Children's Home run by Attivo Care Ltd in Halton

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2680573 1 Registered provider: Attivo Care 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 is operated by a private provider and provides care for two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Information about this children’s home

Both children were present during the inspection. One child was spoken to.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager in post is not yet registered with Ofsted.

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Inspection date: 13 October 2025

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspectors evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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: 2680573 2

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Findings from the inspection

We identified the following serious and widespread concerns in relation to the care and protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers fail to identify and consider the complexities of the risks for children in relation to radicalisation and extremism. Staff say that they are not suitably trained to manage one child’s extreme views and support of terrorist organisations. One child’s plans were not updated promptly following an incident of unknown liquids and flammables being found in their bedroom. At the time of the inspection, referrals to outside specialist agencies, in relation to the Prevent duty had not been completed, and previous concerns have not been escalated in a timely manner.

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Findings from the inspection

Recording of incidents is poor. Records do not include all relevant details. Some incidents are not recorded at all, and some records are written a significant time after the event. This limits the manager’s ability to review and evaluate staff practice. In addition, children’s plans are not written in line with local authority care plans. This means that staff are not providing care to children as in accordance with local authority plans. Records do not demonstrate that consideration was given to potential risks for one child being taken abroad on holiday without consent and during school term time.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff and managers are not professionally curious regarding the child’s views and beliefs regarding those with protected characteristics. There are key-work sessions and recorded conversations about one child’s religion. However, there are limited discussions challenging their views when these are inappropriate or misogynistic.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers and staff do not have a full understanding of the child’s religion and associated beliefs. Staff spoken to recognise that this as an area of development that is needed for the team and that the child requires specialist support due to extreme views and beliefs. Arrangements to meet with local religious leaders to help managers and staff understand the child’s religious needs have not been followed up in a timely manner. The manager and staff have not explored other options to develop their knowledge and understanding of the child’s beliefs.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff do not follow the children’s plans to ensure that the children are safe online. The manager does not know the risks for children when accessing the internet and social media. The manager stated that due to her age she would not know what to look for. Plans regarding device checks had not been reviewed or updated following an incident of one child watching violent content on the dark web.

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Findings from the inspection

The children are cared for by a stable staff team. One child has developed positive relationships with the staff caring for them. However, strategies are not in place to support the other child to engage with the whole staff team. The gender balance of Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2680573 3 the team means that there is only one member of staff who the child will engage with. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2680573 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/06/2025 Full Good 21/01/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 24/09/2024 Full Inadequate 03/10/2023 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2680573 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

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

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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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that staff and managers understand children’s risks and that plans are in place to manage these risks. 30 November 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2680573 6 Action should be taken to ensure that staff and managers have the knowledge and understanding of children’s religions and beliefs.

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Requirement Due date

Children’s plans should be up to date and accurate, and all incidents should be recorded fully in a timely manner.

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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

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

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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)(b)(c)(g)(i)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers should ensure that systems are in place to monitor and oversee the care being provided in the home, that incidents are reviewed and action is taken to address any shortfalls in staff practice and knowledge.

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Requirement Due date

Action should be taken to ensure that there is the relevant authorisation and consent in respect of children attending holidays and activities with others.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 30 November 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2680573 7 The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that staff complete direct work with children about their views and beliefs and how negative behaviour can have an impact on others. 30 November 2025

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that whenever possible, staff in day-to-day contact with children include staff from the different gender groups so children feel able to engage with a range of staff. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.22) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2680573 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Office 1, 41- 43 Liverpool Road, Manchester M44 5BQ

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Mr Anthony Hallam

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Inspectors

Nicola Jeffery, Social Care Inspector Katie Tomlinson, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2680573 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.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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