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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2799971 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

This home is owned and managed by a private provider. It provides 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 April 2026.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home. The inspectors spoke to the child.

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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: good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: The home was subject to compliance notices following an assurance inspection on 11 November 2025. Two compliance notices were issued under Regulation 12, ‘The protection of children standard’, and Regulation Inspection report for children’s home: 2799971 2 13, ‘The leadership and management standard’. On 6 January 2026, Ofsted carried out a monitoring visit, during which the compliance notices were found to have been met. Inspection report for children’s home: 2799971 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/04/2025 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2799971 4

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Summary of findings

There has been a significant change in the staff team since the last inspection. However, the child is making positive progress despite this and has built safe, trusting relationships with staff.

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Summary of findings

The inconsistent recording and oversight of incidents, allegations and complaints are affecting the manager’s ability to evaluate and develop learning and demonstrate a lack of professional curiosity.

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improvement to be good

The child’s needs are being met in the living environment, and they like their bedroom. However, the overall condition of the home is not as well cared for as it could be, particularly the garden and bathroom areas.

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improvement to be good

The staff and the manager have strong, positive relationships with the child. The manager and staff work effectively with family members and external professionals to gain a better understanding of the child’s lived experiences. This has supported the child to explore their identity and culture, resulting in an increased understanding and positive progress from their starting point.

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improvement to be good

Staff actively support and encourage the child to attend health appointments. However, the manager has not ensured that actions arising from the child’s health assessment have been progressed in a timely manner. As a result, the child is not up to date with their immunisations, which may leave them vulnerable to preventable health risks. In addition, staff have not always followed health advice sought following potential substance use. The use of vapes has not been thoroughly explored, limiting the child’s knowledge of the risks of vaping.

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improvement to be good

The manager and staff facilitate regular time with family to help the child maintain positive relationships with people who are important to them. The manager and staff have been adaptable in their approach to family time and offer practical support, such as transport, as well as attending and facilitating activities with siblings as and when needed. This has supported the child and family to maintain valuable and positive time together.

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improvement to be good

The child enjoys taking part in activities with staff, including hiking, boxing, going to the gym and cooking. This helps the child develop social skills, feel a sense of belonging at home and build independence. Inspection report for children’s home: 2799971 5

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improvement to be good

Staff speak to the child about important topics. Staff are aware of the child’s strengths and vulnerabilities and acknowledge these in discussions, taking the child’s needs into account. These conversations help the child make safe, informed choices.

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improvement to be good

The manager has ensured that the child knows how to make a complaint. When the child has made a complaint, it has been addressed and an outcome has been discussed with the child. This has enabled the child to build trusting relationships with the adults around them.

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improvement to be good

When complaints are received from individuals other than children, leaders and managers do not consistently follow their internal processes. This limits the manager’s opportunities to identify any shortfalls in staff practice and opportunities to improve staff practice are missed.

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improvement to be good

When allegations are made, immediate safeguarding practice is implemented. The manager liaises with the local authority designated officer and the social worker. However, internal investigations are not thorough or well documented. This prevents reflection and learning to support staff development.

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improvement to be good

Staff have a good understanding of the child’s risks and vulnerabilities. When there have been concerns regarding knife crime, these have been fully explored and appropriate measures have been implemented. However, on one occasion, there was a delay in ensuring the safe disposal of a potential weapon.

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improvement to be good

Internet safety arrangements in place are good. Staff speak to the child about any concerns that may arise from the risk-reducing measures in place. This helps the child stay safe online and helps staff understand the wider risks to the child.

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

Staff report that they are supported by the manager, who is often present in the home. Staff are relatively new, with none of the staff, other than the manager, holding any formal qualifications. However, staff have demonstrated knowledge of the child and their risks and vulnerabilities. Consistent practice is becoming well-embedded in how staff support the child. This provides stability and understanding for the child, helping them recognise consistent rules and boundaries.

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

Leaders and managers have taken action when incidents occur with neighbours. However, this action has been ineffective in reducing tensions and building positive relationships with the local community. Additionally, the recording of one incident fails to acknowledge the complaint raised, which means the processes have not been followed, leading to a further missed opportunity to strengthen relationships in the community. Inspection report for children’s home: 2799971 6 Professional feedback is positive, with staff and managers described as accommodating and communicative. The child’s independent reviewing officer reported that the child has good relationships with staff. Staff speak warmly about the child and the strong relationships that have been established between the child, staff and the manager. These positive relationships have played a significant role in supporting the child to make good progress.

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

Staff receive supervision sessions to reflect on their practice; however, these do not occur consistently within required timescales. This inconsistency weakens the manager’s oversight of staff practice and limits their ability to support individuals, undermining staff confidence in their day-to-day duties.

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

The manager holds monthly team meetings and uses these sessions to conduct quizzes with staff to increase knowledge and identify areas for development for individual staff members. This ensures that any gaps in safeguarding knowledge are recognised and addressed immediately, providing safe and consistent care for the child. Inspection report for children’s home: 2799971 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

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are located so that children are effectively safeguarded. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(ii)(vi)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that incidents are managed effectively and that immediate action is put in place to reduce any further risk of harm to the child.

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Requirement Due date

Furthermore, the registered person must ensure that the child is supported to understand any risks that they may have been exposed too and how to reduce the likelihood of reoccurrence.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must be proactive in making attempts to reduce the tension in the local community, ensuring that staff remain consistent in their approach. 9 September 2026

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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

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 9 September 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2799971 8 ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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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)(b) (2)(e)(g)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the child experiences consistency in approaches in order to promote the child’s welfare. Records need to be detailed and evaluated, and any shortfalls in staff practice need to be recognised and addressed as appropriate.

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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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. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person needs to ensure that any outstanding health needs are actioned as identified and that medical advice is followed as directed. 9 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

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

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Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably; 9 September 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2799971 9 ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1) (2)(vii)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the home is well maintained, paying particular attention to the outdoor areas the bathroom area and communal areas.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must supply to HMCI, at HMCI’s request, a statement containing a summary of any complaints made during the preceding twelve months and the action that was taken in response to each complaint. (Regulation 39 (3) (5))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that complaint procedures are followed as directed in the provider’s complaint policy and that action is taken and an outcome recorded and shared with the relevant parties. 9 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: 2799971 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Rubix Care Group Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspectors

Claire Foster, Social Care Inspector Kitty Wiper, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2799971 11 regulates and inspects 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

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