Children's Home run by Brinscall Care (NW) Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2710949 1 Registered provider: Brinscall Care (NW) Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home registered with Ofsted in March 2023 and is operated by a private company. It offers care for up to 3 children who experience social and emotional difficulties or have learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

A new manager has recently been appointed. They have applied to register with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

This home was judged as ‘inadequate’ at the full inspection on 27 May 2026. Following the inspection, Ofsted issued compliance notices under Regulations 12 and 13 of The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 in relation to the protection of children and the leadership and management of the home.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to assess the provider’s compliance with these notices and evaluate any progress made in improving the quality of care provided to children. Two children were living at the home at the time of this visit. Since the full inspection, one child has moved out of the home.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has taken appropriate action to address the shortfalls identified at the full inspection. There have been substantial changes in the leadership of the home. The previous registered manager is no longer working at the home, following concerns that are the subject of an ongoing internal investigation.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s risk assessments have been reviewed and now provide clear, individualised guidance for staff. An assessment has also been carried out to support children living together safely. The manager regularly reviews children’s risks to ensure that staff responses remain appropriate. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2710949 2 Staffing arrangements have been strengthened to reflect the needs of the children currently living at the home. Waking night staff are now in place to ensure appropriate supervision throughout the night, in line with children’s individual needs. Staff demonstrate good knowledge and understanding of the arrangements in place to keep children safe and implement them consistently.

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This monitoring visit

Safeguarding practice has improved. Since the full inspection, there have been 3 safeguarding incidents involving one child. These have been reported without delay. Appropriate multi-agency safeguarding processes have been followed, and staff have taken appropriate action to protect the child.

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This monitoring visit

The manager and deputy manager have received updated designated safeguarding lead training. They have delivered face-to-face safeguarding training to the staff team and assessed staff’s understanding following the training. Staff demonstrate a good understanding of their safeguarding responsibilities.

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This monitoring visit

Management oversight has strengthened. The manager carries out observations of staff practice to support learning and development and has introduced additional oversight of medication administration following the identification of recording concerns. Staff have received medication training and competency assessments to ensure that learning has been embedded into practice.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has strengthened governance arrangements following the full inspection. This includes establishing an independent safeguarding board to review safeguarding incidents and commissioning an external consultation service to support staff development. Staff speak positively about the changes introduced by the new manager.

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This monitoring visit

The requirements raised at the last inspection have not been considered as part of this visit and will be reviewed at the next inspection. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2710949 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/05/2026 Full Inadequate 15/07/2025 Full Good 21/05/2024 Full Good 11/10/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2710949 4

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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 with 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 ensure that staff—

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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. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the manager must ensure that all staff support children in line with their developmental needs. Each child’s care must reflect their individual needs and care plans. 3 August 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires; and

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Requirement Due date

to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home’s records (except for a child’s case records, unless the child and the child’s placing authority consent) as the independent person requires.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit (“the independent person’s report”) which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether— 3 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2710949 5 children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a)(b) (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the manager must ensure that the independent visitor consults regularly with a range of stakeholders as part of their assessment of the home.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the behaviour management policy”) which sets out—

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Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home;

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Requirement Due date

and the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure;

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Requirement Due date

and has signed the record to confirm it is accurate;

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Requirement Due date

and within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b) (3)(a)(iv)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)) 3 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2710949 6 Specifically, the manager must ensure that all physical interventions are recorded in line with regulations.

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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.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2710949 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Brinscall Care (NW) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Peel House, 30 The Downs, Altrincham, Cheshire WA14 2PX

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Inspectors

Bethany Riley, Social Care Inspector Judith Birchall, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2710949 8 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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