Children's Home run by A-Triangle Care Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2741405 1 Registered provider: A-Triangle Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned home that provides care for up to two children who may be experiencing social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager since January 2026.

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

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2741405 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/07/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 23/10/2024 Full Good 19/03/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2741405 3

p.2

Summary of findings

Staff provide the child with warm, consistent and nurturing care. Staff have positive relationships with the child, promote their views, identity, education and family connections, and support a range of meaningful activities and experiences.

p.3

Summary of findings

Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with staff responding appropriately to risks, missing episodes and significant events. Detailed care planning and key-work support promote the child’s development, independence and emotional wellbeing.

p.3

Summary of findings

Strong leadership, effective monitoring, a stable and well-trained staff team and good partnership working contribute to positive outcomes.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff and the child share positive and trusting relationships. Staff encourage the child to express their views and wishes and listen to them if they have any worries or concerns.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has a range of positive experiences and benefits from living at the home. Positive behaviour and achievements are suitably rewarded and celebrated to support and encourage the child to develop good character.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When there are difficulties with the child’s access to a suitable education provision. The manager is suitably challenging this with the virtual school and placing authority to advocate for their educational needs. There is a strong focus on education in the home and staff help the child to complete home learning whilst they are waiting to attend formal education.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child to make memories and to take part in lots of adventures and activities. They plan these around their interests and hobbies while encouraging them to try new things. Staff encourage the child to express themselves and celebrate their individual identity.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support and transport the child to spend time with family and friends and welcome family into the home. This ensures that they can maintain relationships that are important to them.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When the child was new to the home, the manager and staff carefully planned and supported the child’s move into the home. They completed comprehensive assessments before the child moved in and reviewed all relevant information to be able to meet the child’s needs. Staff managed the transition sensitively and took account of the child’s individual circumstances. Inspection report for children’s home: 2741405 4 The manager carefully considers decisions to end a child’s placement. She evaluates all aspects of the child’s circumstances, including increasing risks, to ensure decisions are made in the child’s best interests. The manager works in partnership with placing authorities and collaborates with new providers to share important information and support smooth transitions.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home provides a warm, welcoming environment where the child has a sense of belonging. Photographs displayed throughout the home and the responsibility for caring for pets help promote this. The child has a suitably furnished bedroom that meets her needs. However, signs of wear and tear mean the bedroom would benefit from redecoration.

p.4

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

Staff understand and appropriately use the whistleblowing process. When concerns arise, leaders and managers respond swiftly and effectively, ensuring the child’s welfare remains the priority.

p.4

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

Staff consistently apply agreed restrictions designed to keep the child safe. They supported the child through a structured independence plan that reduced restrictions while developing their knowledge and skills. As a result, the child is no longer subject to a deprivation of liberty order.

p.4

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

Staff complete regular, meaningful key-work sessions with the child. These sessions help them prepare for significant events, reflect on difficult experiences and understand and manage their emotions. Staff also use them to increase the child’s awareness of risks, develop safety skills and prepare for adulthood.

p.4

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

The child’s support plan s are detailed documents which are updated regularly to include current and relevant information. These documents provide staff with clear guidance and strategies to support the child. Staff understand these strategies and put them into practice which provides consistency of care for the child.

p.4

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

Staff respond appropriately when the child goes missing from the home. They take prompt action to locate them and work effectively with relevant professionals to support their safe return. Staff demonstrate professional curiosity about their experiences while missing and share relevant information with agencies such as the police and missing- from-care team. The manager maintains detailed oversight of all missing episodes and uses this information to review practice and strengthen care planning.

p.4

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

When significant events occur in the home, the manager and staff respond suitably ensuring that the child’s best interests are central to their decision making. The manager ensures that there is a detailed overview of each report and staff complete individual support sessions with the child following these events to help them to reflect on situations. Inspection report for children’s home: 2741405 5 Staff use their training and knowledge to identify and respond to risks of exploitation. When concerns arise, they act quickly to safeguard the child and work closely with the police, placing authority and other professionals. Staff complete ongoing direct work with the child around healthy relationships and online safety.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager provides strong leadership and a clear vision for the home. Although there is currently no registered manager in post, the manager has applied to Ofsted to register. She leads by example and has aspirations for the child and the staff team. Staff describe her as supportive, approachable and readily available for guidance.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager makes effective use of internal and external monitoring of the home. This provides scrutiny and ensures that the manager can identify areas of strength and positive practice and supports continuous improvement.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a stable and consistent staff team which provides continuity of care. The child is supported by staff who know them well and understand their needs. Staff are appropriately qualified and have completed a broad range of training tailored to those needs.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from regular supervision sessions that promotes reflective practice and development. Supervision sessions focus on the child, review practice, reflect on significant events and support staff wellbeing. Managers also complete probation reviews and annual appraisals to assess performance and professional development.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Regular team meetings support effective communication and learning and are well attended by the team. They are child focused and used to share information and updates about the child and their changing needs. They are also used as a development and training opportunity for staff.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff work together with external professionals involved in the child’s life such as placing authorities, virtual school and the child’s family to ensure that there is a wraparound approach to promoting children’s welfare. Inspection report for children’s home: 2741405 6

p.5

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff seek to meet the child’s basic needs in the way that a good parent would, recognising that many children in residential care have experienced environments where these needs have not been consistently met. Any damage or wear and tear to the home and the child’s bedroom should be swiftly repaired and/or redecorated. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.7)

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: 2741405 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: A-Triangle Care Limited

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 5 Crescent East, Hardhorn Road, Thornton-Cleveleys, Lancashire FY5 3LJ

p.7

Inspector

Katie Tomlinson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2741405 8 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.7

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.8

Inspector

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

p.8

Inspector

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

p.8