Children's Home run by Guidance Care Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2860863 1 Registered provider: Guidance Care Ltd 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 private provider. It offers care for up to 2 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, no children were living in the home, as the last child moved out in May 2026.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and manager registered with Ofsted in January 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: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2860863 2

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Summary of findings

One child has lived at the home since it registered with Ofsted but has now moved out. However, the care and support staff provided to the child were of a good standard.

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Summary of findings

The child made positive progress in their health, education and independence skills. They told staff that they were happy and settled at the home.

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Summary of findings

Staff practice in the home is strong. Staff work effectively with relevant professionals, sharing information and reporting incidents appropriately to promote children’s safety and wellbeing.

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Summary of findings

The monitoring and oversight by the manager are good. The manager regularly reviewed the child’s progress and staff practice. Staff receive reflective supervision, relevant training and opportunities for professional development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child experienced a positive move into the home. Staff met with the child beforehand and took time to understand their care journey. After moving in, the child worked with staff to decorate their bedroom, an activity they enjoyed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff team recognised the child’s progress and offered consistent encouragement and support. Staff delivered a range of support sessions that helped the child explore their thoughts and feelings. When the child became unhappy about a change to their care plan, staff supported them to access an advocate so that their views could be represented.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff supported the child to have fun and experience new activities. The child learned to swim, experimented with baking, and visited a theme park for the first time. Staff also helped the child to develop their independence skills, and the child became more confident in shopping on their own and managing a budget.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Before living in the home, the child did not access any form of education. Staff worked hard to ensure that tailored education was in place. By the time the child left, they were fully engaging in tutoring, with plans to increase this in line with their wishes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s health needs were well supported. The manager researched the child’s medical condition before welcoming them into the home. A detailed risk assessment was shared with the staff. Staff supported the child with their unmet health needs, taking them to appointments and referring them to specialist services.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff supported the child to spend meaningful time with their family, including supervising family time in the home. This support helped repair some family relationships Inspection report for children’s home: 2860863 3 and ensured that the child experienced positive time with the people who matter to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff worked hard to ensure that the child experienced a child-focused move out of the home. They recognised the significance of endings and attachment for the child. Staff at the child’s new home acknowledged the quality of this work and commented that the staff team had done a very good job in helping the child feel comfortable and committed to their new home.

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

Safeguarding practice in the home is good. Staff understand children’s risks and vulnerabilities well. Risk and behaviour support plans are personalised and regularly reviewed.

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

There were age-appropriate routines and boundaries in place, which were discussed with the child. As a result, the child did not go missing from the home, and they did not need to be physically held to keep them safe.

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

Staff built positive and trusting relationships with the child, which ensured that they could have open and honest conversations about risks. Staff carried out work relating to healthy relationships with the child to support them in the future, which included sexual health and consent.

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

When the child made an allegation against a staff member, the manager took swift and appropriate investigative action that considered the views of the child.

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

The manager focuses on building strong and collaborative relationships with other agencies and is focused on ensuring that the staff team has the relevant knowledge and skills to meet children’s needs effectively.

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

There are robust recruitment procedures in place to ensure that only the most suitable and safe people work at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager placed the child at the centre of her practice. She consistently considered the needs of the child and ensured that staff had a clear understanding of the care required to meet the child’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has high expectations of the staff and communicates these clearly. She works alongside the staff team to develop practice and has supported less-experienced staff to make progress. The manager adopts a supportive and developmental approach, guiding staff’s professional growth rather than directing them from a distance.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from regular, high-quality supervision and team meetings that offer opportunities for reflection and learning. Staff also have access to an extensive training Inspection report for children’s home: 2860863 4 programme, including bespoke training when required. This ensures that all staff have the necessary skills and knowledge to meet children’s current and emerging needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager demonstrated strong and appropriate challenge throughout the child’s time at the home, including challenging several external agencies. Her challenge has remained child focused and informed by evidence of the child’s progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has effective monitoring and oversight of the home. She is organised and uses internal monitoring systems effectively, ensuring that she has a clear understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is dedicated to improving the home and continually develops practice to achieve the best outcomes for children. She has devised and delivered training to the staff team and colleagues across the company. This training was informative and child focused, using examples and experiences that staff and children could relate to.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

When worries or concerns arise about staff practice, the manager speaks directly with staff and puts a plan in place to support them and develop their skills. However, on one occasion, this plan was not formalised or provided to the staff member in writing. This is a missed opportunity to consistently support staff’s development. Inspection report for children’s home: 2860863 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that recruitment, supervision and performance management arrangements are in place to safeguard children and minimise potential risks to them. When staff require additional monitoring or support, this should be clearly documented in writing. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 3.1)

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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: 2860863 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 8 Sovereign Court, Wyrefields, Poulton Industrial Estate, Poulton-le-Fylde FY6 8JX

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Lorraine Anderson

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Inspector

Rebecca Robson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2860863 7 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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