Children's Home run by The Children’s Home Company Limited in St Helens

Inspection report for children’s home: 2836513 1 Registered provider: The Children’s Home Company Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home registered with Ofsted in May 2025 and is operated by a private company. It offers care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2025.

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Information about this children’s home

This was the home’s first full inspection since registration.

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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: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2836513 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There were four children living in the home at the time of the inspection. The inspector spoke with all the children about their experiences of living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Leaders and managers complete thorough assessments to understand the needs of all children before they come to live in the home. Children visited the home before moving in and were welcomed sensitively by staff. This supported children to settle quickly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a safe and comfortable home which has a family feel. The home is spacious and allows for children to spend time together, or individually with staff. Children’s bedrooms are personalised to their individual tastes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children say that they are happy living in the home. They are supported to build trusting relationships with managers and staff. Staff talk to children about important topics, including healthy relationships and ways to express their feelings. Children are provided with opportunities to share their views about the progress they are making and the care they receive. This helps children to feel valued and listened to.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children spend time with people who are important to them. Staff build positive relationships with family members, who say that staff communicate with them regularly and they are kept up to date with important information. Children also spend time with friends in the community. Arrangements are safe because staff check in with children when they are out of the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are understood by staff. Staff support children to attend routine health appointments. Children are also supported to access specialist help when this is needed. This includes help to address their emotional well-being needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff understand the value of education. One child attends school regularly and is making progress. When children are not accessing formal education, managers challenge external professionals and advocate for children’s best interests. However, staff do not provide children with structured activities or informal learning opportunities to support their return to education.

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

Managers and staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities. Children’s plans contain important information about their backgrounds and how they should be supported. Risk assessments and support plans are well written and reflect children’s specific vulnerabilities. Plans set out actions for staff to take if concerns for children’s safety arise. Plans are updated regularly and after any incidents. Inspection report for children’s home: 2836513 3 Staff provide clear and consistent boundaries for children. Reward charts detail achievable goals for children to work towards. Children are rewarded when they have done well. Consequences are used to help children understand the impact of their behaviour, and their effectiveness is reviewed.

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

Incidents in the home are well managed. Staff de-escalate incidents effectively and children are rarely held. On occasions when children have been held to keep them safe, detailed records are kept. Managers speak to children about any incidents and triggers for behaviour are explored. Incidents are evaluated and opportunities to improve practice are identified.

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

Allegations of harm are treated seriously. Safeguarding professionals are notified, and concerns are investigated thoroughly. Child protection concerns are escalated appropriately. Leaders and managers follow up the outcome of child protection concerns and take action to protect children from harm. The manager works alongside multi- agency professionals to ensure that children are safe.

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

Children rarely go missing from home. Clear plans detail the actions staff should take if children go missing. On occasions when children have been missing, staff follow the plans in place. They go out looking for children and contact family members and professionals. When children return home, independent return home interviews take place.

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

Staff talk to children about matters that may impact on their health and safety. This includes the risks of vaping and substance misuse and being safe in the car.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers are enthusiastic and ambitious for each child living in the home. The ethos of the home, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose, is reflected in the care that is provided to children. Leaders and managers understand the home’s strengths and areas for development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by an experienced and dedicated manager. She has a visible presence in the home and children identify her as a person they can speak to about any worries they may have.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children are cared for by a motivated staff team. Staff speak highly of the support they receive from leaders and managers. New staff receive a thorough induction to the home. Managers ensure that staff receive regular supervision, and they are supported to reflect on their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings take place regularly and are well attended. They provide a forum for leaders and managers to share important information about children and their expectations of staff. Staff say that are encouraged to share their views and ideas, which promotes a sense of shared ownership in how the home operates. Inspection report for children’s home: 2836513 4 Staff value the training they receive and say it supports them to fulfil their roles and responsibilities. Regular consultation with a commissioned therapist helps staff to learn and respond to children’s individual needs. Staff are supported to enrol on the relevant qualification in a timely way. This supports staff development and improves the care children receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have robust oversight of the work staff complete with children. Incidents and other records kept by staff are reviewed and evaluated. This means that any areas for development are identified at the earliest opportunity.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

External professionals speak highly of the home and the progress children make. They value the effective communication from staff and managers. Leaders and managers know the children well and take action to drive children’s plans, in their best interests. Inspection report for children’s home: 2836513 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

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Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that children not attending education have a regular routine and education timetable and are consistently supported to complete educational activities when not in school. 28 November 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2836513 6

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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: 2836513 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Children’s Home Company Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: St Ann’s Mount, 166 Prescot Road, St Helens, Merseyside WA10 3TS

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Inspector

Anna Belshaw, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2836513 8 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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