Children's Home run by Residential Child Care Community (Town Hall) Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2819926 1 Registered provider: Residential Child Care Community (Town Hall) 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 company. It provides care for up to 4 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, 2 children were living at the home. Inspectors spoke with one child who was living at the home and 2 children who had recently moved on.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is managed effectively by an experienced registered manager.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2819926 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/07/2025 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2819926 3

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Summary of findings

Staff build strong, trusting relationships with children and understand their risks and vulnerabilities. Children are supported to access advocacy support, and their wishes and feelings are central to staff practice.

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Summary of findings

Leaders and managers run the home effectively. Staff say they are supported and have access to a wide range of training. When safeguarding concerns arise, leaders and managers take prompt and appropriate action to protect children and promote their welfare.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s moves into and out of the home are well managed. When moves are unplanned, staff support children to understand the reasons for this and celebrate their time at the home. As a result, children experience positive endings. One social worker said, ‘Staff have made considerable efforts to ensure [name of child] feels welcomed, valued, and safe within the home.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff consistently place children’s wishes and feelings at the centre of their practice. Leaders and managers advocate effectively for children and challenge other professionals when necessary to ensure that children’s views are heard and acted on. For example, managers promoted one child’s preferences when planning for her future. Children also receive support to access advocacy services. As a result, children feel heard and empowered.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to spend time with their families and other people who are important to them. Staff work creatively to ensure children can safely spend time with people they love. Family members value the practical support. One parent said, ‘There is quite a distance between us, but it doesn’t feel like it due to staff support.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When there are barriers to children’s education, staff take proactive steps to resolve the issues and encourage children to engage in learning. Although children have not always attended educational settings, staff persistently promote their educational aspirations and provide alternative learning opportunities. For example, staff have supported children to complete college applications and prepare CVs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children choose not to attend medical appointments, staff continue to encourage and support them until they feel able to attend. Staff help children understand the importance of meeting their health needs and provide support to promote their emotional well-being. They also help children identify safer and more effective coping strategies. Inspection report for children’s home: 2819926 4 The home is warm, welcoming and well maintained. Children’s artwork, certificates and trophies are displayed throughout the home. This supports children to develop a sense of belonging. However, fire doors are being propped open with door wedges. This does not support a homely environment or fire safety. In addition, staff do not consistently follow internal processes regarding food hygiene procedures.

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

Staff build positive relationships with children. As a result, children feel able to share their worries and concerns. Staff know children well and understand their risks and vulnerabilities. They speak confidently about the support children need to stay safe. One professional said, ‘Staff knowledge and understanding significantly contributed to risk assessment, care planning and the implementation of appropriate interventions.’

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

Children engage in meaningful discussions with staff about risks. For example, staff discuss the dangers of going missing from home and substance misuse. These conversations help children to make safer choices. Additionally, staff speak proudly about children and their achievements.

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

When children go missing from home, staff take prompt action to locate them. They actively search for children, make repeated attempts to contact them and work closely with the relevant professionals. Staff also gather information from family members and friends to support the children’s safe return. One social worker said, ‘Staff maintained professional curiosity regarding [name of child]’s whereabouts and wellbeing.’

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

Staff and managers understand the importance of timely information-sharing. They foster positive working relationships with multi-agency professionals to support risk management for children. This coordinated approach supports effective intervention and helps keep children safe.

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

Children’s plans identify known risks, vulnerabilities and their wishes and views about their care. However, the plans do not clearly identify the process for staff to follow when children are under the influence of cannabis. This could have an impact on staff’s ability to respond appropriately and keep children safe.

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

Leaders and managers take appropriate action when concerns are raised in respect of staff practice and conduct. They investigate concerns thoroughly and take timely action when required. This helps staff understand their responsibilities and reinforces expectations about professional practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is suitably qualified and experienced. The manager is well supported by an experienced deputy manager. Together they are committed to achieving good outcomes for children in their care. Staff describe the management team as approachable, supportive and effective. Leaders and managers communicate effectively with the staff Inspection report for children’s home: 2819926 5 team and wider professionals. One professional described communication as ‘exemplary’. This supports positive multi-agency working, and the smooth running of the home. Supervision sessions take place in line with the home’s statement of purpose. Managers use these sessions to reflect on incidents, consider how they were managed and reinforce staff roles and responsibilities. As a result, staff feel supported and understand their safeguarding responsibilities well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has effective monitoring and review systems in place. Although some recording shortfalls were identified, the manager had already recognised these issues and is taking action to strengthen recording in specific areas.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager uses team meetings to review children’s risks and provide staff with opportunities to share their views and reflect on practice. Staff are encouraged to develop their skills and knowledge. As a result, the home has experienced minimal staff turnover, providing children with consistency and continuity of care. Inspection report for children’s home: 2819926 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

After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

take adequate precautions against the risk of fire, including the provision of suitable fire equipment in the children’s home. (Regulation 25 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that when in use, fire doors are not obstructively held open using door wedges. 5 November 2026

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff consistently follow the home’s food hygiene procedures and carry out regular food hygiene checks to promote children’s health and safety. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)  The registered person should ensure that risk assessments provide clear and specific guidance for staff on how to respond when children are under the influence of cannabis so that risks are managed consistently and children are kept safe. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)

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Recommendations

Inspection report for children’s home: 2819926 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: 2819926 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Residential Child Care Community (Town Hall) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 843 Finchley Road, London NW11 8NA

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Inspectors

Kitty Wiper, Social Care Inspector Carrie Mayes, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2819926 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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