Children's Home run by Pelican Care Group Limited in Sefton

Inspection report for children’s home: 2686658 1 Registered provider: Pelican 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 operated by a private provider. It is registered to provide care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties. One child was living in this home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

The inspector was aware during this inspection that a serious incident that occurred at the setting since the last inspection is under investigation by the appropriate authorities. While Ofsted does not have the power to investigate incidents of this kind, actions taken by the setting in response to the incident were considered alongside other evidence available at the time of the inspection to inform the inspector’s judgements.

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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

Date of last inspection: 14 January 2025

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good Inspection report for children’s home: 2686658 2

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

Following a monitoring visit on 4 March 2025, two compliance notices were served under section 22A of the Care Standards Act 2000. These related to regulation 12, the protection of children standard, and regulation 32, fitness of workers.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/01/2025 Full Good 22/06/2023 Full Good 07/03/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2686658 3

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, two children have left the home and one child has moved in. One of the children who left had made significant progress, successfully transitioning to semi-independence after a long placement. Their social worker said, ‘Staff were nurturing and they [the child] made massive progress.’ The other child’s placement was ended in an unplanned way by their local authority. The new child is being supported by staff as they settle in.

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improvement to be good

Not all staff understand the home’s chosen model of care. This has resulted in children receiving inconsistent care and means that staff are not always following the provider’s policies and procedures or providing care as outlined in the home’s statement of purpose. One child was removed from the home by their local authority as they were not convinced that the child was being cared for appropriately.

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improvement to be good

The home is comfortable and homely. The child’s bedroom has been freshly decorated and they can add personal touches. Staff are taking time to understand the child’s needs and preferences and are working on building positive relationships with them.

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improvement to be good

Education is a priority. Both children who have left were attending school full time, and staff have successfully sourced an education placement for the child now living at the home, who has not been in education for some time. Additionally, staff are attentive to the child’s cultural needs, ensuring they have access to suitable hair and skincare products and are registered with the appropriate healthcare providers.

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improvement to be good

Children receive consequences in response to challenging behaviour, but some are used frequently and repetitively. This approach is not an effective behaviour management technique and may not lead to positive changes in children’s behaviour.

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improvement to be good

Children’s risk management plans do not always include the most relevant safeguarding concerns for each child. This reduces opportunities to ensure that staff are fully aware of all the child’s risks and know how to respond to keep them safe, and means that children continue to be at risk.

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improvement to be good

The provider has made changes to their safer recruitment practices. They have worked closely with the appropriate authorities and their policy now clearly meets regulatory requirements. Inspection report for children’s home: 2686658 4 Staff have received training in safeguarding and whistle-blowing. Staff are clear about the action they should take if they have safeguarding concerns. This helps to ensure that children are kept safe.

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improvement to be good

There have been no incidents of physical restraint or children going missing from the home, which reflects a positive approach to keeping children safe.

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

The manager is supported by a peer rather than a senior leader with the necessary experience in strategic oversight. As a result, the manager’s decisions are not monitored effectively, which has a negative impact on children’s outcomes.

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

There is a stable and committed staff team, which contributes to the development of strong and trusting relationships with children.

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

Regular supervision is given to all staff, providing consistent oversight and promoting reflective practice. Annual appraisals are conducted and are viewed by staff as helpful and constructive in identifying development goals and recognising individual strengths.

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

Team meetings are held regularly, allowing staff to come together to reflect on their practice, share concerns and plan collaboratively for the children’s care. This regular communication supports a consistent and child-focused approach, which encourages a cohesive team culture, ensuring that children’s needs remain the central focus.

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

Following the inspection, a case review was held at which it was agreed that the two compliance notices had been met. Inspection report for children’s home: 2686658 5

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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 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

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at 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; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that the child’s individual risk management plans include all their known risks and provide staff with clear strategies to keep the child safe. 20 May 2025

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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

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

promotes their welfare. 20 May 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2686658 6 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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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;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that all staff, including the registered manager, receive appropriate support, supervision and training in order to offer the best care and support to children.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all staff work consistently with the children and have good knowledge of the home’s chosen model of care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.20)  The registered person should ensure that positive behaviour is encouraged and that when consequences are used, these include reparative measures. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.38)

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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: 2686658 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Pelican Care Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: c/o Holden Associates, V12 Merlin Park, Ringtail Road, Burscough, Lancashire L40 8JY

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Inspector

Cathy Wilkins, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2686658 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 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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