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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2877173 1 Registered provider: Northridge 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 is owned and managed by a private provider. It offers care for up to 3 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties and/or have learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living at the home, and they spent time with the inspector.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and the manager registered with Ofsted in June 2026.

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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

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2877173 2

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Summary of findings

Despite some progress being made since moving into the home, the child’s placement is ending because the manager has recognised that the complexity of the child’s needs exceeds the skills and experience available within the staff team to meet them on a long- term basis.

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Summary of findings

Staff are caring, nurturing, and committed to the child’s wellbeing. They have developed a good understanding of the child’s communication needs and have supported family time and community involvement. However, safeguarding concerns relating to the safe storage and administration of medication have potentially placed the child at risk.

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Summary of findings

Although staff receive regular supervision, training, and specialist support from health professionals, this has not been sufficient to equip them to meet the child’s complex needs. Changes in staffing have also affected management oversight and delayed progress in addressing identified shortfalls.

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improvement to be good

The child is cared for by a nurturing and committed team of staff who want the best for them. Staff promote a positive and supportive environment and work hard to build positive relationships with the child. However, the manager did not carry out a sufficiently robust pre-admission assessment. As a result, the assessment did not identify the full extent of the child’s complex needs and vulnerabilities. As a result, the manager has made the decision that the child needs to move out as staff are unable to meet their specific needs and ensure their long-term safety.

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improvement to be good

Staff have a good understanding of the child’s complex health needs. They work with other professionals to help the child manage lifelong health conditions. An independent behaviour therapist supports staff in their roles. Through this guidance, staff are developing a better understanding of the child’s complex needs and the routines required to promote their emotional wellbeing.

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improvement to be good

Through the positive relationships developed with key staff, the child has made some progress during their short time at the home. Staff have supported the child to overcome anxieties about having their hair cut, attending health appointments, and taking part in activities in the community safely. This support helps to build the child’s confidence.

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improvement to be good

Staff are developing a good understanding of the child’s communication needs. They help the child to express their wishes and feelings through gestures, picture prompts, Makaton, and the use of an augmentative and alternative communication device. This enables the child to participate more fully in daily life. Inspection report for children’s home: 2877173 3 Staff understand the importance of the child maintaining relationships with their parents, despite them living some distance from the home. They welcome the parents into the home, and the parents regularly visit and spend time with the child at the home and in the community.

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improvement to be good

Staff sensitively encourage the child to develop life skills and increase their independence. They support the child to carry out age-appropriate household tasks, prepare snacks, attend to their personal hygiene, and participate in shopping activities. This helps the child to build confidence and develop independence in line with their individual needs and abilities.

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improvement to be good

Staff are caring and nurturing in their approach to supporting the child, who has complex learning difficulties. However, the manager has not ensured that staff fully understand their safeguarding responsibilities, particularly in relation to the safe storage and administration of medication.

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improvement to be good

The manager has not ensured that medication is managed safely and in line with the home’s policies. Due to the child’s complex health needs, they require regular prescribed medication, which is stored securely in a locked staff office. Despite this, staff have allowed a parent access to the child’s medication on 4 occasions, and the parent has administered prescribed ‘when required’ medication. This practice goes against the home’s procedure. In addition, the manager has not implemented a clear safety plan to provide staff and parents with consistent guidance and prevent these issues from recurring.

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improvement to be good

Staff manage complex and challenging situations and take appropriate action to keep the child safe. There have been occasions when staff had to use physical intervention to keep the child safe after all de-escalation and distraction methods have been explored. However, the manager has not ensured that the child has been given an opportunity to express their feelings after these incidents.

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improvement to be good

Staff have a good understanding of the child’s emotional and communication needs. This enables staff to quickly identify when the child is distressed or unhappy, and they can communicate with them so that the child’s concerns are addressed. When there have been complaints, they have been managed effectively.

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improvement to be good

The manager has ensured that safeguarding incidents are notified to the appropriate safeguarding agencies. However, on one occasion, there has been a delay in notifying the regulator. This reduced the regulator’s ability to monitor the provider’s response within an appropriate timescale.

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improvement to be good

Staff provide the child with a comfortable, clean, tidy and physically safe living environment. They actively support the child’s sensory needs and incorporate these into Inspection report for children’s home: 2877173 4 day-to-day care. The manager has reorganised the home’s layout and converted one lounge into a dedicated sensory room. The garden also contains sensory equipment, including a trampoline and paddling pool, which the child enjoys using and helps to support their wellbeing.

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

The manager is experienced, child centred and wants the best for the child. She is currently working towards her qualification in leadership and management. Due to staff changes and the need to maintain experienced staff on shift to meet the complex needs of the child, the manager also provides direct care to the child. This helps to ensure consistency and stability for the child. However, these additional responsibilities are affecting the manager’s capacity to carry out all management tasks effectively.

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

The manager has taken appropriate steps to maintain safe staffing arrangements. The child’s complex needs require a high level of staffing support. Recruitment is ongoing, and agency staff are currently working with the child. The manager has ensured that agency staff have the necessary experience and skills to meet the child’s needs, and they work alongside experienced staff members. In addition, an experienced deputy manager has transferred from another home to support the staff team and provide further experience.

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

Staff demonstrate care, commitment and a genuine desire to make a positive difference to children’s lives. Despite this, they do not yet work effectively in line with the objectives set out in the home’s statement of purpose. As a result, the home has not achieved its intended outcomes for the child. Since registration, the placement has not progressed as planned and will end prematurely.

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

There is a comprehensive training programme available to staff and begins from induction. The manager has ensured that staff have completed specific training in relation to the child’s needs. However, despite attending this training, staff have not developed the knowledge and skills required to meet the full extent of the child’s complex needs effectively.

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

Team meetings are well attended and take place regularly. This gives staff an opportunity to come together, reflect and share information effectively and discuss the child’s needs. This provides consistency for the child.

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

Supervision sessions follow an in-depth agenda, covering all relevant areas of practice. This provides staff with opportunities to reflect and consider areas for further development. The staff said they feel supported by the manager.

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

The manager remains committed to developing the staff team and improving the quality of care provided. She recognises that improvements are needed and has demonstrated a willingness to reflect on practice and take steps to improve outcomes for children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2877173 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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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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)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff have a clear understanding of their safeguarding responsibilities in relation to the safe storage and administration of medication. 27 October 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

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— 27 October 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2877173 6 lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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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)(a)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that significant incidents are evaluated with scrutiny, taking into consideration any possible learning outcomes that can be implemented in safety plans to prevent further incidents and to support the development of staff.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

medicines kept in the home are stored in a secure place so as to prevent any child from having unsupervised access to them;

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Requirement Due date

a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(a)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person ensure that staff safely store and administer medication in accordance with administration guidance. 27 October 2026

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. 27 October 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2877173 7 that arrangements are in place to—

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Requirement Due date

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home.

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Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(iii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must only agree that children can move into the home when they are satisfied that staff have the appropriate skills and knowledge to meet and respond effectively to their needs.

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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

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and 27 October 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2877173 8 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 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that clear systems are in place to enable the child to express their feelings and understand why a physical intervention was necessary.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should have a system in place so that all serious incidents are notified to the appropriate parties within 24 hours. The system should cover the action to take if the incident arises on a weekend or public holiday. Notification must include details of the action taken by the home’s staff in response to the incident. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.13)

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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: 2877173 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Northridge Care Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Richard House, 9 Winckley Square, Preston, Lancashire PR1 3HP

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Inspector

Simon Jones, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2877173 10 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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