Social care · Social care monitoring visit
Children's Home run by Yourcare (Northwest) Limited in LancashireOfsted inspection, 9 Sept 2026
Ofsted inspected this children's home run by yourcare (northwest) limited on 9 Sept 2026, led by Michelle McGrath. Source: Ofsted (Open Government Licence v3).
Summary
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- Group verified
Yourcare (Northwest) Limited
- Inspection date verified
9 Sept 2026
- Inspectorssingle source
Michelle McGrath
- Name on report verified
2821688
- URN verified
2821688
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Reads more warmly than most reports of this type.
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Strengths
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No standout praise found.
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Next steps
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- The registered provider must ensure that all incidents are reviewed, that all shortfalls in staff practice are identified and that prompt action is taken to address these. p.4
- The registered provider must ensure that follow-up actions identified following incidents are promptly completed. p.4
- This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 11 November 2026 p.4
- Specifically, The registered provider must ensure that when a child is admitted to the home, they are able to meet the child’s needs. p.5
- The registered provider must ensure that staff identify all known risks and support needs within the plans. p.5
- The plans must also contain an explanation of how staff will support the child. p.5
- Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that staff have the skills to be able to de-escalate violent behaviour by children. p.6
- Additionally, ensure that staff communicate with the child about expectations regards their behaviour and that they help the child to develop skills to resolve conflict. p.6
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Anatomy of the report
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- Pages
- 9
- Words of findings
- 757
- longer than usual (typical 590)
- Reading level
- Hard
- Flesch 46, typical 46
- Average sentence
- 18 words
- Next steps
- 8
- typical 5
- Hedged sentences
- 0%
- “some”, “not always”, “most”…
Where the words go
Full report text
Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2821688 1 Registered provider: Yourcare (Northwest) Limited
p.1
Inspected under the social care common inspection framework
p.1
Information about this children’s home
A private provider operates this home. It provides care for up to 2 children with social and emotional difficulties.
p.1
Information about this children’s home
At the time of inspection, there was one child living at the home.
p.1
Information about this children’s home
The registered manager post has been vacant since December 2025. A new manager has been appointed since the last inspection but has not submitted their application to register with Ofsted.
p.1
This monitoring visit
At an assurance inspection on 15 July 2026, serious and widespread concerns were identified. Compliance notices relating to Regulation 12 (the protection of children standard) and Regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard) were issued.
p.1
This monitoring visit
The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken to meet the steps in the compliance notices.
p.1
This monitoring visit
Since the last inspection, the same child remains living in the home.
p.1
This monitoring visit
Staff take action to safeguard the child when they are missing from home. They report them as missing and check on their welfare when they return home. However, not all staff have been consistent in their timing of looking for the child during periods of them being missing. Managers have identified this shortfall and taken action to address it, which has improved practice.
p.1
This monitoring visit
Staff show professional curiosity when there are safeguarding concerns. They ensure all safeguarding concerns are shared with professionals. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2821688 2 Leaders and managers have reviewed and updated the child’s risk assessments, which reflect the child’s identified vulnerabilities. However, the assessment of risks associated with the child’s time in the community does not accurately reflect the known risks identified for the child. This was discussed with the manager during the inspection.
p.1
This monitoring visit
Staff have benefited from additional training, which has supported them to meet the child’s needs, respond effectively to emerging concerns and manage risks. Furthermore, leaders and managers have introduced concise ‘quick guides’ to support staff in responding to and managing safeguarding incidents consistently and appropriately.
p.2
This monitoring visit
Staff spoken to were able to demonstrate they understood the child’s needs, risks and plans.
p.2
This monitoring visit
Debriefs are undertaken with both staff and the child following safeguarding incidents. Furthermore, meaningful direct work with the child is creative and tailored to their individual learning style. Staff use visual aids to help the child understand how to keep safe.
p.2
This monitoring visit
Management oversight of incidents has improved. Evaluations are now more reflective and identify shortfalls in staff practice. However, leaders and managers have not always taken prompt action to address these issues. For example, there was a delay in sharing with staff the identified shortfalls in practice regarding attempts to maintain contact with children when they were missing.
p.2
This monitoring visit
A case review was held on 11 September 2026. It was deemed that not all steps in the compliance notices have been met. The decision was made to issue additional requirements under Regulation 13. Regulation 12 has been met.
p.2
This monitoring visit
The other requirements raised at the last full inspection have not been considered during this visit. They remain in place and will be reviewed. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2821688 3
p.2
Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement
01/04/2026 Full Requires improvement to be good 28/05/2025 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2821688 4
p.3
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 with the given timescales.
p.4
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—
p.4
Requirement Due date
helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and
p.4
Requirement Due date
In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—
p.4
Requirement Due date
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;
p.4
Requirement Due date
ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;
p.4
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;
p.4
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)(e)(f)(h))
p.4
Requirement Due date
The registered provider must ensure that all incidents are reviewed, that all shortfalls in staff practice are identified and that prompt action is taken to address these.
p.4
Requirement Due date
The registered provider must ensure that follow-up actions identified following incidents are promptly completed.
p.4
Requirement Due date
This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 11 November 2026
p.4
Requirement Due date
The care planning standard is that children— 11 November 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2821688 5 receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and
p.4
Requirement Due date
have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.
p.5
Requirement Due date
In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—
p.5
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. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a))
p.5
Requirement Due date
Specifically, The registered provider must ensure that when a child is admitted to the home, they are able to meet the child’s needs.
p.5
Requirement Due date
The registered provider must ensure that staff identify all known risks and support needs within the plans. The plans must also contain an explanation of how staff will support the child.
p.5
Requirement Due date
This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.
p.5
Requirement Due date
The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—
p.5
Requirement Due date
an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and
p.5
Requirement Due date
positive responses to other children and adults.
p.5
Requirement Due date
In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—
p.5
Requirement Due date
help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;
p.5
Requirement Due date
encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding; 11 November 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2821688 6 help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;
p.5
Requirement Due date
communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;
p.6
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;;
p.6
Requirement Due date
de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(xi))
p.6
Requirement Due date
Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that staff have the skills to be able to de-escalate violent behaviour by children. Additionally, ensure that staff communicate with the child about expectations regards their behaviour and that they help the child to develop skills to resolve conflict.
p.6
Requirement Due date
This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.
p.6
Requirement Due date
The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which—
p.6
Requirement Due date
include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;
p.6
Requirement Due date
are signed and dated by the author of each entry.
p.6
Requirement Due date
The registered provider must ensure that safeguarding incident records are recorded in detail and include times when the child has left the home and actions taken by staff to support the child.
p.6
Requirement Due date
This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 11 November 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2821688 7
p.6
Information about this inspection
The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.
p.7
Information about this inspection
This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2821688 8
p.7
Children’s home details
Registered provider: Yourcare (Northwest) Limited
p.8
Children’s home details
Registered provider address: 64 St Georges Park, Kirkham, Lancashire PR4 2DZ
p.8
Inspector
Michelle McGrath, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2821688 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.
p.8
Inspector
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p.9
Inspector
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Inspector
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