Children's Home run by We are Juno CIC in Wirral

Inspection report for children’s home: 2783439 1 Registered provider: We are Juno CIC

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a community interest company. It is registered to provide care for up to four children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and the manager registered with Ofsted in August 2024.

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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: 2783439 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/03/2025 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2783439 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, two children remain living at the home and another child has moved in. The child was supported with thoughtful consideration to move into the home, factoring in their individual circumstances and the needs of other children in the home. The manager completed an admission assessment prior to the child moving into the home, which contains all relevant and necessary information.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There has been a period of difficulty in the home. Leaders and managers are in close communication with the children’s placing authorities to ensure that all the children’s needs are addressed. However, at times, children have influenced each other’s behaviours and have been witness to children when they are in distress. Leaders and managers were addressing this during the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have positive experiences of living in the home and share nurturing and trusting relationships with the staff, who know them well. Staff have meaningful and effective conversations that help develop the children’s abilities to make positive choices and navigate challenges.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support and promote children’s education. When there are barriers to children attending school, the manager works with external agencies to identify how this can be resolved. As a result, one child, who has not been in education for a significant period, is due to reintegrate into school in the next academic year.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from time with people who are important to them. Staff work with children’s families and professionals, and they support siblings to ensure that children maintain their familial links. However, when staff are required to supervise family time, not all risks about certain family members are known by the manager and staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children, using a therapeutic approach. There is good use of the provider’s commissioned therapeutic services, and this is individual to each child. Regular meetings take place to share information and implement strategies in order to address children’s needs. When there is a delay in accessing services through a universal route, this is commissioned by the provider to avoid delay in understanding children’s needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is a warm and welcoming environment and is well maintained, even after incidents of damage. Throughout the home there are photos of the children taking part in activities with peers and staff. Children are encouraged to, and do, personalise their bedrooms when they move in, and this supports their identity.

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

Children’s needs and risks are known and understood. Plans include clear strategies and guidance for staff to follow. However, not all plans reflect the children’s risks, such as the Inspection report for children’s home: 2783439 4 use of e-cigarettes. Staff appropriately educate children about the use of e-cigarettes, and although the usage has reduced, they remain being used by children in the home, sometimes inside.

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

There has been an increase in incidents since the last inspection. Staff have managed these well. Staff understand the children’s needs and strategies that support children in times of distress. There has been a need for staff to physically hold children in order to safeguard themselves and others. This is used as a last resort and is necessary and proportionate.

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

When children are missing from the home, staff follow missing-from-home plans, including looking for children, maintaining contact with them and coordinating with family, friends, and police to ensure they are located swiftly.

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

When children express distress through self-harming behaviour, staff ensure they administer first aid and emotional support to ensure their safety. Staff also seek medical support when necessary.

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

When allegations are made, these are responded to appropriately. The manager takes appropriate action to safeguard children following any allegations. Information is shared with partner agencies to ensure that appropriate action is taken to investigate concerns.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is suitably qualified and experienced. She is extremely child focused and aspirational, this is embedded in staff practice when caring for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that there is a stable staff team in place, which provides consistency for children. The use of agency staff has been required in this period. Due to the changing needs of the children, agency staff used have not always been provided with opportunities to understand and, in turn, have the skills, to meet the needs of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff were extremely positive about the manager and feel well supported to undertake their roles. They share that they can raise any issues with the manager, and she works hard to ensure issues are resolved.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has ensured that staff have engaged in a range of training opportunities to support their understanding of the children’s needs. Staff use the support of a therapist, who also provides additional insight into the children’s needs and how staff can support them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and senior leaders have systems and monitoring tools in place to evaluate the quality of care being provided. However, some records are documented in numerous places, and, at times, information is missed due to time constraints of staff when caring for children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2783439 5 The manager communicates regularly with external professionals and parents. This ensures that all relevant people are kept updated on the child’s progress and that any changes are known or concerns are quickly resolved.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has ensured that the requirements made at the previous inspection have been met. Inspection report for children’s home: 2783439 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 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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that all known risks to children are reflected in written records so that staff understand what action to take to reduce the risks to children. 2 September 2025

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans; and

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour. (Regulation 11 (1)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)) 2 September 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2783439 7 In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff support children’s behaviour in such a way as to reduce the impact of any negative behaviour on other children living in the home.

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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

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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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; and

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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)(b)(c)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that staff, including agency staff, have the skills to support and are utilised to provide such support to children living in the home. In addition, leaders and managers must ensure that recording systems reflect the care being provided to children. 2 September 2025

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Recommendations

 Leaders and managers should ensure that there are plans in place to support children to move on from the home in a positive way and that these plans do not cause unnecessary delay for the child and impact on the other children living in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 57, paragraph 11.9)

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Information about this inspection

The inspector has 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 Inspection report for children’s home: 2783439 8 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: 2783439 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Suite 3A Queen Insurance Building, 24 Queen Avenue, Liverpool, Merseyside L2 4TZ

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Inspector

Nicola Rutherford, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2783439 10 regulates 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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