Children's Home run by Gracewells Care Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2577168 1 Registered provider: Gracewells Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and operated by a private company. It provides care for up to 4 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, 3 children were living at the home. The inspector spoke with all 3 children.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2022.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: This home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 10 and 11 March 2026. Compliance notices were served in relation to Regulations 6, 12 and 13.

p.1

good

A monitoring visit took place on 8 May 2026 to monitor the action taken by the provider to meet the steps in the compliance notices. A case review was held on 14 May 2026. It was deemed that sufficient action had not been taken to meet all steps in the Inspection report for children’s home: 2577168 2 compliance notices. The decision was made to issue additional requirements under Regulations 12 and 13. Regulation 6 has been met. Inspection report for children’s home: 2577168 3

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/03/2026 Full Inadequate 19/12/2024 Full Good 05/03/2024 Full Good 14/03/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2577168 4

p.3

Summary of findings

The manager and staff have made positive changes in the home, maintaining a clean environment and reviewing all risk assessments to strengthen safeguarding practices.

p.4

Summary of findings

Children report that they feel safe in the home, and positive relationships between children, staff and managers are evident.

p.4

Summary of findings

Leaders and managers know the children well and remain committed to helping them make progress while continually improving the quality of care provided.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have continued to make progress since the last inspection. One child has transitioned to semi-independent accommodation in line with their care plan, and staff supported this transition well.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children build trusting relationships with staff who know them well and understand their individual needs. For some children, risks have reduced. One child is preparing to return to mainstream education after a period of home tutoring. Children’s progress reports reflect these individual achievements.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is welcoming with a range of games available. Pop art portraits displayed in the home help reinforce children’s sense of identity and belonging. Bedrooms are personalised to reflect individual preferences, with one child displaying posters of their favourite film. However, one child’s bedroom contains worn furniture that requires attention to ensure that a comfortable and well-kept environment is maintained.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff transport children to their education placements, but they do not consistently encourage or motivate them to attend. As a result, children’s engagement in education is not always promoted effectively, and, when they do not attend, their progress is affected. There is also no alternative daily plan in place, meaning some children spend most of the day in their bedrooms without purposeful activity.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children generally prefer spending time with their peers, but staff and children come together every fortnight for a ‘family meal’ at a restaurant chosen by children. This creates opportunities for positive interaction, relationship-building and shared experiences.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to maintain important relationships, and family time is managed sensitively. For one child, this includes regular visits from their grandparent, which staff facilitate and encourage. Inspection report for children’s home: 2577168 5

p.4

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

Children report feeling safe in the home and can identify a trusted adult who they would speak to if they were worried. Children do not go missing from the home. This demonstrates that they feel safe, secure and settled in their environment.

p.5

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

Staff use therapeutic approaches to support children when they are distressed, helping them regulate their emotions effectively. As a result, staff de-escalate incidents, without physical intervention, and there have been no occasions when children have been held.

p.5

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

Children’s individual risk assessments capture all known risks and provide clear strategies for staff to follow, promoting consistent safeguarding practice. However, staff have not always ensured that welfare calls take place within the timescales set out in children’s safety plans. Following safeguarding incidents, staff review risk assessments and carry out debriefs with children and staff, creating opportunities for reflection, learning and identifying further actions to reduce risk.

p.5

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

Staff carry out direct work with children following safeguarding incidents, helping them develop strategies to manage their emotions and understand how to keep themselves safe. The home’s therapist supports staff with this work, providing resources such as interactive worksheets and reviewing direct work carried out to identify additional interventions or areas where staff may need further guidance.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by an experienced registered manager who is committed to the children and knows them well.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel supported by the leadership team, which contributes to good retention and consistent care for children. They receive regular supervision that helps them reflect on their practice and identify training needs, although supervision actions are not given completion dates. Staff also benefit from team meetings that allow reflection on children’s care, with the home’s therapist offering guidance. However, minutes do not clarify whether previous actions have been completed or include timescales.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager responds appropriately to complaints, ensuring that each one is reviewed and acted on and that the outcome is shared with the person who raised it. Staff have access to a wide range of training delivered both online and face to face, and they have completed the training required to meet children’s needs.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have access to a range of training opportunities, delivered both online and face to face. They have completed the required training identified by the manager to ensure that they are equipped to meet the needs of the children in their care.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Management oversight has strengthened since the last inspection and is evident in direct work, incident reviews, training evaluation and children’s progress reports. Systems are in place to monitor staff practice and identify patterns or trends, but they do not Inspection report for children’s home: 2577168 6 consistently highlight shortfalls. For example, gaps remain in recording welfare calls and documenting children’s decisions about medical appointments. Families and professionals speak positively about the manager and staff team. Inspection report for children’s home: 2577168 7

p.5

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.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

p.7

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(c))

p.7

Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that staff follow children’s plans regards welfare calls being conducted at a set time. Staff must record in detail when welfare calls take place and document children’s decisions regarding medical appointments. 18 August 2026

p.7

Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

p.7

Requirement Due date

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

p.7

Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of 18 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2577168 8 compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible;

p.7

Requirement Due date

help each child who is above compulsory school age to participate in further education, training or employment and to prepare for future care, education or employment. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(viii)(ix))

p.8

Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that when children are not attending an education setting, staff actively encourage them to engage in a structured routine that is regularly reviewed for its effectiveness.

p.8

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the home environment meets children’s needs. The home should be homely and maintained to a good standard, with all maintenance issues addressed. This specifically relates to ensuring that all bedroom furnishings are maintained. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, pages 14 and 15, paragraphs 3.3 and 3.9)

p.8

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: 2577168 9

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Gracewells Care Limited

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Stables, Blackburn Farm, Ribby Road, Wrea Green, Preston PR4 2PA

p.9

Inspector

Michelle McGrath, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2577168 10 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.

p.9

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.10

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.10

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.10