Children's Home run by Eastfield Group in Sefton

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC064663 1 SC064663

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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 owned by a private company. It is registered to provide care for up to seven children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Three children were living at the home at the time of this inspection. All the children were seen by the inspectors, and two children spoke with the inspectors about their experiences of living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2023.

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Inspection date: 19 November 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: SC064663 2

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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.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, no children have moved into or out of the home. Two children have lived at the home for over a year. All the children are settled, and they have positive relationships with staff. One child said, ‘The home is good. I like all the staff, and the rules are fair.’

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Findings from the inspection

Staff support and encourage children with their education and are ambitious for them to do well. Two children attend school and college full time and are making progress with their learning. One child, who did not attend school before moving into the home, regularly engages in education, although this is not full time.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are supported to attend health appointments. Staff work proactively and effectively with other agencies to ensure that children’s physical and emotional health needs are met. Children are encouraged to eat a healthy diet and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff support children to spend time with people who are important to them. Children see family members and friends regularly, and they thoroughly enjoy their time spent together.

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Findings from the inspection

The home is spacious and comfortable. Children’s bedrooms are well furnished and personalised to their tastes. One child is supported to care for some small pet animals, which they take pleasure and pride in.

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Findings from the inspection

There are shortfalls in the leadership and management of the home. There has been a change in the management arrangements since the previous inspection. The responsible individual has recently taken action to address concerns about the registered manager’s practice.

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Findings from the inspection

Evaluation of incidents by leaders and managers is limited and does not review practice effectively. An independent person visits the home each month; however, their reports lack scrutiny and do not provide any recommended actions. This means that opportunities to identify learning from incidents and to develop practice have been missed.

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Findings from the inspection

Management monitoring and oversight is not consistent across all areas. A review of the quality of care report has been completed. However, the registered manager did not take an active role in the review or in the writing of the report, which compromises her oversight. This lack of oversight means that opportunities for the registered manager to make continuous improvements are missed.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff benefit from regular team meetings and supervision sessions. However, supervision is inconsistent and does not always give staff the opportunity to reflect Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC064663 3 on their practice or discuss the children’s needs. Poor practice is not always identified, and on occasion, there is a lack of challenge from leaders and managers.

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Findings from the inspection

Children have a risk and behaviour management plan which is individualised to their needs. However, they are not always updated when circumstances change, and the language used to record some risks is stigmatising.

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Findings from the inspection

Safeguarding incidents are managed effectively, and concerns are escalated to the relevant safeguarding professionals. However, behaviour management is not always effective, and staff do not consistently understand or interpret children’s past experiences in a way that is appropriate or supportive for them.

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Findings from the inspection

The responsible individual has started to put measures in place to address the management shortfalls. Staff feel supported by her and enjoy working at the home. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC064663 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/06/2025 Full Good 13/05/2024 Full Good 05/03/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 02/08/2022 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC064663 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 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.

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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

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children;

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Requirement Due date

are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(ix)(x))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that all staff understand each child’s past experiences and how they may impact on the child’s behaviour; methods used to manage children’s behaviour must be child centred and contribute to positive relationships with children. In addition, staff must be provided with the opportunity, in each supervision session, to discuss their feelings and emotions and those of each child, including what strategies to use to help children. 20 February 2026

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who— 20 February 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC064663 6 understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that information recorded in each child’s risk plan meets their specific needs, is updated when circumstances change and is child focused.

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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

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(f))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that incident reports and key-work sessions are fully reviewed and that professional curiosity is used to consider the interventions used by staff and the impact they have on children. In addition, ensure that any poor practice is addressed and improvements are made. 20 February 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months. (Regulation 45 (1)) 20 February 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC064663 7 Specifically, the registered person must ensure that they complete the review of the quality of care provided for children and that they complete the report.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the staff record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4).  The registered person should ensure that the individual appointed to carry out visits to the home as an independent person makes a rigorous assessment of the home’s arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children in the home’s care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.5). Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC064663 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 1 Shireburn Road, Liverpool L37 1LR

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Inspectors

Zillah Brooks, Regulatory Social Care Inspector Sarah Gilbert, Regulatory Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC064663 9 and inspects 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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