Children's Home run by Lancashire County Council in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC064735 1 SC064735 Registered provider: Lancashire County Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a local authority and provides care for up to 3 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children were living at the home at the time of this inspection. Both children spoke to the inspectors about their experiences of living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2026.

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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: 18 February 2026

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC064735 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/02/2026 Full Requires improvement to be good 04/02/2025 Full Good 05/03/2024 Full Good 08/03/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC064735 3

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Summary of findings

The children are settled at the home and have positive relationships with the staff. Children get the chance to try a variety of activities and new experiences, and staff help them maintain links with people who are important to them.

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Summary of findings

Children are kept safe by staff who know them well and understand their risks. Their progress in education has been mixed; however, staff work proactively with professionals, advocating for the children when needed. Although there remain areas for improvement, these do not take away from the overall good care that the children receive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children said that they like living at the home and feel they get along well with staff and each other.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, staff have helped children to understand the importance of attending health appointments. As a result, there has been some progress in this area. Children are starting to ask staff for help and reassurance when they have concerns about their health, and they are attending more appointments.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s experiences of education vary. One child has completed their GCSEs, while another has been learning at home and has achieved vocational accredited qualifications. Both children are now being supported to access college courses and apprenticeships and are attending open days.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to develop important life skills. Those who are not in full-time education have opportunities to achieve accredited qualifications that help build independence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a variety of experiences, including holidays and activities. They are excited about an upcoming whitewater rafting holiday and have enjoyed concerts and zoo visits where their families were invited too.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has been redecorated since the last inspection. However, spills, damages and wear and tear are not always addressed quickly. This affects how homely the house feels. One child’s bedroom is decorated to a poor standard and not personalised, which does not help them feel valued.

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

Incidents of children going missing from home continue to reduce. When children are missing, staff follow the agreed plans and share information with other professionals to Inspection report for children’s home: SC064735 4 help ensure children’s safe return. Children are always given the opportunity to speak with someone independently when they return.

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

Children’s risk and support plans are detailed and give staff clear guidance on how to keep them safe. The plans are regularly reviewed and updated following significant incidents. Staff know the children well and are now able to intervene and use behaviour strategies effectively. As a result, restraint has only been used once since the last inspection.

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

Staff have important conversations with children about things such as smoking, substance misuse and managing their emotions. This support helps reduce children’s worries and concerns.

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

Children are supported to raise complaints. Two complaints have been made since the last inspection, both investigated by an independent manager, with feedback given to the child in a way that they understand. This helps children feel listened to.

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

Children do not always have access to all areas of the home. There have been times when the kitchen has been locked as a behaviour management strategy rather than for safety reasons.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is experienced and qualified; he is supported by a visible and knowledgeable responsible individual. Both leaders understand the home’s strengths and areas for development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managerial oversight of staff practice has improved since the last inspection. The manager has identified shortfalls in staff performance and taken appropriate action to address these individually.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision and attend monthly team meetings; however, it is not always clear that they are consistently given time to reflect on their experiences and consider the children’s needs. This is a missed opportunity to improve the care provided for children and staff development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The statement of purpose contains inaccurate information, including the conditions or registration and details of staff and leaders who do not work at the home. Leaders and managers were unaware of these errors until the inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

On occasions, staff use their personal mobile phones to make notes about children during their shift. This practice breaches local authority policies and procedures. Inspection report for children’s home: SC064735 5

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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

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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(vii)(b)(e))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that confidentiality is maintained at all times and staff do not use their personal mobile phones to record and share information regarding children. 5 August 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

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1) (2)(vii)(c)(i)) 5 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: SC064735 6 Specifically, the registered person must ensure that all areas of the home, including children’s bedrooms, are maintained to a high standard and that damage is rectified without delay.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (“the statement of purpose”) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (1) (3)(a)(b)) 5 August 2026

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Requirement Due date

the privacy of children is appropriately protected;

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Requirement Due date

children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises; and

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Requirement Due date

any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home; is necessary and proportionate;

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Requirement Due date

is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and

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Requirement Due date

allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21 (a)(b)(c)(i)(ii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that children have access to all appropriate communal areas at the home. 5 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: SC064735 7

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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: SC064735 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Lancashire County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: PO Box 100, Preston PR1 0LD

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: David Harvey Higgins

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Inspectors

Kelly McCurdy, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Vicky Byron, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC064735 9 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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