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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2834145 1 Registered provider: Northridge Care Group Limited

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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. The home provides care for up to 3 children with social and emotional difficulties or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, 3 children were living at the home. The inspector spoke to 2 children.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and the manager registered with Ofsted in January 2025.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: 18 November 2025

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2834145 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/11/2025 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2834145 3

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Summary of findings

Children are making good progress in all areas. They are supported to access learning that is suitable to their needs and that supports their positive engagement.

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Summary of findings

Children’s risks have reduced due to the consistent support and boundaries in place. Safety measures are reviewed if a child goes missing from the home, and alternative strategies are implemented for a specific period of time, or until the risk reduces. This helps keep children safe.

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Summary of findings

There is a stable team of staff who feel supported by an experienced and knowledgeable manager. However, there are shortfalls in the training provided to staff in relation to common issues experienced by adolescents, particularly vaping and sexual health.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child moved into the home very recently and has settled well in the home. The child said that they are ‘happy’ and getting along well with everyone. The child enjoys the incentives available in the home and was happy to be rewarded for their positive achievements. Before children move into the home, the manager ensures that consideration is given to the ability of staff to meet all children’s individual needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is promoted in the home and the priority is to support children to access full- time education whenever possible. Staff acknowledge the difficulties faced by children who have not been in a classroom environment for some time and struggle to access the learning. For children who are not in education, they are supported to access alternative learning opportunities that are suitable to their needs and that support their positive engagement. One child has successfully completed a long-term work-experience placement and is now being supported to find paid employment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children’s health needs are met and they are supported to attend routine appointments. However, children are not consistently educated to understand the risks associated with some wider health issues, such as vaping. Therefore, children are not supported to make safer choices or reduce usage.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children can access input from the provider’s therapist to support their emotional wellbeing. The therapist regularly attends the staff team meetings to provide up-to-date advice in respect of the children’s emerging needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager recognises the importance of the children’s family, peers and wider networks. Staff strive to build effective working relationships with family members whenever possible and support children to maintain their relationships with family and friends, including those at a distance. Financial support is provided to enable children to Inspection report for children’s home: 2834145 4 enjoy social activities with friends and family members. Children also enjoy a range of activities with staff, such as go-karting, golf and holidays.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is comfortable and cosy and there are photos of the children displayed around the home. There are plans in place for a full redecoration, as the home is showing some signs of wear and tear. However, the back garden needs some immediate attention, and damage to the home is not always repaired in a timely manner. This means that the children do not consistently benefit from a well-maintained, homely environment.

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

One child has made significant progress during their time living in the home and any previously identified risks are now considered to be minimal. There are age-appropriate expectations in place for behaviour, and to support children to stay safe. Children have positive relationships with staff built on trust and mutual respect. Staff speak warmly about all the children and the progress the children have made.

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

When children go missing from the home, this is managed effectively by staff, who go looking for children in the local area. When children are away from home, staff maintain contact with family members and the police, while supporting children to return home safely. Following any periods of children going missing from the home, the manager assesses whether additional safety measures are needed to keep children safe, such as increased staffing through the night. Any new measures are reviewed regularly and only used for as long as they are necessary. As a result of this, one child goes missing from the home less often and is choosing to spend more time in the home.

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

Risks in respect of the children are clearly identified and understood by all staff. Risk assessments are being updated to make them more child friendly to enable children to contribute and ensure their views are reflected in their plans.

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

Children are encouraged to give their views on any consequences put in place and children generally agree that these are reasonable and helpful. Consequences are mainly centred on improving children’s decisions about being safe and encourage opportunities for children to reflect and learn.

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

Staff recruitment is completed safely. Staff have a good understanding of their safeguarding responsibilities and how to escalate any concerns.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed effectively by a manager who has good insight into the needs of all 3 children. The manager is supported by a stable team of staff, many of whom have been a part of the team since the home was registered. Staff feel supported by the manager and value the manager’s knowledge and experience. Inspection report for children’s home: 2834145 5 Children are encouraged to express their views in respect of their care plans and supported to challenge any decisions when they are not in agreement. This enables children to be actively involved in planning for their future.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervision sessions take place regularly and staff find them a useful arena to discuss the children, any worries the staff member has and their developmental needs. Annual appraisals include feedback from children and professionals, which helps support staff development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings have good attendance, and they are used to discuss the children’s needs, or the needs of any new children joining the home. There are learning sessions and opportunities to consolidate any recent training.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are up to date with mandatory training that supports their caring role. However, training relevant to risks associated with teenagers, such as vaping and sexual health, has not been provided. Therefore, staff are not fully equipped on how to respond effectively to any conversations that may arise, or to support children in reducing any associated risks.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professional involved with the children spoke positively about the warm welcome they get from the staff team alongside the care, support and consistency offered to the children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2834145 6

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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 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—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of 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

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met. (Regulation 13 (1)(b) (2)(c)(g)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff receive training relevant to the current and emerging needs and vulnerabilities of children living in the home. 28 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

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 (2)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the home environment and gardens are well maintained, and any damage to the home is repaired without delay. 28 September 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2834145 7

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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: 2834145 8

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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

Melanie Cotterill, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2834145 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted Inspection report for children’s home: 2834145 10

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