Children's Home run by Nugent Care 2019 in Wigan

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2725049 1 Registered provider: Nugent Care 2019

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a charity. It provides care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties or have learning disabilities.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, two children were living at the home.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The post for a registered manager is vacant.

p.1

Inspection date: 17 October 2025

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Inspection date: 17 October 2025

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

p.1

Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2725049 2

p.1

Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, the registered manager has stepped down to the deputy manager role, and the responsible individual has assumed interim management oversight. There has also been a change to the responsible individual position. The effect on children has been minimal, as both the manager and deputy are well known to them, and a consistent, experienced staff team remains in place to provide stability and continuity of care.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

One of the two children living at the home spoke to the inspector during this inspection. Children are building positive relationships with the staff who care for them. The child expressed enjoyment living at the home. They said they like their bedroom, which is personalised to reflect their preferences and choices. The child proudly showed the inspector their bedroom and pointed out all their design ideas.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Children receive care from a more consistent staff team, which includes newly appointed staff who work alongside existing staff. This stability enables children to build trusting relationships, feel secure and experience continuity in their daily care. The consistent presence of familiar staff supports children’s emotional well-being and contributes to a nurturing environment.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

There have been no incidents requiring physical intervention. Behaviour support plans provide clear guidance for staff to help children feel safe and supported when they experience difficulties. Staff use calm communication, offer reassurance and help children move to a quieter area if needed. If a child is at risk of harm, staff are trained to respond safely and appropriately. This approach helps children feel understood and promotes emotional stability.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Children value their relationships with family and friends. Staff understand the importance of these connections and ensure that the time children spend with their family and friends is meaningful and varied. Staff supervise time spent in the community, such as local parks, cafes and shops, rather than limiting it to home environments. This approach helps children feel engaged, promotes positive experiences and supports emotional well-being.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

When children move into the home, managers carry out a compatibility assessment to consider their needs and risks and how these can be managed safely. This includes reviewing staff’s skills and identifying any training needed to ensure that children receive the right care. For example, staff have received ligature training to safely support children who may be at risk of self-harm. This proactive approach ensures that staff are confident, competent and equipped to meet children’s needs and keep them safe. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2725049 3 When concerns around vaping and smoking were raised for one child, staff addressed the issue with the child. However, the manager identified that a room search was not carried out and promptly addressed this with staff. The manager reinforced the expectations to ensure that safeguarding measures are followed.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Staff have supported one child to safely reintroduce mobile phone use through a gradual and well-planned approach. The child was actively involved in developing their safety plan, which was shaped through key-work sessions and presented at their review. This demonstrates that the child’s views are listened to and respected and that staff are proactive in helping children manage risks while promoting their independence.

p.3

Findings from the inspection

The interim manager has introduced new reporting and recording systems to strengthen oversight and ensure that leaders, managers and staff review incidents effectively. However, as there have been no significant incidents since the last inspection, it is too early to evaluate the impact of these new systems and strengthened oversight.

p.3

Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers responded promptly when gaps in the pre-placement information provided for one child were identified following their admission. The manager acted quickly to address the shortfalls, reviewing risk assessments and arranging additional staff training, such as ligature awareness, to ensure that the staff team could meet the child’s needs safely. These actions demonstrate clear leadership and professional curiosity, as well as a strong focus on keeping children safe.

p.3

Findings from the inspection

Staff report feeling supported in their roles and say that the training they have received is relevant to the individual needs of the children in their care, which ensures that they are confident and equipped to meet children’s needs safely and effectively. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2725049 4

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/07/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 30/07/2024 Full Outstanding 05/09/2023 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2725049 5

p.4

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.5

Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

p.5

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

p.5

Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(iii)(v)(vi)(b))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that staff understand their roles and responsibilities in protecting children and take effective action to reduce the risk of harm to them. 29 March 2026

p.5

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—

p.5

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 29 March 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2725049 6 ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

p.6

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)(c)(e)(h))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that there is a stable staff team in place and that all staff working at the home have the knowledge, skills and experience to provide care for children. This includes relevant training in line with children’s written plans.

p.6

Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that children’s records are reviewed and maintained to include all accurate and relevant information and that shortfalls in staff practice are identified and addressed as part of management evaluation.

p.6

Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must maintain an accurate and up-to- date record of the training staff receive.

p.6

Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must have effective monitoring and review systems in place to have oversight of the quality of care for children.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

p.6

Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.6

Requirement Due date

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must assess children’s needs before they move into the home to ensure that staff 29 March 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2725049 7 have the necessary skills and experience to meet them. Additionally, consideration must be given to the range of children’s needs identified in the home’s statement of purpose and the conditions of registration.

p.6

Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must robustly assess the needs of all children who will live together and put plans in place to ensure that they have a positive experience when sharing a home.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

p.7

Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

p.7

Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that records provide clear and accurate information in relation to incidents involving children, including the action taken by staff.

p.7

Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that complaints made by children are recorded, including the actions taken by managers in response to them. 29 March 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2725049 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 99 Edge Lane, Edge Hill, Liverpool L7 2PE

p.8

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Miss Ashley Connolly

p.8

Inspector

Nicola Forrester, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2725049 9 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

p.8

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspector

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.9

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.9