Children's Home run by Eastfield Group in Sefton

Inspection report for children’s home: SC064663 1 SC064663 Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private organisation. It provides care for up to seven children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, five children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2023.

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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: SC064663 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/05/2024 Full Good 05/03/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 02/08/2022 Full Good 15/03/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC064663 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Four children spoke to the inspectors about their experiences living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children like living at the home. They say they feel happy and are well cared for. One child described the staff as ‘nice’, and another said they are ‘great’ and ‘really helpful’. Staff provide a good level of nurturing care, and children are making progress in all areas of their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Relationships between staff and children are positive. Children enjoy spending time with staff inside and outside of the home. They feel comfortable talking to staff and say they feel heard. Children’s wishes and views are sought regularly, and staff promptly respond to any issues or requests.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children with their education. They advocate for children to find appropriate education provisions to meet their needs. Two children, who had not attended school for some time before moving into the home, are now actively involved in learning and making progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are in good health. Staff encourage and support children to attend health appointments as required. They provide children with a healthy diet and encourage them to take regular exercise. Children receive a pass to the local gym, and the staff actively encourage a child's interest in cycling. Staff promote sexual health education and help children understand the health benefits of not vaping.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to spend time with people who are important to them. Staff have developed positive relationships with family members and communicate with them regularly. One parent said, ‘The support and communication from staff is brilliant. The manager is great. She provides me with an update every week, but I can also ring whenever I need to’. One older child sees their family most days, and staff support the child in travelling independently.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a spacious home that is welcoming and homely. The home is well maintained and has recently benefited from new furniture and flooring in communal areas. Children’s bedrooms are well furnished and personalised according to their individual tastes. There is ample room for children to relax and spend time together or apart inside the home or outside in the large garden.

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

Children say they feel safe. Their risks and vulnerabilities are known and understood by staff. Their risk and behaviour management plans are personalised and updated regularly. Staff receive clear advice and guidance to support them in responding to potential risks. Inspection report for children’s home: SC064663 4 The frequency of incidents involving children going missing from home or exhibiting self- injurious behaviour has decreased. Staff have not needed to hold children to keep them or others safe. This indicates that children feel settled, safe and secure.

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

One child has received appropriate support from staff after experiencing a significant bereavement. The child now benefits from suitable counselling that the staff worked tirelessly to acquire for them.

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

Children respond well to clear boundaries, routines and expectations in the home. Children say that the rules are fair. Staff help children understand and manage their feelings and behaviours safely.

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

Staff encourage positive behaviour. Children are routinely rewarded, and their achievements are celebrated. Regular discussions take place with children about topics relevant to them and their age and stage of development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is caring and child focused. She is supported effectively by experienced staff members in her team. The manager prioritises children’s welfare and is a strong advocate for them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff like working at the home and feel fully supported by the manager. Staff, the children and family members hold the manager in high regard. One staff member said, ‘The manager is so supportive. I can speak to her when needed, and I feel heard.’ Most staff members have worked at the home for some time. This provides children with stability and consistent care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from a wide range of training opportunities that equip them with the knowledge and skills to meet the needs of the children in their care. A senior worker regularly checks that all staff members have completed their training and ensures that they are up to date with any new training that is relevant to their role.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular one-to-one supervision; however, they are not always given the opportunity to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children living at the home. Staff practice is appraised once a year; however, the views of other professionals and those of the children living at the home are not sought.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The statement of purpose clearly sets out the ethos of the home. However, Ofsted has not been notified of changes made to the document as required by regulation. This limits the regulator’s oversight of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has effective monitoring systems in place. This oversight promotes the safety and well-being of the children living in the home. However, the independent person does not always visit the home once a month and does not always seek feedback from children or their family members. Ofsted does not always receive the independent Inspection report for children’s home: SC064663 5 person’s reports in a timely manner. This reduces the regulator’s oversight of practice in the home. Inspection report for children’s home: SC064663 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 registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to—

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Requirement Due date

HMCI. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a) (7)(a)) 31 August 2025

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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

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (1) (3)(a)(b)) 31 August 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that appraisals consider the views of other professionals who have worked with the staff member over the year and children in the home’s care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.5)  The registered person should ensure that staff reflect on their practice and the needs of the children in their care during supervision sessions. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2) Inspection report for children’s home: SC064663 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: SC064663 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 1 Shireburn Road, Liverpool L37 1LR

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Inspectors

Zillah Brooks, Social Care Inspector Colin Jones, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC064663 9 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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