Children's Home run by Pelican Care Group Limited in Sefton

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2686658 1

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and operated by a private provider. It provides care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties. No children were living at this home at the time of the inspection. The home does not currently have a registered manager in post.

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Information about this children’s home

The acting manager has applied to register with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

This home was suspended following an assurance inspection that took place on 18 June 2025. Both children who were living at the home moved out, and no children have since moved in.

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This monitoring visit

There have been significant changes in leadership roles and management oversight. The manager resigned their position, and an acting manager is now in place who has applied to register with Ofsted. The responsible individual now receives management support from an experienced consultant. This change is positively influencing leadership quality and reflective practice.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have invested significantly in the professional development of the team. They have adopted an external training tool for ongoing safeguarding learning. Processes have been formalised and improved. Impact assessments now require oversight from the senior manager, and managers review safeguarding incidents weekly. This has been adopted in the company’s other homes, and it is planned that it will be used in this home. These changes suggest a more structured and accountable approach to care and risk management.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have received further training about safeguarding children, risk management and safer caring. They have also revisited the homes secure base model to ensure that all staff will be working consistently with children. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2686658 2 The home has undergone a full renovation, creating a refreshed and welcoming environment. Team culture is being supported through initiatives like a team-building day, which combined training with morale-boosting activities.

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This monitoring visit

Following a case review meeting the suspension on the home will now be lifted. Requirements made at the last inspection are outside of the scope of this monitoring visit. These will be reviewed at the next inspection. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2686658 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/04/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 14/01/2025 Full Good 22/06/2023 Full Good 07/03/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2686658 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 with 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

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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that the child’s individual risk management plans include all their known risks and provide staff with clear strategies to keep the child safe. 10 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— helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

promotes their welfare. 10 October 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2686658 5 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,

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Requirement Due date

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. Regulation 13 (1) (a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that all staff, including the registered manager, receive appropriate support supervision and training in order to offer the best care and support to children.

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Requirement Due date

That there is sufficient staffing to meet the children needs.

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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 each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that when children move into the home, staff are provided with internal care plans that set out clear expectations of how children must be cared for in the home. These must also incorporate the actions set out in the most up-to-date local authority care plans. 10 October 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; 10 October 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2686658 6 if the individual satisfies the requirements

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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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) (2)(a) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

The provider must ensure that workers receive training that will equip them to care safely for the children in their care.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to,

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child — is instigated; or concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that significant incidents are notified to Ofsted. 10 October 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2686658 7

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all staff work consistently with the children and have good knowledge of the home’s chosen model of care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.20)  The registered person should ensure that positive behaviour is encouraged and that when consequences are used, these include reparative measures. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.38)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2686658 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Pelican Care Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2a Swordfish Business Park, Swordfish Close, Higgins Lane, Burscough, Lancashire L40 8JW

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Inspector

Cathy Wilkins, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2686658 9 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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Inspector

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