Children's Home run by PALS Residential Services in Liverpool

Inspection report children's home: 2741726 1 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Registered provider: PALS Residential Services

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private provider. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since February 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

Three children were living in the home at the time of this inspection. All three children were spoken with.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 26 September 2024

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Outstanding

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: 2741726 2 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/09/2024 Full Outstanding Inspection report children's home: 2741726 3 OFSTED USE ONLY

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improvement to be good

Management oversight and safeguarding arrangements are not consistently robust. Reviews of safety measures and confidentiality practices have not been maintained effectively, and monitoring systems do not always ensure standards are met. While children’s experiences are positive, these shortfalls limit the home’s ability to demonstrate consistently good practice.

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improvement to be good

Children experience warm, nurturing care and enjoy a homely environment where they feel settled and secure. They are making progress in education, health, and emotional well-being. Staff spend meaningful time with children, playing games and talking about their day, and children speak enthusiastically about activities such as holidays and special outings. Plans for further experiences, including festive trips, reflect a commitment to creating fun and stimulating opportunities.

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improvement to be good

The home is clean, tidy, and welcoming. Seasonal decorations, including a Christmas tree, create a festive and homely atmosphere. Communal areas are well maintained and organised, providing a comfortable space for children. Children’s bedrooms are personalised and reflect their individual identities, promoting a sense of belonging and emotional security. Window restrictors are fitted to upstairs windows, and a motion sensor is in place on the landing to alert staff if children leave their bedrooms. These measures were agreed with the local authority; however, they have not been reviewed for over six months.

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improvement to be good

Children attend school regularly and are making progress in their education. Education professionals report strong support from the home in promoting learning and maintaining school attendance. Health needs are met effectively, with evidence of appointments being kept and care plans followed. All children have access to weekly therapy sessions which helps support them with boundaries, routines and emotional support. Staff work well with external agencies to strengthen children’s overall development.

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improvement to be good

Family time is promoted when it is safe to do so. Children are supported to maintain important relationships through face-to-face visits, with staff providing practical and emotional support. These efforts help children to sustain and strengthen connections with significant people in their lives. Where family time is assessed as not being in the child’s best interests, the manager shows confidence in making decisions that prioritise the child’s welfare.

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improvement to be good

However, children’s personal information is displayed on a board in the office. This does not protect confidentiality and risks unauthorised access to sensitive details. Inspection report children's home: 2741726 4 OFSTED USE ONLY

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improvement to be good

Safeguarding arrangements in this home are not consistently effective. A serious incident occurred in which two children were left unsupervised despite known risks. Leaders and managers informed external agencies; however, Ofsted did not receive a notification, and no internal investigation was completed because the staff involved had left employment. There were limited discussions with the children, and staff did not explore the reasons for the behaviour or provide individual sessions, reducing opportunities for children to be able to talk openly. Leaders and managers acted by installing sensors and ensuring children are no longer left unsupervised, but these measures were reactive and implemented after the incident rather than being proactive. While there have been no further serious incidents since, this highlights limitations in risk management and oversight.

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improvement to be good

Incident recording and managerial oversight have not been consistently robust. Some children’s documents have lacked sufficient detail, and the quality of language used in direct work sessions has not always been professional. An incident report from November were a child made a complaint about a member of staff was incomplete, and there is no clear evidence that staff on shift were spoken to following the event or that the child was informed of the outcome. These gaps reduce accountability and limit opportunities for reflection and learning.

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improvement to be good

During the inspection, the medication cupboard key was found in an open key cupboard with the key left in the door. This arrangement does not fully ensure the security of controlled medication.

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improvement to be good

There have been two incidents where a child was physically held. Records confirm that these interventions were appropriate and proportionate, in line with the child’s assessed needs and the home’s procedures. However, these events were not initially recorded as restraints by the home’s own monitoring systems; this was identified by the Regulation 44 visitor and then raised with leaders.

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improvement to be good

Measures are in place to ensure that children can access the internet safely. Firewalls and parental controls help to protect children when using the internet, and staff monitor Wi-Fi activity. Staff plan work with children before they receive personal devices, ensuring that they understand how to use technology safely.

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improvement to be good

The registered manager takes appropriate steps to escalate matters to professionals when children require additional services. This demonstrates a clear understanding of the importance of multi-agency working and a commitment to ensuring children’s needs are addressed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Inspection report children's home: 2741726 5 OFSTED USE ONLY

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Management oversight of the home has not been consistent. This has led to shortfalls in the safeguarding and risk management practice in the home. Leaders and managers did take action to address some shortfalls identified during the inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

There have been concerns about staff conduct since the last inspection. These were managed with input from external agencies; however, internal investigations lacked analysis and did not demonstrate how decisions assured children’s safety. Risk assessments and supervision records were updated, but evidence of reflection and learning was limited.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Changes within the staff team since the last inspection have led to periods of disruption and instability for children, which affected the consistency of care and relationships. Managers have worked hard to restore stability and continuity, and children are now benefiting from improved consistency and positive engagement from staff. Although the home is now fully staffed, several team members are newly appointed and have limited experience in managing the complex needs of some children. This places additional pressure on more experienced staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Training is in place and includes mandatory and specialist courses tailored to children’s needs. However, it is not yet fully embedded across the team, as some newer staff have not completed all required modules. While the training programme is thorough, therapeutic approaches are not consistently reinforced in practice and are still developing within the team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff feedback reflects a positive and supportive culture. Team members describe feeling valued and well supported by managers, with consistent guidance and open communication. Despite this, the departure of four staff members with immediate notice following safeguarding concerns has affected stability and placed additional pressure on the remaining team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Professionals report that communication with staff and the manager is generally positive and consistent, and they feel children are well cared for. One professional noted that they are occasionally informed about incidents later than other agencies. Some instability for children has been observed due to recent staff changes, and it was highlighted that the manager can sometimes be inflexible when making decisions about family time.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Quality assurance processes have not consistently identified shortfalls in practice, which has limited opportunities for improvement. While the registered manager has introduced revised documentation, learning from serious incidents is not yet consistently embedded. Internal investigations have lacked depth, and some serious incidents were not reported to Ofsted, reducing external oversight.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Leaders and managers demonstrate a developing understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for improvement. There is evidence of a commitment to trauma-informed and relational practice, and steps are now being taken to strengthen oversight through audits. However, these improvements are not yet embedded or consistently applied across the service. Inspection report children's home: 2741726 6 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 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— that staff—

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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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manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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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

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home's child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi) and (vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that safeguarding practice is robust and that thorough internal investigations with documented findings, conclusions and learning is completed. Also, they need to provide staff with training and supervision to strengthen therapeutic responses and safeguarding practice. 30 January 2026 Inspection report children's home: 2741726 7 OFSTED USE ONLY

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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

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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ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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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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ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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

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

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

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use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.

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(Regulation 13 (1)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(g)(i) (h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that records are up-to-date and have clear strategies within them, so staff understand how to support children. That staff understand and consistently implement the home’s therapeutic model in both practice and written records. Also, the registered manager should have oversight of incidents and key documents.

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Requirement Due date

Furthermore, leaders and managers should ensure that they use effective monitoring and review systems, to help them understand where improvements can be made and so standards are raised, so children experience a better level of care in the home. 30 January 2026 Inspection report children's home: 2741726 8 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

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(Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(e) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii) (b)

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that all serious safeguarding incidents are completed accurately and submitted to Ofsted without delay whenever a notifiable event occurs. Also, the registered manager should send in retrospect any notifiable incidents that have occurred since the previous inspection. 30 January 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

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medicines kept in the home are stored in a secure place so as to prevent any child from having unsupervised access to them;

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 23 (1) (2)(a) 30 January 2026 Inspection report children's home: 2741726 9 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the key for the medication cupboard is locked and secured and only accessible to authorised staff. The registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

the privacy of children is appropriately protected; children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises; and any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises—

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Requirement Due date

is necessary and proportionate; is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 21 (a) (b) (c)(ii)(iii) iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager must ensure that children’s personal information is not displayed in any area accessible to professionals or the public. The manager should maintain oversight of the use of window restrictors to ensure they remain appropriate and effective. In addition, the registered manager must regularly review current monitoring and surveillance practices to ensure they remain necessary and proportionate. 30 January 2026

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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 children's home: 2741726 10 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: PALS Residential Services

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 64 Mill Lane, West Derby, Liverpool L12 7JB

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Inspector

Karen Hallam, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: 2741726 11 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Inspector

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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