Children's Home run by The Rubix Care Group Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children's home: 2863724 1 Registered provider: The Rubix Care Group Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

The home and the manager registered with Ofsted in December 2025, and the home is owned by a private company. It provides care for up to one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

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

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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: 2863724 2

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Summary of findings

The child has settled well in the home and developed positive, trusting relationships with staff and the manager. They say that they feel safe and valued and benefit from care that is tailored to their individual needs.

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Summary of findings

Staff work effectively with specialist professionals to promote the child's emotional wellbeing, manage risks and support progress.

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Summary of findings

Leaders and managers demonstrate a strong commitment to improving outcomes through a therapeutic approach to care and relevant staff training. Although there are some shortfalls in planning, supervision and monitoring arrangements, these have not detracted from the child's experiences or prevented them from making progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child's move into the home was well planned and supported through a coordinated approach, providing continuity of care from trusted adults and helping them settle successfully. However, statutory signed care plans are not always obtained at the point of the child moving in, meaning staff do not always have the necessary authority or clarity to act on behalf of the placing authority in the child's day-to-day care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is currently not in education, employment or training following a period of poor mental health. Staff support home-based learning through GCSE revision activities and directed reading, while the manager is working with relevant professionals to secure a personal tutor to help the child gain English and mathematics qualifications and prepare for college. However, learning opportunities and support for independence are not yet delivered through structured plans or consistent daily routines.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is encouraged to share their wishes and feelings through regular sessions with staff and the manager and contributes to their own care planning. This helps ensure that their views are heard and valued, with the child recognising the importance of others understanding their needs and preferred communication style.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff promote the child's physical and emotional wellbeing. The child is registered with relevant health professionals and is supported to attend routine appointments, with direct work helping them understand the importance of maintaining their health. Staff also provide guidance on healthy lifestyles, including the risks associated with vaping and energy drink consumption. However, healthcare plans have not been obtained, which does not provide assurance that staff are working in line with all relevant health recommendations and plans. Inspection report for children's home: 2863724 3

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

The child has positive relationships with the manager and their allocated key workers. Staff actively work to build trusting relationships with the child, particularly with female staff, following the child's previous negative experiences with women. The child said, 'I feel safe in my home. I have never had a place of safety before, as I did not have that growing up, so I like that I have a place of safety now.'

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

Staff do not consistently follow health and safety procedures when storing raw meat or checking food expiry dates. This practice increases the risk of food contamination and the consumption of food that is no longer fit to eat.

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

The manager provides staff with training that reflects the child's identified needs, including mental health first aid, attachment and trauma, and neurodiversity. Consequently, staff understand the child's risks and respond effectively when the child experiences difficulties. However, risk assessments do not always give staff clear guidance on how to respond during crisis situations, which may lead to inconsistent practice.

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

Staff manage incidents effectively and respond to the child in a sensitive and appropriate manner. The manager reviews incidents in detail and works closely with the child's clinical psychologist to develop effective de-escalation strategies and alternative coping mechanisms. Staff also undertake follow-up work with the child after incidents to help them understand risks, recognise the consequences of their actions and develop strategies to keep themselves safe.

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

The manager and staff work closely with specialist agencies and professionals, including mental health services, smoking cessation services and the child's clinical psychologist. Staff actively encourage the child to engage with these services, ensuring that they receive the specialist support they need.

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

The manager and staff carry out direct work with the child to help them address the challenges they face. These sessions support the child to develop appropriate coping strategies, improve their understanding of personal safety, strengthen their emotional wellbeing, build trust with female staff and develop greater acceptance of their sexual identity.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager demonstrates a clear vision for the child and remains committed to improving outcomes. Staff enjoy working in the home and report that the manager supports them well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers follow safer recruitment processes and complete all required checks before staff work with children. They also provide new staff with a structured Inspection report for children's home: 2863724 4 induction programme that includes mandatory training and practice-led discussions. This helps staff develop the knowledge and skills they need to support the child effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager identifies staff strengths and areas for development and actively promotes learning around regulations, roles and responsibilities, and therapeutic approaches. However, the manager does not consistently use supervision sessions to promote reflective practice. Supervisions are often brief and lack meaningful discussion, which limits opportunities for staff development and clear guidance. In addition, the manager and staff cannot always access supervision records. These shortfalls may affect staff performance and the quality of care provided to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff attend monthly team meetings, which the manager uses to discuss issues affecting the child and to ensure that staff understand and follow the child's risk assessments and care plans. The home's clinical psychologist also attends these meetings and provides guidance on therapeutic approaches that reflect the child's age and needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager completes 6-monthly quality of care reviews and considers feedback from the child and professionals when evaluating the service. However, these reviews do not consistently identify actions to improve practice, and the manager does not always submit them to the regulator within the required timescales. As a result, opportunities to improve outcomes for children may be missed, and the regulator does not receive a full overview of the quality of care provided in the home. Inspection report for children's home: 2863724 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 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;

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Requirement Due date

make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child's relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice;

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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)(a)(b) (2)(b)(iv)(vi)(ix)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that structured plans are in place to support and enhance children's learning when formal education is not in place and to support the 13 August 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2863724 6 development of independence skills in line with the children's plans. In addition, the registered person must ensure that the home is maintained to a good standard, including replacing damaged flooring.

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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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

understand and develop skills to promote the child's well-being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that staff complete daily checks to ensure that food produce in the home is stored correctly and fit for consumption. 13 August 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff receive supervision that allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children in their care. Leaders and managers must ensure that all staff, including the manager, have access to their supervision records. 13 August 2026

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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)) 13 August 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2863724 7 Specifically, the registered person must ensure that statutory care plans are in place for all children living in the home that contain relevant information and are signed and dated by relevant professionals on the date of admission. The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (“the quality of care review report”).

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed. (Regulation 45 (1)(2)(c)(3)(4)(a)) 13 August 2026

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Recommendation

 The registered person should continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. Where there are safeguarding concerns for a child, their placement plan and risk management plans agreed between the home and their placing authority must include details of the steps the home will take to manage any assessed risks on a day-to-day basis. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,' page 42, paragraph 9.5) Inspection report for children's home: 2863724 8

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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: 2863724 9

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Children's home details

Registered provider: The Rubix Care Group Ltd

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Unit 1 Cottam Lane Business Centre Cottam Lane, Ashton-on-Ribble, Preston, Lancashire PR2 1JR

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Inspector

Renée Sims, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2863724 10 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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