Children's Home run by Lancashire County Council in Lancashire

Inspection report for children's home: 2788446 1 Registered provider: Lancashire County Council

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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 owned and operated by a local authority. It is registered to care for 2 children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

There were 2 children living at the home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children's home

A manager has been recruited. He has applied to register with Ofsted.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children's home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2788446 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/04/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home: 2788446 3

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Summary of findings

A new manager is now leading the home and he has applied to register with Ofsted. The manager has made improvements since taking on the role, but acknowledges that these have not happened at the speed he would like. The manager is focusing on staff development by improving staff practice and the consistency of care for children.

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Summary of findings

Children have positive relationships with staff, but their experiences of education and expectations about routines and boundaries are mixed.

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improvement to be good

Staff do not always provide children consistent routines and boundaries. As a result, one child does gaming throughout the night and sleeps during the day. This does not provide the child with the consistent sleep routine, social interaction and physical activity that they need.

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improvement to be good

Children's experiences and progress in education are varied. One child is engaging with informal learning and learning life skills, while the other child is not participating in any education or employment. There are inconsistencies between staff about the expectations for education, and encouragement to engage children is not consistently applied.

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improvement to be good

Staff support children to maintain relationships with people who are important to them. Families are invited to spend time at the home and take part in a variety of activities with their children. This provides the children with positive experiences and helps to support their sense of identity.

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improvement to be good

Staff spend time with children, helping them to develop their independence skills in an age-appropriate way. The children are learning new skills and can travel independently.

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improvement to be good

The home is spacious and refurbishment has recently taken place. It is a homely and welcoming environment for children. Their bedrooms are personalised to their individual taste.

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improvement to be good

Staff ensure that children know how to make a complaint and support them to do so. Complaints are taken seriously and acted upon in a timely way. The outcome of the complaint is discussed with the child, which helps them to feel listened to and valued. Inspection report for children's home: 2788446 4 Staff support for meeting children's health needs is mixed. One child has recently attended health appointments; however, the other child has not been supported to attend routine health appointments or understand the importance of being healthy. Important conversations have not taken place for a long time with one child who regularly uses an electronic vape. This does not demonstrate a proactive approach to promoting the child's health and wellbeing.

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improvement to be good

Staff are proactive in their attempts to ensure that children return home safely when they go missing from the home. However, there have been occasions when staff have not been aware when a child has left the home during the night. Managers have taken action to address this.

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improvement to be good

Physical restraint is rarely used. When it is used, it is proportionate and discussions take place with children following the incident.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

A qualified and experienced manager started working at the home in April 2026. The manager has identified areas for improvement and is taking action to address these; however, these are not fully embedded yet. He is focusing on developing staff skills and practice and ensuring that there are consistent routines and boundaries in place for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Professional speak positively about the care children receive while living at the home and the progress they make. They say that there is good communication with the manager and staff and they are kept up to date about relevant issues.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff are supported to attend training; however, not all staff have completed training that is specific to the children's individual needs. This does not help to ensure that staff have the necessary knowledge and skills to meet children's needs and ensure their safety.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Team meetings take place regularly and provide staff with opportunities to reflect on their practice and identify areas for learning. To further enhance staff learning, the manager delivers brief workshops about different topics to staff during these meetings.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff receive regular supervision; however, these are not always recorded in a timely way for staff to refer to. The manager has identified this as an area for improvement and is taking steps to address it.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The home's statement of purpose has not been sent to Ofsted as required by regulation. This limits the regulator's oversight of the care that managers and staff provide to meet children's individual needs, safety and wellbeing. Inspection report for children's home: 2788446 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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children's home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that all staff attend and engage with training that is specific to the children's individual needs and risks. 1 September 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

understand and apply the home's statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff— 1 September 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2788446 6 understand and apply the home's statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child's welfare;

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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 understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect;

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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. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iv)(v)(vi)(ix))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that children have a positive and healthy daily routine in place, which includes education and leisure activities. Furthermore, the registered person must ensure that all staff apply this consistently to each child and take time to encourage and support children to engage.

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Requirement Due date

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

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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

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

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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;

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Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers; 1 September 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2788446 7 help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

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Requirement Due date

maintain regular contact with each child's education and training provider, including engaging with the provider and the placing authority to support the child's education and training and to maximise the child's achievement;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child's relevant plans. (Regulation (8) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(ix)(x))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that children are consistently encouraged to engage in education and supported to understand the employment and training opportunities available to them.

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Requirement Due date

The health and wellbeing standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and wellbeing needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and wellbeing; 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

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child's relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand the child's health and wellbeing needs and the options that are available in relation to the child's health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child's age and understanding; 1 September 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2788446 8 take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child's health and wellbeing needs; and

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Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child's wellbeing; (Regulation (10)(1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that children are supported to understand the importance of attending routine health appointments and that discussions about the implications of smoking and vaping regularly take place.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children's home a statement ("the statement of purpose") which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (1) (3)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that Ofsted receives an up-to-date copy of the statement of purpose when changes have been made, and that this is completed in a timely way. 1 September 2026

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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: 2788446 9

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Lancashire County Council, PO Box 100, Preston PR1 0LD

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Children's home details

Responsible individual: Claire Rose-Dudley

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Inspector

Kelly McCurdy, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2788446 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 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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