Children's Home run by Lonsdale Care Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: 1274089 1 Registered provider: Lonsdale Care Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in May 2018 and is operated by a private provider. It offers care for up to 4 children who experience social and emotional difficulties and/or have learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2026.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children were living at the home at the time of this inspection.

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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 February 2026

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: Following the last full inspection, 2 compliance notices were issued under Section 22A of the Care Standards Act relating to Regulation 12 (the protection of children standard) and Regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard). A monitoring visit was carried out on 7 May 2026. The provider had taken sufficient action in all identified areas, and the compliance notices were met. Inspection report for children’s home: 1274089 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/02/2026 Full Inadequate 13/02/2025 Full Outstanding 13/03/2024 Full Outstanding 08/03/2023 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: 1274089 3

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Summary of findings

Children are making positive progress while living in the home and are supported to attend education settings. They are encouraged to maintain relationships with people who are important to them and are helped to stay safe. Positive behaviour is recognised through a reward system, which helps to build children’s self-esteem. Although one safeguarding incident was not recorded accurately, this did not impact the child’s safety. The home is led by a newly registered manager who is experienced and the staff speaking positively about the support provided by the management team. Staff also receive training that enables them to meet children’s individual needs effectively.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has moved out of the home since the last inspection. This was a planned move. Staff supported the child during incidents that occurred in the week before they left; this was due to the child struggling with the move.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has a welcoming and homely feel. Ongoing improvements are being made to the home environment. Children have been involved in choosing new colours for the interior walls. Work has been carried out in one of the children’s bedrooms to improve this environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Photos of the children are displayed throughout the home, helping to create a sense of identity. Children’s bedrooms are personalised to reflect their preferences and are decorated with their own belongings. This gives children a sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff prioritise children’s education. The children attend school full time and have good attendance. This demonstrates that staff support children’s ongoing learning and development effectively.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children in spending time with their families and friends. Children’s family members visit them in their home. This helps children to maintain their identity and continue to maintain relationships with the people who are important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have individualised care plans. However, plans do not demonstrate how staff support children to work towards targets outlined in these plans. This is a missed opportunity to demonstrate how staff help children to make progress. Inspection report for children’s home: 1274089 4

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

Staff understand their safeguarding roles and responsibilities. There are limited incidents in the home. However, if incidents occur, staff act appropriately and support children to stay safe.

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

Children receive positive behavioural support from the staff who care for them. Positive behaviour expectations are individualised for each child. Staff regularly offer praise for children’s achievements. This approach helps children to develop positive self-awareness and self-esteem, which promotes the development of positive behaviour.

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

Staff work hard to understand children’s risks and vulnerabilities. Staff spoken with demonstrated a good knowledge of children’s vulnerabilities. Children have risk assessments that are individualised to their specific needs. Risk assessments include strategies for staff to reduce risk. Staff follow these strategies in practice.

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

Staff respond to safeguarding concerns and keep children safe. There has been one occasion when an incident was not recorded accurately. This did not affect the child. The registered manager is aware of this shortfall and has plans in place to address it.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by a dedicated, caring and ambitious manager who advocates well for children. One staff member said, ‘There is a holistic approach by management, and this is fed down through the team through regular supervisions and team meetings.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervision sessions take place regularly and are used by staff to reflect on children’s experiences and how best to support them. Team meetings have improved since the new manager was appointed. Records demonstrate that these discussions are now more reflective and focused on improving practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager and staff maintain effective relationships with relevant professionals. This supports a coordinated approach to meeting children’s needs and contributes to providing consistent care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have the necessary skills to provide good-quality and effective care for children. They receive training to meet the children’s needs. Training is individualised to children. This helps staff to meet children’s individual and changing needs. Inspection report for children’s home: 1274089 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 registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager must ensure that safeguarding incidents are recorded factually. They must be recorded in a way that promotes effective information-sharing between staff. 26 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

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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 personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

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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. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(iv)(vi)) 26 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 1274089 6 In particular, the registered manager must ensure that staff support children to work towards the specific targets outlined in their individual care plans.

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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: 1274089 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 20 Brookhouse Road, Caton, Lancaster LA2 9QT

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Inspectors

Karen Andrews, Social Care Inspector Bethany Riley, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1274089 8 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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