Children's home run by After Care (NW) Limited in Sefton

Inspection report for children’s home: SC037181 1 SC037181 Registered provider: After Care (NW) 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

This home is operated by a private organisation. 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

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2014.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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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: 4 February 2025

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC037181 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/02/2025 Full Good 06/03/2024 Full Good 14/03/2023 Full Good 05/01/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC037181 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has lived in the home for a short time and continues to make good progress from their starting point. They are settling into the home well and building positive relationships with the staff. As a result, the child has improved their sleep pattern, routine, and ability to manage their own emotions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Three children have moved out of the home since the last inspection. Children’s moves in and out of the home are well planned and in accordance with their individual needs. Children’s moves out of the home are supported by safe and effective plans, developed with the children and other professionals. Children’s time in the home is celebrated prior to them moving out, even for children who have lived there for a short period.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support and encourage children to attend school. When there are barriers to attending school, the manager and staff provide children with daily routines and informal education to promote their learning. Staff ensure that plans for children to re-enter education are in place in a timely way. This supports children’s progress and educational outcomes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have a good understanding of the children’s family dynamics. Children spend time with family members, and this is well planned, with a focus on the child’s individual needs. This helps to ensure that family time is enjoyable and benefits both children and their family.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have plenty of opportunities to take part in activities. Children visit farms, inflatable parks and go on bike rides. Children are encouraged to pursue their interests and hobbies. One child is attending boxing and starting football training.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Feedback from professionals is positive. One professional praised the manager and staff commitment to the child and how this is helping to make them feel secure. Staff complete a ‘positive praise’ record every day for children. Children take this with them when they leave the home, together with a book of photographic memories and important pieces of work staff have completed with them. This supports children’s self- esteem and is a reminder of their time at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A new therapeutic practitioner is working in the home due to changes in the provider’s commissioning of specialist services. The new practitioner has proposed recommendations to support the children. However, some staff hold different views, and the recommendations have not yet been fully effective in benefiting the children.

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

The manager carefully assesses and records each child’s risks and vulnerabilities. Staff understand children’s risks and vulnerabilities and know what to do to support children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC037181 4 Risk management and support plans are updated regularly to reflect all actions staff need to take to keep children safe.

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

Missing-from-home incidents are managed effectively. Staff work collaboratively with the social worker and local agencies to reduce the risks when a child is missing. The manager challenges any response from other agencies that falls short of expectations, ensuring that all agencies work together effectively to safely locate and return children.

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

Staff are skilled in de-escalation techniques, and physical intervention is only used as a last resort when necessary. Staff complete room searches and remove unsafe items to keep children safe. Children tell staff about behaviours that upset them, and staff provide support when they struggle with their emotions.

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

Staff carry out direct work with children to support them to develop a better understanding of risk. The direct work focuses on important topics such as substance misuse, going missing and self-harm. Staff use a variety of online resources to support children’s understanding.

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

When there are concerns regarding staff practice, the manager addresses these in a timely way. The manager informs all relevant professionals of what has happened, such as the local authority designated officer. This ensures transparency and independent oversight of the concerns.

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

Safer recruitment checks are completed prior to staff working at the home. These checks ensure that only individuals who are deemed suitable work with the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a suitably qualified and experienced registered manager in post. The manager is dual registered and manages her time effectively between two homes. She is supported by a deputy manager who understands the children’s needs well. Staff and professionals have confidence in the registered manager’s leadership and ability to provide effective support to the children at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff shared that they enjoy working in the home and feel supported by managers. Staff say the manager’s approach has a positive impact on their practice and how they care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings take place regularly, during which important themes are discussed. Staff are encouraged to reflect and learn from incidents at the home. Supervision takes place regularly with staff and includes reflection and learning from incidents. Staff appraisals do not always take place at least once a year. This means staff may miss valuable feedback and development opportunities, which can affect their performance and engagement. Inspection report for children’s home: SC037181 5 The manager and senior leaders have monitoring and review systems in place to evaluate the quality of care provided to children. However, the manager does not always share the quality-of-care review reports, and the independent person reports with the regulator. This limits the regulator’s oversight of the care provided to children living at the home. Inspection report for children’s home: SC037181 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 registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(c)) 10 December 2025

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to—

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Requirement Due date

HMCI. (Regulation 44 (7)(a)) 10 December 2025

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality-of-care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality-of-care review is completed. (Regulation 45 (4)(a)) 10 December 2025

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Recommendation

 The registered person should lead and manage the home in a way that delivers the ethos, outcomes and approach set out in the home’s statement of purpose, specifically that the home’s therapeutic model of care is embedded in day-to-day practice. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 52, paragraph 10.4)

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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: SC037181 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: After Care (NW) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: After Care (North West) Ltd, 45 Kensington Road, Southport PR9 0RT

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Timothy Blundell

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Inspector

Nicola Rutherford, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC037181 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 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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