Children's Home run by Holden Knight Healthcare Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2780236 1 Registered provider: Holden Knight Healthcare 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

This home is operated by a private provider. It offers care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties. The home was registered with Ofsted in April 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home. Inspectors spoke with the child.

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Information about this children’s home

There is an interim manager in post who has applied to be a permanent manager.

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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: 3 and 4 December 2025 and 27 January 2026

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2780236 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/10/2024 03/12/2025 and 27/01/26 Full Full Good Requires Improvement Inspection report for children’s home: 2780236 3

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Summary of findings

The child is happy in the home due to the positive relationship they have with staff and the nurturing care they provide. Staff know the child well, including their likes, dislikes, health, education and family situation. This helps them to plan for the child’s care, provide suitable activities and support them to have their voice heard.

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Summary of findings

There has been a change in management since the last inspection. Staff value the current leadership team who provide guidance and regular supervision.

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Summary of findings

Professionals and family members value the home and recognise the progress the child has made and the ability of staff to keep the child safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has a calm, nurturing and welcoming feel.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is happy in the home and external professionals praise the staff, saying that the progress the child has made is due to their input and dedication. A family member said, ‘The staff at the home are brilliant.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have helped the child to settle into the home. Staff know the child well and understand their likes and dislikes. The child’s birthday was celebrated with presents and a cake. Following careful consideration by the staff and manager, the child now has a pet. This has helped strengthen relationships between staff and the child, while boosting the child’s emotional wellbeing and feeling of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has not been in full time education for some time. Staff are supporting the child to return to education provision. Staff members attend education meetings and advocate on the child’s behalf. A teacher from the child’s school said that the child’s confidence and self-esteem has improved since they moved into the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s health needs are being met. The team has worked with healthcare professionals to understand the child’s individual needs, ensuring that all specialised equipment is up to date to maintain their safety and support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is encouraged to share their views, wishes and feelings about their care and the day-to-day activities in the home. Discussions are held with the child to explore issues that may arise and to plan activities and menu choices.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

An in-house therapist works closely with the staff team to ensure that they are meeting the emotional needs of the child and working in a way that is trauma informed. The therapist provides monthly updates and guidance for the staff to follow. Inspection report for children’s home: 2780236 4 Children moving in and out of the home has not been well planned. The compatibility of the home for one child was not adequately assessed. This means that when risks have increased for individual children, they have not always been managed effectively. This has resulted in one child moving out earlier than was originally planned. In addition, the moving in procedure for one child lacked structure, which meant that the first day was a distressing time for them.

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

Staff understand the risks for the child and know how to keep them safe. The use of physical intervention by staff is minimal and only used as a last resort. Staff receive training in therapeutic frameworks that equip them with strategies to support the child.

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

The child’s risk levels are reviewed in conjunction with local authority professionals. Restrictions of the child’s liberty are monitored, reviewed and managed in a way that reflects the level of risk and is safe for the child. The home environment is safe for the child with potential hazards being removed or locked away.

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

One new member of staff has joined the team. Recruitment procedures and practices are safe and effective, with all staff checked and vetted before commencement of their employment to ensure that they are suitable to work with children.

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

Missing-from-home protocols are understood by all staff members and followed when required. A system is in place to locate the child, while family members and professionals involved are kept informed. Following the event, staff reflect on these situations and involve the child in the reflections to avoid future occurrences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The interim manager applied to become the permanent manager in May 2026. The previous manager left the home during this inspection period. Staff say that they feel valued by the new manager, who was already employed by the company and had a good understanding of the home. Staff receive good quality supervision sessions with a manager to help them reflect on their work with the child. Staff members know that they can talk to the management team if they have a concern.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The interim manager is a strong advocate for the child. The child’s views, wishes and feelings are at the heart of everything the leaders do and they ensure that the child receives personalised care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The leadership team monitor and review the risk assessments to align with the child’s needs. The manager has challenged the decisions of an external agency when the decision making was not in the best interest of the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are regular team meetings where good practice and individual achievements are shared with the wider team and praised throughout. This helps reinforce the nurturing care that the child receives. Inspection report for children’s home: 2780236 5 Staff undergo regular training and all mandatory training is updated, with new staff completing this as part of their induction. Additional training is provided to ensure that staff are equipped to care for the child’s individual needs. Inspection report for children’s home: 2780236 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, 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 care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home;

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Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority;

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Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed; (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered provider must only accept placements for children when they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child’s needs. In addition, the registered provider must ensure that there is a clear moving in process for children so that staff and children are prepared for the arrival. 29 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2780236 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: 2780236 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Holden Knight Healthcare Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Holden Knight Healthcare Limited, 200 Brook Drive, Reading, UK RG2 6UB

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Inspectors

Cathy Wilkins, Social Care Inspector Jayne Lord, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2780236 9 regulates 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 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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Inspectors

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