Children's Home run by Springboard Care Services Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2823693 1 Registered provider: Springboard Care Services Limited

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home registered with Ofsted in May 2025 and is owned by a private provider. It offers care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of this visit, one child was living at the home. The inspector spoke with the child about their experiences of living at the home.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There was no registered manager in post at the time of this visit.

p.1

This monitoring visit

This home was judged as ‘inadequate’ at the full inspection on 9 and 10 June 2026. Shortfalls were identified in the arrangements for safeguarding children and in the effectiveness of the management arrangements at the home. Two compliance notices were issued under section 22A of the Care Standards Act 2000. These related to Regulation 12 (the protection of children standard) and Regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard).

p.1

This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to review whether leaders and managers have taken effective action to meet the steps outlined in the compliance notices.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, there has been an improved safeguarding response to the child. Staff are now actively monitoring the child’s welfare and ensuring that there is consistent access to the child’s bedroom. Staff are supporting the child to maintain their bedroom to an acceptable standard. The child’s bedroom was viewed as part of this visit and was clean and tidy.

p.1

This monitoring visit

There has been an improved response when the child has been missing from the home. This has helped to safeguard the child and reduce the associated risks. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2823693 2 Leaders and managers have reviewed all the child’s plans. These now provide clear direction for staff and are regularly updated. Staff spoken to have a good understanding of the child’s risks and the plans in place to keep them safe.

p.1

This monitoring visit

At the time of this visit, an interim manager was overseeing the home. There is improved management oversight of the child’s records and the day-to-day running of the home. Leaders and managers have strengthened their oversight through the introduction of weekly managers’ meetings, more robust risk assessment reviews, and more frequent audits.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have taken action to ensure that staff working at the home have the skills and knowledge to care for the child. They have received further training and attended in-house workshops. Any gaps or discrepancies in staff training have been addressed promptly.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The interim manager takes appropriate action when the child or staff raise concerns. They ensure external scrutiny where appropriate.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, there have been changes to the staff team. The provider has been efficient in recruiting further permanent staff, including a waking night member of staff. This has reduced the use of agency staff and contributed to better relationships and greater consistency for the child. The child is now spending more time outside their bedroom and engaging with staff. The child said that they are happy with the changes made and spoke of a more positive atmosphere at the home.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Leaders have taken positive steps towards addressing all the requirements raised at the last inspection. The requirements raised relating to Regulations 12 and 13 have been met. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2823693 3

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/06/2026 Full Inadequate 26/08/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2823693 4

p.3

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 with the given timescales.

p.4

Requirement Due date

The enjoyment and achievement standard is that children take part in and benefit from a variety of activities that meet their needs and develop and reflect their creative, cultural, intellectual, physical and social interests and skills.

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

develop the child’s interests and hobbies;

p.4

Requirement Due date

participate in activities that the child enjoys and which meet and expand the child’s interests and preferences; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

make a positive contribution to the home and the wider community; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

that each child has access to a range of activities that enable the child to pursue the child’s interests and hobbies. (Regulation 9 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff are proactive in their approach to engaging the child in activities. 7 August 2026

p.4

Requirement Due date

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.

p.4

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—

p.4

Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

p.4

Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and 7 August 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2823693 5 any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

p.4

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”).

p.5

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; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must submit a quality of care review in line with regulation.

p.5

Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and has been restated.

p.5

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff consistently and proactively support the child’s health and wellbeing on a day-to-day basis. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 34, paragraph 7.10)

p.5

Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

p.5

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2823693 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Springboard Care Services Limited

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Chandler House, 7 Ferry Road Office Park, Riversway, Preston, Lancashire PR2 2YH

p.6

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Sarah Littlechild

p.6

Inspector

Hayley Smith, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2823693 7 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.

p.6

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.7

Inspector

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

p.7

Inspector

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

p.7