Children's Home run by Acorns to Oaks Children’s Care & Support Limited in Wirral

Inspection report for children’s home: 2781986 1 Registered provider: Acorns to Oaks Children’s Care & 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

The home registered with Ofsted in April 2024 and is operated by a private organisation.

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Information about this children’s home

It provides care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties and/or have learning 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

The manager has applied to register with Ofsted.

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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 requires improvement to be good

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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: 3 September 2024

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2781986 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/09/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2781986 3

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improvement to be good

Three children had recently moved out of the home. Children’s moves into and out of the home are well planned and their time living in the home is celebrated prior to them moving out.

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improvement to be good

The staff team is committed to improving outcomes for children. However, changes in the management and staffing of the home since the last inspection have led to children receiving inconsistent care.

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improvement to be good

All children have made progress in their education and their attendance at school is now 100%. One professional commented:

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improvement to be good

They have exceeded anything I have had experience [of] with children’s homes before; they really have gone above and beyond. We have observed phenomenal changes in such a short space of time.

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improvement to be good

Staff are committed to helping children communicate and use picture, symbols and social stories to aid children’s ability to participate in everyday decision-making. One child has begun to communicate more using spoken words and continues to develop in confidence with the support of the staff team.

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improvement to be good

Children are supported to spend time with people who are important to them and have enjoyed a variety of activities and first-time experiences. Children have enjoyed days out to the beach, sensory play, swimming lessons and trips to the farm.

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improvement to be good

Children’s plans are not regularly updated, do not contain all known vulnerabilities and do not consistently reflect statutory care plans. This lack of information can be confusing for newer members of the team. Although this has not impacted on the care provided for children, the manager recognised this as an area in need of improvement.

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improvement to be good

There are inconsistencies in toilet training for one child. Staff do not consistently encourage or support the child to regularly use the toilet. This does not support the child to develop a level of independence and improve continence.

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improvement to be good

Risk and behaviour support plans clearly identify all risks for children. However, there is a lack of guidance for staff to support children. This has resulted in an inconsistent approach for one child, who has experienced difficulties with sleeping. Inspection report for children’s home: 2781986 4 There are some positive examples of behaviour management. Children are supported to recognise and manage their feelings and emotions. Children respond well to the staff team’s use of praise, reward and incentives. Consequently, there has not been a need to hold children to keep them safe.

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improvement to be good

Allegations and concerns regarding staff practice are adequately responded to, children are supported, and relevant professionals are informed. However, there has been a delay in sharing information with Ofsted. This does not allow Ofsted as the regulator to have oversight of all concerns relating to the care and support for children.

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improvement to be good

Shortfalls in monitoring and oversight have not identified gaps in the recording of personal care for one child. Leaders and managers had not identified inconsistencies throughout records. This lack of oversight places both staff and children at risk.

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improvement to be good

Children’s accidents are responded to appropriately and children have been supported with first aid and medical attention when necessary. However, the manager was unable to demonstrate that all accidents are consistently shared with parents and social workers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, there have been a number of changes to the manager and staff team. This has now been addressed and there is a new manager and team in place. This will provide a more stable and consistent environment for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The new manager is committed to her role. She is being supported by an experienced and equally committed registered manager from within the company. Together, they are committed to improving outcomes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

There are good-quality assurance tools in place for the manager to monitor the home. However, there is no evidence that the manager had used these or completed monthly audits. Senior leaders were also unable to provide evidence of consistent and effective monitoring, and shortfalls identified during the inspection had not been previously highlighted.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Not all staff receive consistent, regular supervision and probation reviews as detailed in the organisations policy. This does not support staff to reflect and develop their practice and support for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff have access to a range of training that supports their care for children. However, leaders and managers have not ensured that all staff have completed training specific to children’s individual needs, such as personal care, asthma and communication training.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

For the most part, there has been good decision-making regarding children coming to live at the home. However, assessments completed prior to children moving in do not yet provide evidence of the consideration that has been taken of the needs of all children living together or the skills and experience of the staff team and how they are able to Inspection report for children’s home: 2781986 5 support the children. In addition, the children’s guide is not suitable for all children who are living in the home. While this has not significantly impacted on the experiences of children, leaders recognised this as an area that requires improvement. Inspection report for children’s home: 2781986 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 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 have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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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)(c)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that all accidents are shared with the relevant people, and that staff have completed training specific to children’s individual needs.

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that monitoring and review systems are used to highlight shortfalls in recording and to make continuous improvements in the home. 11 November 2025

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. 11 November 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2781986 7 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home;

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Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that the children’s guide is suitable for all children who move into the home, and that pre-admission assessments provide a clear rationale about how the needs of all children living together have been considered and if the members of the staff team have the relevant skills, knowledge and experiences to support children.

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that children are supported to develop independence skills regarding their personal care. 11 November 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which— 11 November 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2781986 8 include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that children’s plans are accurately completed, reflect their statutory care plans and are regularly reviewed.

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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

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Requirement Due date

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)(b) (4)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that all staff receive regular supervision, and that probationary reviews are completed in accordance with the organisation’s policies and procedures. 11 November 2025

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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

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

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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) (c)(e)) 11 November 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2781986 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 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: 2781986 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Acorns to Oaks Children’s Care & Support Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Acorns to Oaks Children’s Care & Support Ltd, Suite 3, 125–129 Witton Street, Northwich, Cheshire CW9 5DY

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Inspector

Kelly McCurdy, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2781986 11 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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