Children's Home run by Orchard Adolescent Care Group in Lancashire

Inspection report children's home: 2794973 1 Registered provider: Orchard Adolescent Care Group

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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 managed by a private provider. It offers care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

At the time of this visit, one child was living at the home.

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Information about this children's home

The post for a registered manager is vacant.

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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: Inadequate

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

The home was judged as 'inadequate' at a full inspection carried out on 12 and 13 May 2026. The inspector identified significant shortfalls in safeguarding practice, as well as weaknesses in the home's leadership and management.

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

Following the full inspection, 3 compliance notices were issued under section 22A of the Care Standards Act 2000. These related to Regulation 12 (the protection of children Inspection report children's home: 2794973 2 standard), Regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard) and Regulation 32 (fitness of workers) of The Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015.

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

A monitoring visit took place on 17 June 2026. Following this visit, a case review was held. It was agreed that the provider had not taken sufficient action to meet the requirements of the compliance notices. The compliance notices issued under Regulations 12, 13 and 32 were restated.

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

A monitoring visit took place on the 28 July 2026. Following this monitoring visit a case review was held where it was agreed that the provider had taken sufficient action to meet the steps in the compliance notices. Inspection report children's home: 2794973 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/05/2026 Full Inadequate 17/06/2025 Full Good 11/02/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report children's home: 2794973 4

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Summary of findings

The child continues to make progress whilst living at the home and has been supported to enjoy a variety of experiences since the last inspection. However, shortfalls in practice and management oversight have impacted on the child's overall experiences. Leaders and managers have continued to take steps to improve systems, implement changes and address shortfalls. However, these changes are not yet fully embedded in practice and or led to sustained improvement.

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improvement to be good

One child continues to live at the home. They have positive relationships with the staff team and say that they like living there. The child is encouraged to share their views and wishes and have a say about their care. This support's the child to feel valued and listened to.

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improvement to be good

The child's support plans are personalised and detailed. However, they are not consistently updated or followed by staff. Areas identified for the completion of direct work have not been addressed and actions from local authority meetings are not revisited. This means that staff are unaware of the progress of any actions agreed at the most recent statutory review meeting.

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection the child has had one hundred per cent attendance at school and continues to make progress with their education. The manager attends weekly meetings with school to support education professionals and help address emerging concerns.

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improvement to be good

Staff encourage the child to engage in a variety of activities such as waterparks and caving. Since the last inspection the child has enjoyed holidays to Wales and Blackpool.

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improvement to be good

Staff support the child to spend time with people who are important to them. They work hard to establish and maintain relationships with family members.

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improvement to be good

The child is supported to attend regular routine health appointments. However, there has not been a sufficient or proactive approach in helping the child to develop greater confidence and resilience in relation to an identified difficulty, despite this being recognised as an area requiring support from the staff team.

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improvement to be good

The therapeutic approach as outlined in the home's statement of purpose has not yet been fully embedded across staff practice at the home. Staff are not consistently Inspection report children's home: 2794973 5 professionally curious and the child's feelings, emotions and underlying reasons for incidents are not always explored. This limits opportunities to explore the underlying factors influencing the child's behaviour and to develop effective strategies to support them in managing their emotions.

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improvement to be good

High risk activities are not always adequately assessed to determine their safety prior to taking place. The child has been supported to participate in paddle boarding and open water swimming activities with staff despite limited evidence of appropriate planning, risk assessment and provision of suitable equipment. Whilst this has not resulted in any known impact to the child's safety to date, the lack of adequate planning and assessment has the potential to place both the child and staff at unnecessary risk.

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improvement to be good

Staff have not completed all training specific to the child's individual needs. Training scheduled to be completed at the last monitoring visit was cancelled, and leaders and managers did not take action to address this until it was raised during this inspection.

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improvement to be good

Allegations of harm and concerns regarding staff practice are responded to immediately and shared with the relevant professionals. This ensures that the is child is adequately safeguarded and concerns are investigated through a transparent process.

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improvement to be good

Staff do not consistently record the consequences implemented in response to the child's behaviour. There is limited management oversight of consequences, and their effectiveness is not always reviewed or evaluated.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers do not always notify Ofsted of serious incidents. This reduces the regulator's ability to monitor safeguarding practice at the home effectively.

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

An interim manager has managed the home since the last inspection, and a new proposed responsible individual joined the team in July 2026. Both acknowledge that there are areas for improvement and are taking positive steps to strengthen practice, with a greater focus on trauma informed and therapeutic approaches.

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

The interim manager has developed positive working relationships with family and professionals. Feedback about the interim manager is positive, particularly in relation to his practice and child focused ethos.

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

Team meetings and staff supervisions are taking place regularly. The interim manager ensures that these provide staff with opportunities for further support and learning.

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

Recording and reporting in the home is not yet effective. Records are not always written in a child centred way, and not all incidents are clearly recorded and shared with professionals. This limits the interim manager's ability to identify and address shortfalls in staff practice and to identify areas for learning and development to improve practice. Inspection report children's home: 2794973 6 Leaders and managers do not ensure that the supervision arrangements for professionals commissioned to provide therapeutic support are recorded in the home's statement of purpose. This means that there is not a complete record of how the home operates.

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

The quality-of-care review was shared with Ofsted outside of regulatory timescales. The review lacked evaluation of the home's progress and development over the previous 6 months. It did not sufficiently include the views of the child, parents, staff or relevant professionals, and provided limited information about the actions required to drive improvement over the next 6 months. This means that review does not provide leaders and managers with sufficient insight into the effectiveness of care or identify and address areas for improvement.

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

The manager has not yet applied to register with Ofsted as required by regulation. A requirement has been raised regarding this. Inspection report children's home: 2794973 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

A person may only manage a children's home if—

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Requirement Due date

the person is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

having regard to the size of the home, its statement of purpose, and the number and needs (including any needs arising from any disability) of the children—

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Requirement Due date

the person has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills to manage the home effectively and lead the care of children; and

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Requirement Due date

the person is physically and mentally fit to manage the home; and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the person in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 28 (1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered provider must ensure that the manager appointed applies to register with Ofsted without delay and always within regulatory timescales. 14 September 2026

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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 28 September 2026 Inspection report children's home: 2794973 8 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.

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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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered provider must ensure that the child's risk plans detail all known risks for the child, along with clear guidance to support staff in keeping the child safe.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all staff have completed training specific to the child's individual needs such as Foetal alcohol syndrome and ADHD. 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; and

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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 provider must implement robust internal monitoring systems to support continuous improvements and ensure that they have oversight of all work completed. And that work is evaluated to establish any shortfalls in staff practice and identify areas of learning to support the development of staff and make continuous improvements for the 28 September 2026 Inspection report children's home: 2794973 9 child. The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on— mutual respect and trust;

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

meet each child's behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child's relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child's behaviour, in accordance with the child's age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand, in a way that is appropriate according to the child's age and understanding, personal, sexual and social relationships, and how those relationships can be supportive or harmful;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop the understanding and skills to recognise or withdraw from a damaging, exploitative or harmful relationship;

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Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(vi)(vii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered provider must ensure that the child is provided with proactive support that is planned and regularly implemented, based on their individual needs, risks and vulnerabilities. 28 September 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children's home a statement (“the statement of purpose”) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the home is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose. (Regulation 16 (1) (5)) 28 September 2026 Inspection report children's home: 2794973 10 Specifically, the registered provider must ensure that details of supervision arrangements for staff commissioned by the provider to provide therapeutic support are included in the statement of purpose.

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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

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Requirement Due date

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 (a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered provider must ensure that any consequences implemented to keep the child safe or in response to their behaviour are clearly evaluated for effectiveness. 28 September 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which— 28 September 2026 Inspection report children's home: 2794973 11 include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered provider should ensure that each child's records are kept up-to-date and signed by the author. The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(e))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered provider must ensure that significant incidents are shared with Ofsted. 28 September 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. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered provider should ensure that the quality of care review incorporates feedback from children, families, and professionals. The quality of care review should be evaluative in nature, and should identify learning from the past six months. This should then be carried forward to create an action plan with clear, measurable goals. 28 September 2026 Inspection report children's home: 2794973 12

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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 children's home: 2794973 13

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Orchard Adolescent Care Group

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Unit 16, Holroyd Business Centre, Carr Bottom Road, Bradford BD5 9BP

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Inspector

Kelly McCurdy, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: 2794973 14 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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