Children's Home run by Sanitas Cura Ltd in Liverpool

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2835212 1 Registered provider: Sanitas Cura Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run children’s home provides care for one child who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

This is the home’s first inspection since registration in June 2025.

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Inspection date: 22 August 2025

Judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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Inspection date: 22 August 2025

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspectors evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2835212 2

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Findings from the inspection

We identified the following serious and widespread concerns in relation to the care and protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

The assurance inspection was undertaken following a concern raised in relation to the safeguarding practices at the setting.

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Findings from the inspection

The admission of a child to the home failed to ensure sufficient consideration of whether staff had the skills and experience to meet the child’s needs safely. Although the manager had considered the referral, spoken with other professionals such as social workers and met the child at their previous placement, there was no documented evidence that they had fully assessed the risks or determined whether staff could keep the child safe.

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Findings from the inspection

The child used cutlery to disable window locks. This meant that they left the home undetected by staff. On multiple occasions, the police returned the child to the home after finding them in dangerous locations near a motorway bridge. Staff searched the area, but these actions did not prevent the child from leaving or reduce the risks.

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Findings from the inspection

Electronic alarm systems to safeguard children were ineffective and failed to alert staff that the child had left the home. The manager introduced a new system. However, the child was able to leave again by breaking a window lock, showing that the safety measures were ineffective. No further actions were taken to improve security or reduce the risks of the child leaving the home unsupervised.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager and staff did not challenge the decision to allow the child to have vapes. Staff were advised that they could purchase them and did so, which put the child at risk and demonstrated poor judgement and a lack of safeguarding awareness. This exposed the child to potential harm to their health and undermined efforts to promote their well-being and safety.

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Findings from the inspection

Concerns were raised about the child’s emotional well-being, but managers and staff did not take timely or effective action to reduce the risks. This lack of response contributed to a serious incident where staff were unable to safely enter the child’s bedroom to provide support. The incident had the potential to result in severe harm to the child.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff lack the training and skills to recognise and manage risks relating to the child’s emotional distress and self-harming. Safeguarding practice is inconsistent.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers do not effectively monitor staff practice to understand how decisions and actions affected the child’s safety and well-being. Oversight is weak, and there is no clear strategy to review incidents or to guide staff to improve care. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2835212 3 The child experienced inconsistent support and was exposed to avoidable risks. Managers did not evaluate how staff responded to distress or risk, which means the child did not always receive the help they needed when they were upset or unsafe.

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Findings from the inspection

There is no structured review of how care planning supports the child’s progress. Leaders and managers do not challenge poor decisions or ensure staff are equipped to meet the child’s needs. This affects the child’s experiences and limits their development.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have not created a culture of learning or accountability. Systems to check safety and staff practice are underdeveloped, and this reduces the home’s ability to improve outcomes for children.

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Findings from the inspection

Records for the child used stigmatising language, which would not be helpful to the child should they wish to read their records. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2835212 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 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

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm;

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health; and 14 September Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2835212 5 that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that children do not have access to hazardous items such as vapes.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, that staff understand their roles and responsibilities and take immediate action to locate children who are missing and that preventive measures are in place to reduce the occurrence.

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Requirement Due date

Additionally, ensure that staff are trained to understand risks of self-harm and take measures where there are concerns that a child may be at risk.

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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

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;

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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;

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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)(a)(b)(c)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered manager must ensure that there is clear oversight of all incidents, including any shortfalls in 14 September Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2835212 6 actions taken by staff, to effectively manage and prevent risk.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, ensure that staff are trained around ligature and self-harm. Additionally, that there are clear systems in place to evaluate and monitor the quality of care.

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home.

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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

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;

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Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed;

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Requirement Due date

that the child’s placing authority is contacted, and a review of that child’s relevant plans is requested, if—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person considers that the child is at risk of harm or has concerns that the care provided for the child is inadequate to meet the child’s needs. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(a)(c)(e)(i)) 14 September

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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

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;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour; 14 September Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2835212 7 encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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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;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child’s respect and trust. (Regulation 11 (1)(a) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(viii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must avoid writing records that blame children for their behaviour. Instead, records should highlight a child’s vulnerabilities in a respectful way that shows staff understand their needs. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2835212 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Sanitas Cura Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Prime Accountancy, 64 Mill Lane, West Derby, Liverpool L12 7JB

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Inspectors

Nicola Forrester, Social Care Inspector Sarah Jackson, Social care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2835212 9 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 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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Inspectors

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