Children's Home run by Capricorn Care NW Ltd in Knowsley

Inspection report for children’s home: 2827895 1 Registered provider: Capricorn Care NW Ltd 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 July 2025 and is owned and managed by a private provider. It offers care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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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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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2025.

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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: 2827895 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child spoke to the inspector about their experience living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is supported by staff who know them well. The child said, ‘The staff have really helped me to make a lot of progress, and we all feel like a family.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has been supported to transition from being subject to a deprivation of liberty order, which required a high level of supervision and staffing, to enjoying free time in the community without staff supervision or support. As a result, the child has been able to build and maintain friendships with peers and now spends time safely outside the home in ways appropriate to their age and stage of development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand and emphasise the importance of education, and they actively help the child overcome barriers to accessing their identified provision. The child has been supported to return to school and now attends full time following a significant period of non-attendance. A teacher said, ‘The staff have been fantastic; they are communicative and consistent. It is clear staff want the best for [name of child].’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage and promote healthy eating and support the child in making healthy lifestyle choices. The child regularly attends the local gym and cooks healthy meals with staff support and guidance. The child is up to date with their routine health appointments and is empowered to make informed decisions about their health and medication.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have developed positive relationships with the child’s family and understand the importance of maintaining family connections. The child regularly spends time with family members and visits their hometown, helping them to sustain their sense of culture and identity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work effectively with external professionals and ensure that the child’s voice, wishes and feelings are shared with the appropriate individuals. However, when delays in decision-making have occurred with the local authority social worker, staff have not always challenged or escalated these issues in a timely manner.

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

Staff have a clear understanding of how to keep the child safe and are aware of the specific risks that may affect them. Staff help the child learn from mistakes and develop strategies for keeping themselves safe. Staff know how to best communicate with the child and use approaches that are appropriate for their age, development and level of understanding. Inspection report for children’s home: 2827895 3 There have been no incidents requiring the use of physical intervention. Staff use appropriate and consistent de-escalation techniques, as outlined in the child’s behaviour support plan. Staff manage incidents professionally, and the child reports feeling safe and protected.

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

There have been no incidents of the child going missing from home. Staff know how to respond should this occur. Staff have supported the child in managing increased free time in the community and in adhering to an agreed curfew through regular direct work. As a result, the child maintains positive contact with staff while out of the home and has been helped to learn how to use public transport safely.

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

Consequences are infrequently used, and when applied, they are not always effective or clearly linked to the behaviour or incident. The manager does not consistently evaluate the effectiveness of consequences, which limits opportunities to improve practice and ensure consistency across the staff team.

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

Although staff demonstrate an understanding of risk and effective responses in practice, this is not always reflected in risk assessments and plans. Clearer guidance and the inclusion of the child's views and contributions in their records and plans would enhance risk assessments.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

An experienced and visible manager oversees the home, offering strong leadership and guidance. The manager has a thorough understanding of the child’s needs and ensures that staff deliver consistent, structured and nurturing care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say that the manager is approachable, supportive and committed to maintaining an open and honest culture in the home. The manager provides help and guidance to staff, ensuring that they have access to external therapeutic support when needed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervision sessions are regularly held and focus on the child’s needs. They also provide opportunities for staff to reflect on their practice and professional development. Staff are supported to develop their skills, with senior members of staff receiving training and support to supervise less-experienced colleagues.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings are well attended and used effectively to reflect on practice and the child’s needs. External therapeutic professionals are invited to attend and offer advice or alternative strategies when required.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been no changes to the staff team since registration, providing the child with stability and consistency of care. Staff say they love their work and describe the home as having a ‘family atmosphere’. Staff rotas reflect a balanced and diverse staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Effective systems are in place to maintain good oversight of the home. The manager thoroughly reviews incidents, identifying positive practices and sharing areas for Inspection report for children’s home: 2827895 4 development with the staff team. The manager also welcomes external feedback from the independent person and takes prompt action to address any shortfalls. Inspection report for children’s home: 2827895 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

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(ii)(iii)(iv)(vi)(vii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)) 12 December 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2827895 6 Specifically, the registered person must ensure that all consequences are recorded as such and that their effectiveness is evaluated with staff and the child.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they challenge the local authority when any delays for the child occur and that they escalate any concerns in respect of the local authority appropriately and in a timely manner. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 12, paragraph 2.8)  The registered person should ensure that all risk assessments reflect the most current and up-to-date information and include clear guidance for staff to follow. The child’s views should also be included in risk assessments. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 58, paragraph 11.19)

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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: 2827895 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Capricorn Care NW Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Penny Lane Business Centre, 374 Smithdown Road, Liverpool L15 5AN

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Inspector

Justina Henry, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2827895 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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