising with relevant professionals. This helps to keep children safe and supported at times of vulnerability. However, room searches are not always conducted sensitively, which has caused distress to children and does not consistently promote their sense of safety and wellbeing.

p.5

improvement to be good

Staff prioritise structure, routine and de-escalation approaches, meaning that incidents are rare for the majority of children. Physical intervention is rarely used, and when it is, it is proportionate and necessary and the manager provides oversight.

p.5

improvement to be good

Children generally experience positive relationships with staff. They receive regular praise and benefit from incentives where appropriate to reinforce positive behaviour, such as additional pocket money or personalised rewards, including gaming vouchers, dessert vouchers or items linked to individual interests.

p.5

improvement to be good

The use of consequences is rare, which supports children to manage their emotions more effectively. However, when consequences are used, these are not consistently recorded. This limits the manager’s ability to maintain effective oversight and evaluate the appropriateness and impact of practice.

p.5

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

There is an experienced registered manager in post, who has a clear vision for the children and the development of the staff team. She is a strong advocate for improving children’s experiences and speaks proudly of their progress.

p.5

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

There is now a stable team of staff who work well together. The manager has improved the consistency of staff working in the home. This means that children are cared for by staff who know them well and provide support that promotes their safety, emotional wellbeing and stability. However, staff rosters do not clearly record who has worked in the home.

p.5

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

The manager supports staff through regular supervision and annual appraisal, which staff report as valuable for their professional development and wellbeing. Team meetings are well attended and used effectively to share information about children.

p.5

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

Staff complete a range of training to meet children’s needs. However, not all staff have completed specific training to support children who have experienced trauma, in accordance with the home’s statement of purpose. Inspection report for children’s home: 2647022 6 The manager has effective monitoring systems in place and uses these to identify good practice and address shortfalls. However, she has not consistently challenged the independent person when reports lack clarity or when visits are predominantly announced. Inspection report for children’s home: 2647022 7

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.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

p.7

Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

p.7

Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

p.7

Requirement Due date

treat each child with dignity and respect;

p.7

Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult;

p.7

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; 7 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2647022 8 ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

p.7

Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home;

p.8

Requirement Due date

that the care is approved, and kept under review throughout its duration, by the placing authority;

p.8

Requirement Due date

that the care is delivered by a person who—

p.8

Requirement Due date

has the experience, knowledge and skills to deliver that care; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

is under the supervision of a person who is appropriately skilled and qualified to supervise that care. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(ix) (3)(a)(b)(c)(i)(ii))

p.8

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff do not enter children’s bedrooms without their consent unless there is an immediate risk of injury or damage to property.

p.8

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that internal surveillance on children’s bedrooms is necessary and proportionate.

p.8

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure children have independent access to clean clothing.

p.8

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children’s plans contain strategies for staff to follow which are appropriate for a child who has experienced trauma.

p.8

Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; 7 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2647022 9 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.8

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;

p.9

Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well-being;

p.9

Requirement Due date

that each child has access to such dental, medical, nursing, psychiatric and psychological advice, treatment and other services as the child may require. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(ii)(iv)(c))

p.9

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that appropriate referrals to relevant health professionals are made on behalf of children who have experienced incontinence, self-harm and suicidal ideation.

p.9

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.9

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.9

Requirement Due date

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

p.9

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;

p.9

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c))

p.9

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff have the necessary skills to care for a child who has experienced trauma, in accordance with the home’s statement of purpose. 7 August 2026

p.9

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that— 7 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2647022 10 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—

p.9

Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(vii))

p.10

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the use of consequences is recorded. Leaders and managers must ensure that they review their effectiveness.

p.10

Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4;

p.10

Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are kept up to date; and

p.10

Requirement Due date

retain the records for at least 15 years from the date of the last entry. (Regulation 37 (2)(a)(b)(c))

p.10

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure the staff duty roster records full names of persons working at the home and a record of the actual rosters worked. 7 August 2026

p.10

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

p.10

Requirement Due date

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

p.10

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.10

Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

p.10

Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being. (Regulation 44 (1)(3)(4)(a)(b))

p.10

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must appropriately challenge the independent person when their visits are mostly announced and reports do not provide sufficient details of incidents. 7 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2647022 11

p.10

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: 2647022 12

p.11

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2 The Limes, Barkerhouse Road, Nelson BB9 9NL

p.12

Inspector

Samantha Cooper, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2647022 13 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.12

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 . 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.13

Inspector

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

p.13

Inspector

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

p.13