Children's Home run by Compassionate Children’s Care & Support Limited in Knowsley

Inspection report for children’s home: 2824900 1 Registered provider: Compassionate Children’s Care and Support Limited

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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 owned and operated by a private organisation. It provides care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties or a learning disability.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and manager were registered with Ofsted in March 2025.

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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

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2824900 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child moved into the home before it was registered. This was planned and the child was able to meet staff and managers and have access to virtual children’s guides before they moved in. Discussion takes place with partner agencies to ensure children’s plans are based on information from those who know them best.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has developed positive relationships with staff, who provide a caring and nurturing environment. The child has access to age-appropriate toys, and their bedroom is personalised to reflect the child’s interests.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff use creative methods to ensure the child’s voice is heard. The staff in the home understand the child’s unique communication style and are skilled at interpreting body language and changes in the child’s presentation. Staff benefit from close relationships with speech and language therapists, who have supported them to develop their approaches to secure the child’s thoughts and feelings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s participation in activities is celebrated. Photos of their achievements are displayed in the home. Staff work with the child to ensure that they can take part in activities of their choice. This includes visiting the beach and cycling. Staff also promote activities in the home, such as arts, craft and baking.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s records are child-focused, detailed and personalised, and they capture their progress since moving to the home. The child is supported in exploring different cultures through food and the celebration of different festivals, including Easter, Christmas and Diwali.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that the child has consistent daily routines which support the child to attend school every day. When barriers to education present, the manager advocates on the child’s behalf to remove barriers in partnership with education professionals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The health needs of the child are prioritised. Staff have strong relationships with health professionals and have worked closely to develop creative ways to manage the child’s distress when attending health appointments. As a result, the child now regularly attends health appointments.

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

The child’s safety is prioritised, and they are appropriately helped and protected. They have up-to-date risk assessments, which are reviewed regularly. Staff develop strategies in collaboration with the positive behaviour support team, and these are detailed in the child’s positive behaviour plan. Inspection report for children’s home: 2824900 3 Direct work is completed at the child’s pace and focuses on developing the child’s life skills and independence. This helps to prepare children for their future.

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

There have been no incidents of the child going missing from home, but there are detailed protocols to prevent this.

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

Holding a child is used as a last resort, and staff use a range of de-escalation techniques when the child is distressed. When children have been held to ensure their safety, their views have not always been sought. This means there have been missed opportunities to help the child express their feelings and consider these when evaluating practice. The manager has taken effective action to address this, and the child now has access to an independent advocate.

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

Medication is safely stored. However, staff have not consistently recorded the reason for administering medication pro re nata, and there is no process in place for the manager to evaluate practice. The manager recognises that this is a missed opportunity to reflect on the administration of medication.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager demonstrates good leadership, and she is enthusiastic about meeting the needs of children. She leads by example and has the support of a dedicated deputy manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

All staff have access to a variety of training opportunities. The workforce development plan is reviewed regularly and considers the individual training needs for staff in order to ensure that staff are equipped to support the child effectively. Staff benefit from a comprehensive induction plan and regular supervision which is reflective.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

When there are concerns about staff practice, the manager takes decisive action to ensure that the safety of the child is maintained at all times.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals say that the manager communicates regularly with them. This ensures that any decisions taken about the child’s care are collaborative. One professional said, ‘Communication had been fantastic.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings take place regularly. They offer an opportunity for staff to explore research that supports best practice. There is a range of experience across the team, and the staff team is stable.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Safer recruitment procedures are in place, but not all staff recruited from overseas have been the subject of overseas checks, and gaps in employment have not been fully explored with recruited staff. The manager recognises that oversight of recruitment needs to be strengthened. Inspection report for children’s home: 2824900 4

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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 recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. The requirements are that—

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 32 (1) (3)(a)(d)) 30 September 2025

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and 30 September 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2824900 5 a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager must ensure that children are spoken to following physical intervention.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager must ensure that staff and children are spoken to following the administration of sedative medication, and that a thorough evaluation is completed.

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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: 2824900 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Compassionate Children’s Care and Support Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Compassionate Care Ltd, Castle Hill Court, Mill Lane, Ashley, Altrincham WA15 0RE

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Inspectors

Jon Dutton, Social Care Inspector Jennifer Quest, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2824900 7 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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