Children's Home run by Coastal Path Care Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2752994 1 Registered provider: Coastal Path Care Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a small private provider. It provides care for up to 2 children who may have social and emotional needs.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, there was no children living in the home.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2025.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 9 December 2025

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2752994 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/12/2025 Full Good 12/06/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2752994 3

p.2

Summary of findings

Children’s risks reduced during their stay in the home. Staff build strong, trusting relationships with children and understood their risks and vulnerabilities. Children receive care from a consistent team of experienced and qualified staff.

p.3

Summary of findings

Leaders and managers run the home effectively. Staff say they are supported, valued and well equipped to meet the children’s needs. When safeguarding concerns arise, leaders and managers take prompt and appropriate action to protect children and promote their welfare.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are currently no children living at the home. Staff continue to maintain the home to a high standard. Leaders and managers have used this period to repaint the home and purchase new furniture. This demonstrates their commitment to providing a warm, welcoming and nurturing environment for children when they move into the home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one child has moved on from the home. Leaders and managers advocate for children to experience well-planned moves, both in and out of the home. Staff explore children’s wishes and feelings about moving and develop tailored plans to support them. This offers children reassurances about their future living arrangements.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff speak positively about the children and the progress they make. They have developed positive, trusting relationships with the children. A parent described their child’s relationship with staff as, ‘Really good and supportive’, stating ‘They have made a big difference to [Child’s name’s] life’. As a result, the child now has an agreed plan in place to support ongoing communication and visits with the staff team. This helps the child to understand that trusted adults continue to care about them after they leave the home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is supported and encouraged by staff. They help children identify future ambitions and explore opportunities to achieve them. For example, staff encouraged the child to undertake work experience and supported with a range of college applications. This means that the child has clear education plans in place and is encouraged to aspire and plan for their future.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff recognise the importance of family connections. They work closely with the child and family members to support rebuilding and restoring family relationships. For example, leaders and managers supported and funded a holiday for the child with their parent. This supports the child’s sense of identity and belonging.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child who has recently moved on was offered a wide range of activities, from attending football matches, trips to cities and meals out. Staff show a genuine interest in Inspection report for children’s home: 2752994 4 the child’s personality and tailor activities to their needs and preferences. Staff creatively use activities to build the child’s confidence and independence skills. For example, on one occasion the child was supported to read the names out for a local football game at the stadium.

p.3

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

Since moving to the home, the child’s risks have reduced. Staff know the child well and understand their needs and risks and vulnerabilities. Staff provide a nurturing and warm environment. They speak positively about the progress children make, offering positive praise and recognition. One staff member said, ‘It is a privilege to be involved in their day-to-day life and to see the progress they make’.

p.4

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

Staff regularly talk to the child about identified risks and concerns. Staff use professional curiosity to explore the reasons behind the child’s behaviours or worries. Staff and managers also ensure that the child understands their rights and entitlements and is aware of the processes in place to support them.

p.4

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

Staff understand their safeguarding roles and responsibilities and know what action to take if they have any worries or concerns. However, on one occasion a child gained access to the home’s vehicle. This placed the child and others at risk of harm. Leaders and managers responded appropriately by reviewing practice and implementing clear arrangements for the safe storage of keys to reduce the likelihood of this happening again.

p.4

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

When the child went missing from home, staff responded promptly and effectively. They worked closely with the police and carried out extensive searches of locations known to be frequented by the child. Staff travelled to all identified locations and tried to locate them. Following each missing episode, staff ensured that the child was offered an independent return home interview. These actions help staff to understand the reasons behind the child's missing episodes, identify any emerging risks, and develop strategies to reduce the likelihood of future incidents.

p.4

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

There has been one use of physical restraint. Staff use physical intervention only as a last resort to prevent harm and keep the child and others safe. Following the incident, the child was offered the opportunity to speak with an independent person, and staff were provided with the opportunity to reflect on the intervention and consider any learning arising from the incident. However, when the child sustained an injury, staff did not seek medical advice. Instead, they accepted the child's view that medical attention was not required. This represents a missed opportunity to ensure the child's welfare was fully assessed and that appropriate medical advice was obtained.

p.4

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

When staff are concerned that the child may be under the influence of substances, they seek medical advice. They talk to the child about associated risks and make referrals to specialist services. As a result, the child can access support from professionals with the expertise to meet their needs. Inspection report for children’s home: 2752994 5

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is dual registered. This means that she is also responsible for managing another home in the organisation. She receives support from the responsible individual and a deputy manager. The manager has effective systems in place to support her with the day-to-day running of the home.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers prioritise staff wellbeing as a priority. They acknowledge the importance of staff retention. As a result, there have been minimal changes in staffing since the last inspection. This offers children consistency and continuity of care.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There has been one new staff member who received a well-planned induction, including shadowing, observations of their practice and regular supervisions. Additionally, all recruitment checks are carried out to ensure that staff are suitable to work with children.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers respond promptly to safeguarding concerns. They identify learning from incidents and share this effectively with the staff team. Their oversight helps to strengthen practice and reduce the likelihood of similar incidents occurring in the future.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings take place regularly and are well organised, with a clear agenda. The manager uses these meetings effectively to discuss relevant research, practice developments and legislation. This helps her to evaluate staff’s knowledge and understanding of their roles and responsibilities and promotes reflective practice. Inspection report for children’s home: 2752994 6

p.5

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff follow processes and procedures in relation to key storage. 11 September 2026

p.6

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff have the relevant skills and knowledge to be able to: respond to the health needs of children. This relates specifically to obtaining medical advice in the event that a child bangs their head. (Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’ page 34, paragraph 7.12) Inspection report for children’s home: 2752994 7

p.6

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: 2752994 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Coastal Path Care Limited

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Whitegate accountants, 49 Whitegate Drive, Blackpool FY3 9DG

p.8

Inspector

Kitty Wiper, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2752994 9 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.

p.8

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.9

Inspector

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

p.9

Inspector

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

p.9