Children's Home run by Theophelian Ltd in Sefton

Inspection report for children’s home: 2808413 1 Registered provider: Theophelian Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Information about this children’s home

This was the home’s first inspection since it was registered in May 2025.

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Information about this children’s home

One child was living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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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 inadequate

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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: not previously inspected

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2808413 2

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improvement to be good

Shortfalls in decision-making by leaders and managers have led to changes to the management and staffing of the home since it opened. This means that the child has not received consistent care.

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improvement to be good

The child has recently moved into the home. The staff ensured a positive transition into the home for the child and visited them before they moved in to ensure that their move went as smoothly as possible.

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improvement to be good

Staff have created a welcoming environment, in line with the child’s interests and age, which has enabled the child to adjust well to their new home. There are photos on display around the home from the various activities that the child has taken part in. This is helping the child to develop a sense of belonging.

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improvement to be good

Interactions between staff and the child are positive. Staff support the child to develop trusting relationships with them, and they are helping the child to feel valued and understood. Staff are working towards embedding boundaries and routines to support the child.

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improvement to be good

Staff ensure that the child is attending a school that supports their needs. There is regular communication between the staff and school staff to support strategies for the child’s behaviour and learning. This enhances the child’s educational outcomes.

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improvement to be good

Staff maintain contact with the child’s family members to ensure they are kept informed about the child’s care. One family member said they were happy with their child’s progress and ‘[name of child] is getting experiences and learning new things.’

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improvement to be good

Shortfalls in safeguarding practice have led to incidents in which the child has been at risk of harm. Risk assessments for the child are not consistently updated. This means that staff do not have access to the guidance needed to understand risks for the child and embed strategies in practice to safeguard the child.

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improvement to be good

Allegations made by the child are not investigated thoroughly. Leaders and managers have not ensured that staff have completed further safeguarding training when there are shortfalls in their practice. Staff continue to work with the child when an allegation is made and do not complete identified training when directed to do so.

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improvement to be good

When the child has presented with challenging behaviour, the use of physical intervention has been effective to safeguard them and others. However, records of these Inspection report for children’s home: 2808413 3 incidents do not always include details of the rationale for the intervention being used. Staff involved in these incidents have undertaken the relevant training, however, not all members of staff working in the home are trained to use physical intervention.

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improvement to be good

Positive behaviour is promoted using incentives and rewards. Consequences are implemented to discourage negative behaviour. However, these strategies are not reviewed consistently to determine their effectiveness.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers have not ensured that safe recruitment policies are consistent for all staff. Recruitment checks are not robust or explored for directors who are working in the home to cover shortfalls in staffing. In addition, when there are personal links between those working in the home, they do not all have appropriate risk assessments in place to consider how they will maintain professional boundaries.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The leadership and management of the home are not effective. There has been a high turnover of staff, and the manager resigned soon after starting in the role. This has led to inconsistencies in the care provided to the child. The responsible individual has overseen the home in the absence of a registered manager. She has worked hard to address shortfalls at unsettled times in the home. There has been a reliance on directors working in the home to support care for the child, despite them not having had the relevant checks to do so.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Incidents in the home are not reviewed consistently. Incidents have been reviewed and evaluated by one director who lacks the relevant knowledge and experience to do so. Reflection and evaluation of staff practice following incidents are poor and do not identify how the quality of care and response to risks can be improved. As a result, there is limited learning from incidents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff do not consistently benefit from regular supervision. Opportunities have been missed to consider staff’s understanding of the quality of care they provide and how they can improve.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Directors who have been working with the child have had no supervision. During the inspection, leaders and managers were unable to demonstrate induction processes were followed for directors. Directors have not had an induction or probation reviews to consider their suitability to work in the home. Directors who were working as staff members, were not following processes in which core staff members would be expected to complete.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff lack training and skills to meet the particular needs of the child living in the home. The staff do not all have a suitable residential children’s home qualification.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff said that at the time of the inspection they felt supported in their roles, however, they have not always done so. Staff have not always raised their concerns with senior Inspection report for children’s home: 2808413 4 leaders, and there have been times when they have not always felt guided or supported in their roles when caring for the child. Inspection report for children’s home: 2808413 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

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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(v)(vi)(vii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered provider must ensure that allegations are responded to appropriately, that action is taken to safeguard children following allegations, and that staff have completed mandatory and directed refresher training relating to the management of safeguarding incidents and the home’s policies. 8 October 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.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 8 October 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2808413 6 ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications, and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to 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; 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) (2)(c)(d)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that there are sufficient staff in the home to provide consistent care to children.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that there is a suitably qualified and experienced manager in post to manage and oversee the home.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that systems are in place to monitor and review all incidents and the care provided to children, including the use of consequences.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, appropriate monitoring tools are required to ensure shortfalls identified are acted on without delay.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. (Regulation 32 (1))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to ensuring that all appropriate checks have been undertaken on all those working in the home to assure the provider they are safe to work with children. 8 October 2025

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Requirement Due date

ensure that each employee completes an appropriate induction;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that each permanent appointment of an employee is subject to the satisfactory completion of a period of probation; and 8 October 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2808413 7 The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (1)(a)(b) (4)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that all staff receive an induction to working in the home, have regular supervision and probation reviews.

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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: 2808413 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Theophelian Limited

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Inspector

Nicola Rutherford, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2808413 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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