Children's Home run by Acorns to Oaks Children’s Care & Support Limited in Wirral

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2690420 1 Registered provider: Acorns to Oaks Children’s Care & Support Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private provider. It is registered to provide care for four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children were living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At these inspections, 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 the children’s home: 2690420 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

Staff provide children with a home that is warm and nurturing. They build strong relationships with children that help foster a sense of belonging at the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are thriving in their individual activities. This helps them explore their identities and provides them with opportunities to make new friends and have fun.

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Findings from the inspection

All children are attending education. Significant progress has been made for two children who were previously not in formal education. Children are developing knowledge and skills essential for their future.

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Findings from the inspection

The home is generally well maintained; however, some areas are worn and tired. For example, there is mould in the showers, and the upstairs bathroom floor is cracked and the fixtures worn. Despite managers raising these issues with senior leaders, they are not always addressed in a timely way. Furthermore, some staff smoke in the garden. This means that children are at risk of second-hand smoke that can have various negative health impacts, and they are being presented with smoking as a normal adult behaviour.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff spend time with the children and know how to support them if they are upset. This means that there are few incidents at the home and there have been no physical interventions.

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Findings from the inspection

Positive behaviour is consistently promoted. When consequences are used to support children’s behaviour, they are restorative, focusing on restoring relationships and building responsibility.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff say they feel supported by managers. They are provided with opportunities to engage training specific to the children’s individual needs.

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Findings from the inspection

Risks for the children living in the home are minimal. However, children’s plans do not always include clear actions for staff to follow. Although this has not resulted in a serious safeguarding incident, on one occasion staff did not look for a child when they were missing. This means that staff responses when children are at risk are not consistent.

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Findings from the inspection

Incident records do not always include all necessary details. This limits managers’ ability to oversee staff practice, ensure children’s safety and identify opportunities for learning. Assurance inspection report for the children’s home: 2690420 3 The registered manager knows the children well and is committed to their care. There is a stable staff team in place. This means children are cared for by familiar and committed staff who know them well.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers are strong advocates for children. For example, they challenged external professionals when one child’s education was not being properly supported. This helped the child return to education, and they are now building their confidence and beginning to enjoy learning.

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Findings from the inspection

Oversight by leaders and managers is not consistently effective. They have not addressed the shortfalls in staff practice and gaps in the recording of incidents. This is a missed opportunity to embed a culture that is ambitious in achieving positive outcomes for children.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff talk to children about risk; however, there is a lack of planning to ensure conversations are specific to each child’s individual vulnerabilities. Staff do not always ensure conversations take place in a timely way following incidents. This means that opportunities to help children understand how to keep themselves safe are sometimes missed. Assurance inspection report for the children’s home: 2690420 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/07/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 23/07/2024 Full Good 03/10/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/02/2023 Full Good Assurance inspection report for the children’s home: 2690420 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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that children’s risk plan’s detail all known risks for children along with clear guidance to support staff in keeping children safe.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 24 February 2026

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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— 24 February 2026 Assurance inspection report for the children’s home: 2690420 6 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; 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)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must implement robust internal monitoring systems to support continuous improvements and ensure that they have oversight of staff practice. Shortfalls in staff practice and identified at the earliest opportunity to ensure continuous learning for staff and improvements for children.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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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

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding; 24 February 2026 Assurance inspection report for the children’s home: 2690420 7 help each child to understand, in a way that is appropriate according to the child’s age and understanding, personal, sexual and social relationships, and how those relationships can be supportive or harmful;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop the understanding and skills to recognise or withdraw from a damaging, exploitative or harmful relationship;

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Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2) (a)(i)(ii)(iii)(vi)(vii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that each child is provided with proactive direct support that is planned and regularly implemented based on their individual needs, risks and vulnerabilities.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

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

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that issues of maintenance are completed quickly and that the bathrooms are free from black mould and the fixtures and fittings are in good condition. 24 February 2026 Assurance inspection report for the children’s home: 2690420 8 The registered person must ensure that staff adhere to smoking policy and that children live in an environment that promotes a healthy lifestyle.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that all staff keep accurate records of any incidents including the actions they have taken. 24 February 2026 Assurance inspection report for the children’s home: 2690420 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Acorns to Oaks Children’s Care & Support Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Suite 3, 125-129 Witton Street, Northwich, Cheshire CW9 5DY

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Inspectors

Sarah Gilbert, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Danielle Allen, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Assurance inspection report for the children’s home: 2690420 10 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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