Children's Home run by Positive Care Group Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2868151 1 Registered provider: Positive Care Group Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home registered with Ofsted in February 2026 and is operated by a private provider. It offers care for up to 2 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, 2 children were living at the home, and one child had moved out. Both children were spoken with.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in February 2026.

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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: 2868151 2

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Summary of findings

Children are beginning to develop relationships with the staff team and can identify staff they can speak with. Staff are empathetic and work to ensure the best outcomes for children. Staff feel well supported by the senior leadership team, and morale in the home is good. Further work is needed to strengthen staff responses when children are missing from home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is warm, welcoming and decorated to a high standard. Children can choose how their bedrooms are decorated. For one child, this means their bedroom reflects their love of their favourite football team.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the home registered, 3 children have moved into the home. Children can meet staff and visit the home before they move in. This careful approach prepares children and ensures that transitions are child focused. One child moved out in a planned and supported way when it was determined that a more specialist provision was needed. Leaders and managers worked collaboratively with other professionals until a new home was identified for this child. This ensured stability for the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have trusting relationships with staff who promote their interests and provide opportunities for them to take part in activities of their choice. This includes go-karting, swimming and walking in the Lake District.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to spend time with their families and the people who are important to them, even when they have to travel long distances to maintain these relationships. This enables children to maintain a sense of identity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children attend education regularly, with encouragement from staff. One child has been supported to secure a place in a further education setting, which will help them to achieve their career goals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When one child caused damage to their bedroom, staff responded sensitively to the circumstances that led to the incident and involved the child in carrying out the repairs. This enabled the child to take some responsibility for their actions while also providing a positive learning experience, as they are pursuing a career in plastering.

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

Children’s behaviour support plans include de-escalation strategies to ensure that physical intervention is used only as a last resort. When physical intervention is used, it Inspection report for children’s home: 2868151 3 is proportionate and necessary. Records of incidents are clear and outline the full details of incidents and management oversight.

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

Staff understand children’s risks and ensure that risk management plans are balanced and enable children to take reasonable risks in line with their age and understanding. For example, one child is supported to access community activities safely despite requiring a high level of supervision.

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

Children are supported to reflect on their behaviour, and direct work is carried out to help them understand risks. Children are offered incentives to promote positive choices and behaviours. One child said, ‘Incentives are helpful and achievable.’

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

Children rarely go missing from the home. However, when they do, staff do not consistently follow the missing-from-home procedure. For example, staff failed to search for a child when they went missing overnight. Leaders and managers acknowledge this shortfall, and there is a plan in place to improve staff’s understanding of their roles and responsibilities.

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

Managers are alert to potential risks, including radicalisation. When this has been a concern, staff have worked collaboratively with multi-agency professionals and attended meetings so that appropriate actions can be taken. The manager ensured that staff received radicalisation training.

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

Allegations against staff are responded to appropriately. Investigations are carried out thoroughly, with records demonstrating clear decision-making. Children are informed of the outcome of any allegations so that they understand what actions have been taken. As a result, children feel listened to, which helps to build and maintain trusting relationships.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is suitably qualified and experienced. He has a visible presence in the home alongside the deputy manager and the responsible individual. As a result, the staff team has remained stable, and staff morale is high. One member of staff said, ‘The passion and drive shown by the manager and deputy manager is infectious, and this filters through to the staff team.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers lead by example, and staff feel well supported. Staff work cohesively as a team and provide effective support to one another when challenges arise. Leaders and managers review incidents and provide opportunities for staff to reflect on them. This enables staff to learn from incidents and develop their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers ensure that staff are provided with training opportunities to develop their skills. Staff receive a range of in-house training. When more specialist training is required, such as training relating to knife crime, leaders and managers source support from external agencies. Inspection report for children’s home: 2868151 4 Professionals speak positively about the effectiveness of multi-agency working with staff and say that there is good communication from the manager and staff team. Inspection report for children’s home: 2868151 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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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 the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(v)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff adhere to the procedures in place to keep children safe. This includes searching for children when they are missing from home. 16 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: 2868151 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Positive Care Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 3 Neptune Court, Hallam Way, Blackpool, Lancashire FY4 5LZ

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Inspectors

Sam Baird, Social Care Inspector Nicola Forrester, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2868151 7 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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