Children's Home run by Therapeutic Care Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children's home: 2850006 1 Registered provider: Therapeutic Care Limited

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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, 2 children were living at the home. One child spoke to the inspectors during the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager and the home registered with Ofsted in December 2025. The provider has recently appointed a new responsible individual, and Ofsted is currently checking that this person has the relevant capacity, experience and skills to carry out the role.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

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

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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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.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children's home: 2850006 2

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Summary of findings

There have been a number of challenges during this inspection period. The leadership and management of the home have not been of a good standard, and there have been some shortfalls in staff practice.

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Summary of findings

There has been an inconsistent response from staff to some of the children’s needs, and this has limited some aspects of children’s progress.

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Summary of findings

Improvements have started to be made. However, they are not yet fully embedded.

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improvement to be good

There have been 2 children who have moved in since the home was first registered. While there was some planning for the moves, full consideration was not given to the suitability of the children to live together or the skills and abilities of the staff team. This has led to some challenges. However, the children continue to live in the home and are making some progress.

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improvement to be good

The staff team has formed positive relationships with people who are important to the children. Children spend time with friends in the community, and regular checks are completed to ensure that they are safe. Children’s time with some family members has been supported and encouraged. However, the manager has not challenged a lack of meaningful family time between brothers and sisters in a timely manner.

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improvement to be good

Children’s health needs are understood by staff. Children are supported to access routine appointments and are given encouragement when they are reluctant to attend. Staff and the manager seek advice from medical professionals about how to sensitively manage any conditions that children may have. Staff provide support and education to children to make healthier choices.

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improvement to be good

Staff support children to receive education. When any issues or concerns arise, the manager works with education professionals to seek solutions. Children are encouraged to be ambitious for their futures, with one child recently sitting a functional skills exam.

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improvement to be good

The home is a safe environment for children. When damage is caused, it is repaired quickly. Children can personalise their bedrooms by choosing paint colours and helping to decorate. Inspection report for children's home: 2850006 3

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improvement to be good

Staff have some understanding of children’s needs and vulnerabilities. Children are generally kept safe. However, clear guidance is not always given to staff about how to manage concerns. This means that staff do not respond consistently to incidents and concerns, which creates uncertainty for both staff and children.

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improvement to be good

The provider employs a therapy team that provides advice and guidance to staff about the best ways to work with the children. However, this guidance is not always followed by staff during incidents.

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improvement to be good

Staff often defuse incidents in line with their training and the therapeutic ethos of the home. However, there have been occasions when the use of inflammatory language has exacerbated or prolonged incidents. Furthermore, the language used in recordings does not always suggest staff understand the underlying reasons for children’s behaviours.

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improvement to be good

Staff know how to escalate concerns, including to external safeguarding partners. When allegations are made, the provider usually follows robust protocols and procedures, and thorough investigations are completed. However, there has been one occasion when comments made by a child have not been treated as an allegation. This led to a delay in the manager following the correct procedures.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers ensure that safe recruitment processes are in place across the organisation. However, in one case, it is unclear if the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificate had been seen for a new member of staff. This limits the manager’s ability to fully assess their suitability to work with children.

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improvement to be good

Missing-from-home episodes are generally managed well. Staff work with other agencies to try to locate children and return them home. There has been a reduction in missing- from-home episodes for one child since moving into the home.

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

The manager is child centred and wants children to do well. However, they are relatively inexperienced, and a lack of effective support and guidance from senior managers has contributed to the shortfalls identified.

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

The level of managerial oversight of incidents and recording on children’s files is inconsistent. The manager does not always actively challenge staff when practice falls short of expected standards.

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

There have been significant changes to the staff team since the home opened. However, the team is now starting to stabilise, and staff appear committed to the children. Inspection report for children's home: 2850006 4 Leaders moved a new child into the home without sufficient permanent staff to care for them. This created some instability for children and contributed to one child becoming increasingly unsettled.

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

The manager has formed positive working relationships with professionals involved in the children’s care. Staff and the manager advocate for children, and they are encouraged to share their feelings and wishes.

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

There have been some changes in the management team, and a new responsible individual has been appointed. There is a sense of optimism among the manager and the staff team. Senior managers have completed a comprehensive evaluation of the care afforded to children. Areas for improvement have been identified, and a plan to embed changes has been formulated. Inspection report for children's home: 2850006 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 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

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;

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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)(v)(vi)(vii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that all staff, including managers, follow the correct processes in a timely manner when allegations are made against staff.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that risk assessment documents give clear and effective guidance to staff on how to manage children’s needs and vulnerabilities. 26 June 2026

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on— 10 June 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2850006 6 mutual respect and trust;

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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—

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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

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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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

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

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(ix)(xi)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that family time is promoted and encouraged for children with those who are important to them.

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Requirement Due date

Additionally, the registered person must ensure that staff use therapeutic methods, in accordance with children’s plans, when Inspection report for children's home: 2850006 7 seeking to de-escalate incidents in the home. Furthermore, language used in recordings should not stigmatise or label children.

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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

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; 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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that incidents and developments in the home are evaluated fully and any learning from these is taken into consideration when making improvements to the care afforded to children. Any shortfalls in staff practice should be addressed in a timely manner.

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Requirement Due date

Additionally, the registered person must ensure that recording on children’s files is accurate and fully reflective of any actions taken by staff during incidents. 10 June 2026

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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 if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3). 10/07/2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2850006 8 The requirements are that—

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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. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a) (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the original DBS certificate is seen for any staff working in the home and that a record is made of this.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should plan staffing levels to ensure that they meet the needs of children. Staffing structures should promote continuity of care from the child’s perspective. When considering accepting new children into the home, they should ensure that staffing levels are sufficient and stable. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.15)  The registered person should only accept placements for children where they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs as recorded in the child’s relevant plans. Thorough assessments of the suitability of children living together should be undertaken. Additionally, suitability of the area and ability of the staff team to meet the particular needs of children should be fully considered. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4)

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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: 2850006 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Therapeutic Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Keystone House, Avroe Crescent, Blackpool FY4 2DP

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Inspectors

Eve Ostridge, Social Care Inspector Sadie Green, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2850006 10 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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