Children's Home run by The Rubix Care Group Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home for 2807447 1 Registered provider: The Rubix Care Group Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and run by a private provider. It is registered to provide care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home, and the inspector spoke with them.

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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 for 2807447 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/05/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home for 2807447 3

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Summary of findings

The child has lived at the home for much longer than in previous placements and is settled. They have developed positive relationships with staff. Staff benefit from training that is well matched to the child’s needs. The manager works collaboratively with partner agencies, promoting coordinated planning and positive outcomes for the child.

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Summary of findings

However, although physical interventions and episodes of going missing from home are rare, staff practice in these areas does not consistently promote the child’s safety and wellbeing. Management oversight is not consistently robust in identifying and addressing shortfalls in practice and recording. Consequently, shortfalls are not always recognised promptly, limiting opportunities for reflective learning and service improvement.

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improvement to be good

The overall progress and experiences of the child have been impacted by the shortfalls identified in help and protection, and the leadership and management of the home.

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improvement to be good

The home has undergone internal renovation and is freshly painted and carpeted throughout. It is comfortably furnished and provides a warm, welcoming environment. The child’s bedroom is spacious and personalised, containing belongings that are important to them, including their guitar and army clothing. Improvements to the outdoor area are ongoing. However, the space is safe and accessible. The child appears comfortable and relaxed in the home environment.

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improvement to be good

The child has experienced significant changes in staffing. Despite this, the child has developed positive relationships with all staff. Two members of staff have provided important continuity and supported the child’s sense of belonging, stability and security. The child has lived in this home significantly longer than in any previous home they have had.

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improvement to be good

Prior to moving to the home, the child had been out of education for a considerable period. The child has a suitable school placement. However, they are not currently being educated in the classroom. The manager is a strong advocate for the child’s educational progress and has been clear and persistent in promoting the child’s best interests to relevant professionals. As a result, the child is making progress.

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improvement to be good

Staff have started preparing the child for adulthood in a timely way. They help the child develop practical life skills as well as exploring important topics such as personal safety, decision-making, risk awareness, healthy relationships and resilience to negative peer influence. Inspection report for children’s home for 2807447 4 The manager and staff work hard to ensure that the child’s important relationships are maintained. They facilitate family time with relatives who live a significant distance from the home and have supported the child to reconnect with family members. As a result, the child is maintaining important relationships and a strong sense of their identity.

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improvement to be good

Risks for the child have reduced, resulting in their deprivation of liberty (DoL) order being allowed to lapse.

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improvement to be good

Missing-from-home episodes are rare. The child has an individualised missing-from-home plan, and staff understand the actions they should take if the child goes missing. However, the plan does not contain up-to-date information. Staff searches are not always effective in locating the child promptly, even when the child remains in close proximity to the home. Records of missing-from-home episodes lack sufficient detail to enable the manager to effectively evaluate staff practice.

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improvement to be good

The local authority has not always ensured that the child receives a return home interview. When this has not taken place, the manager has appropriately challenged the local authority, and has ensured that staff have explored the child’s experiences, thoughts and feelings regarding the missing-from-home episode.

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improvement to be good

Police have attended the home on two occasions to assist staff in managing the child’s behaviour. On both occasions, police involvement was unnecessary. One on occasion, staff did not follow the child’s plans and their actions significantly escalated the situation. On another occasion, staff called the police prematurely.

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improvement to be good

Physical interventions are rarely used. However, on one occasion, staff have physically intervened too soon and held the child unnecessarily. On another occasion, physical intervention became necessary because staff did not manage the situation effectively. The manager spoke promptly with both the child and staff involved, identified the shortfalls in practice and took appropriate action.

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improvement to be good

Audible door alarms are fitted to the external doors and the child’s bedroom door. Their use was previously authorised under the child’s DoL order, and the manager completed a risk assessment after the end of the order to consider whether the alarms remained necessary. However, the assessment has not been reviewed and the rationale for retaining internal door alarms is not sufficiently robust. The continued use of the bedroom door alarm unnecessarily intrudes on the child’s privacy.

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improvement to be good

Staff do not use formal consequences. Instead, they consistently use positive reinforcement and rewards to promote positive behaviour and achievements. The previous recommendation in this area has been met. Inspection report for children’s home for 2807447 5 The manager takes allegations seriously and responds appropriately. They ensure the immediate safety of the child and others, notify relevant professionals without delay and oversee thorough investigations. The child understands how to make a complaint about the home or staff and feels confident doing so. The child feels listened to throughout the process.

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improvement to be good

Staff work diligently to help the child develop an understanding of their individual risks. They make timely referrals to specialist services when required and consistently engage the child in meaningful discussions. Through sustained and persistent work, one of the child’s risks has reduced and the child demonstrates enhanced understanding of how to keep themselves safe.

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

The manager has oversight of practice and records. However, this is not yet consistently effective in identifying and addressing shortfalls in practice. Some records do not contain sufficient detail to enable effective evaluation of staff practice and decision-making, and management monitoring processes have not identified these recording shortfalls. As a result, managers do not always identify weaknesses in practice and recording promptly, limiting opportunities for timely learning and improvement.

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

The manager completes a review of the quality of care within the required timescales and submits the report to Ofsted. The report is evaluative, identifies how care provided is improving outcomes for the child and sets out detailed actions for further development. However, the views of family members and staff are not routinely sought and incorporated into the review. As a result, opportunities to use wider stakeholder feedback to evaluate and improve the service are being missed.

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

The manager receives regular supervision, which appropriately focuses on the needs of the child and the staff team. However, there is limited consideration of the manager’s own development, support needs and professional progression. The manager’s appraisal is overdue and the most recent appraisal was not sufficiently evaluative. It did not include feedback from the child, staff members or partner professionals, and failed to identify learning and development objectives.

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

Staffing arrangements have lacked consistency for the child. However, the manager has consistently recruited to ensure there is sufficient staffing, with limited vacancies. Many staff are new to the home, and the manager has worked hard to build positive relationships with staff. Staff describe the manager as approachable, accessible and supportive.

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

Staff benefit from a wide range of training opportunities. The manager ensures that training is relevant to the specific needs of the child and supports staff to develop the skills and knowledge required to meet those needs. Staff are well prepared to meet the requirements of their role. Inspection report for children’s home for 2807447 6 There is only one member of staff who holds a relevant qualification. However, all other staff are enrolled on an appropriate course and are within the required timescales to achieve this.

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

The manager works effectively with the wider professional network to promote positive outcomes for the child. Communication across the professional network is effective and supports coordinated planning for the child. Inspection report for children’s home for 2807447 7

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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

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that staff follow children’s individual plans, particularly in relation to missing- from-home episodes and behaviour management. 30 October 2026

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child is only permitted for the purpose of preventing—

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Requirement Due date

injury to any person (including the child);

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Requirement Due date

serious damage to the property of any person (including the child); or

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Requirement Due date

a child who is accommodated in a secure children’s home from absconding from the home.

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate. (Regulation 20 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that physical intervention is only used as a last resort, when necessary to prevent harm to the child or to others. 30 October 2026 Inspection report for children’s home for 2807447 8 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

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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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)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that monitoring and review systems are effective in identifying shortfalls in practice and recording. When concerns are identified, the registered person must take prompt and appropriate action to address these issues and improve the quality and safety of the service. 30 October 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children;

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy.

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Requirement Due date

This regulation is subject to any monitoring or surveillance requirements imposed by a court. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(d) (2))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that monitoring is subject to regular review and informed by clear risk assessments, so that it remains proportionate to identified risks and is no more intrusive than necessary. 30 October 2026 Inspection report for children’s home for 2807447 9 The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must have an appraisal at least annually. The appraisal should take into account the views of other professionals who have worked with the staff member over the year and children in the home’s care. Appraisals should have clear actions to drive staff and service development. 30 October 2026

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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.

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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—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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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

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that the report contains the views of children’s families and staff within the home.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement has been restated. 30 October 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 Inspection report for children’s home for 2807447 10 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 for 2807447 11

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Rubix Care Group Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 1, Cottam Lane Business Centre, Cottam Lane, Ashton-on-Ribble, Preston PR2 1JR

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Inspector

Sarah Huntbatch, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home for 2807447 12 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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