Children's home run by Omega Care Group Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2841759 1 Registered provider: Omega Care Group Limited

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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 registered with Ofsted in June 2025 and is owned and managed by a private provider. It offers care for 2 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, 2 children were living in the home. The inspector spoke to both children about their experiences of living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2841759 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the home was registered, 3 children have moved into the home. One child moved on from the home in line with their wishes and feelings. Careful planning was undertaken to ensure that the children’s care needs were fully understood by staff before they moved in.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both children attend school. Staff work closely with education providers and advocate for children to receive education that meets their needs. Staff support children in maintaining their learning inside and outside of the home. Staff have high aspirations for children’s educational abilities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff and children spend time together enjoying activities. Children have been on holiday and have memory books to remember their fun experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to have relationships with people who are important to them. Children’s time with their family is supported in line with their plans. This enables children to maintain important relationships and increases their sense of identity and belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work to develop positive relationships with professionals, and multi-agency working is a strength of the home. Regular meetings are held to share information, and all professionals contribute to the overarching care plan and the best approach to support the children. One social worker said, ‘They have come to [name of child’s] aid when she most needed them.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Direct work undertaken with the children is of a consistently high quality and responsive to the children’s needs. Meaningful conversations include keeping safe online, being kind and maintaining positive relationships. Children’s records are written in a child-friendly way.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is maintained to a good standard, with ample space for both children. At the time of the inspection, the home was decorated in preparation for Christmas. However, one door was not fire safety compliant.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The children say that they can identify adults they trust in the home. Interactions between staff and the children are positive, with smiles and laughter.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff understand children’s risks and manage safeguarding incidents effectively. However, children’s plans do not include all known risks for children or clear strategies for staff to follow. Inspection report for children’s home: 2841759 3 The manager has good oversight of incidents in the home. There is reflection and learning following all incidents that occur. When there are concerns about staff practice, managers seek advice from local safeguarding professionals and work together with the children’s social workers. However, there has been a delay in serious incidents being notified to Ofsted and information being shared with professionals out of hours. Although this did not impact on children, this shortfall limits the regulator’s and local authorities’ oversight of safeguarding practice in the home.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff physically hold children as a last resort to ensure the safety of children and others. When incidents do occur, children have the opportunity to speak to an independent person, as do the staff involved. Management oversight of these incidents is effective in identifying any practice issues or staff development needs.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children’s complaints are responded to appropriately. When a child did raise a complaint, the manager ensured that the child’s voice was heard, their views were respected and that action was taken to resolve the complaint.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The staff actively encourage children to develop their independence skills. Staff support older children to take manageable risks, such as having a key to the home and spending time out of the home.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff are calm and caring in their approach. They enjoy working at the home and spending time with the children. Staff implement clear boundaries, structure and routine. Children receive a high level of nurture, which creates a space for children to feel emotionally safe.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Safer recruitment checks are completed for all new employees. This ensures that the staff employed by the home are safe to work with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since registration, there have been management changes. The registered manager left to take up a new position within the organisation, and a new manager, who is enthusiastic and motivated, has been appointed and is planning to register with Ofsted. There has been no impact on the children. There is also a new deputy manager, and the responsible individual continues to support the children, managers and staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff speak highly of the leaders and managers. They work well together and are committed to improving outcomes for the children. Staff say that they are proud to work in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The managers ensure that the children are heard and their wishes and feelings are acted on. This enables children to feel listened to and involved in their care. Inspection report for children’s home: 2841759 4 Staff receive regular supervision. This helps staff to carry out their roles effectively and provides formal opportunities for reflection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Training is undertaken to ensure that the staff have the right skills and knowledge. This means that the staff have the necessary skills and knowledge to work consistently and effectively with the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings take place on a regular basis. They provide a forum for staff to reflect on the children’s care and, in turn, improve consistency in staff practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have effective internal and external monitoring systems in place to enable them to evaluate the care children receive. This ensures that there is continuous improvement in the care being delivered by the team. Inspection report for children’s home: 2841759 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

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

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that children’s risks are clearly assessed. They must ensure that staff are provided with guidance and strategies to support them to reduce risks.

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Requirement Due date

Additionally, the registered person must ensure that there is no delay in contacting a child’s placing authority when out of working hours. 6 February

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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

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e)) 6 February Inspection report for children’s home: 2841759 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that they comply with relevant health and safety legislation, including fire safety. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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Information about this inspection

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’. Inspection report for children’s home: 2841759 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Omega Care Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 40-42 Kemble Street, Prescot L34 5SQ

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Inspector

Michelle Snape, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2841759 8 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 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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