Children's home run by Phoenix Care & Education Limited

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2832239 1 Registered provider: Phoenix Care & Education Limited

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private provider. It provides care for up to 4 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Since the last inspection, one child has moved out of the home. There were two children living at the home at the time of the inspection. The inspector spoke to both children about their experiences of living at the home.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The post for a registered manager is vacant.

p.1

This monitoring visit

A full inspection took place on 11 November 2025 when the inspector found serious shortfalls in the safeguarding of children, as well as in the leadership and management of the home. Subsequently, the home was judged inadequate.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Following the full inspection, two compliance notices were issued under section 22A of the Care Standards Act 2000. These related to Regulation 12, the ‘Protection of children’ standard, and Regulation 13, the ‘Leadership and management’ standard.

p.1

This monitoring visit

This visit took place to monitor the action taken by the provider in relation to the compliance notices.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, there have been changes in the leadership at the home. There is currently no manager or deputy manager in post. The responsible individual has increased her presence at the home to address the shortfalls identified at the last inspection. Although this has improved the management oversight at the home, this arrangement is not sustainable and does not provide a long-term solution to embed and maintain effective improvement. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2832239 2 The responsible individual is taking action to address shortfalls in staff practice. However, staff responses in identifying and responding to risks for children are inconsistent. Not all staff follow the guidance in children’s individual risk management plans to ensure their safety. However, the risks relating to the two children living at the home are minimal.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Leaders have streamlined children’s risk plans, and they now include all known risks for children. Most staff demonstrate an understanding of the safeguards in place for each child. However, some plans lack the necessary information to support staff in their safeguarding practice. Additionally, one child’s plan does not align with the directive provided by the child’s social worker. As a result, the child spent time in the community with people who pose a risk to them.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Leaders have provided staff with opportunities to complete training on children’s individual risks, and responding to allegations and complaints. The responsible individual ensures that staff have opportunities to reflect on what they have learned and how they will apply it in practice.

p.2

This monitoring visit

All staff have completed refresher physical intervention training, which included a review of recent incidents to support the development of effective de-escalation strategies. There have been no physical interventions since the last inspection, and leaders continue to support staff development in this area.

p.2

This monitoring visit

A case review took place following this visit when it was agreed that although some improvements had been made, they were not sufficient to address all the shortfalls. Compliance notices to address the outstanding concerns were reissued under Regulation 12, the ‘Protection of children’ standard, and Regulation 13, the ‘Leadership and management’ standard.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Requirements made at the last inspection are outside the scope of this visit. These will be reviewed at the next inspection. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2832239 3

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/11/2025 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2832239 4

p.3

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 with the given timescales.

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.4

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;

p.4

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

p.4

Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(v)(vi)(vii)(e))

p.4

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that staff recognise and respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns for children, including following procedures in regard to restraint on children and carrying out room searches when necessary to ensure children’s safety and welfare. 1 March 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2832239 5 The registered person must ensure that the children’s risk assessments and plans detail all known risks and strategies for staff to follow to manage and reduce risk.

p.4

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—

p.5

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

p.5

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;

p.5

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)(c)(f)(h))

p.5

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that there are consistent and effective management arrangements in the home to ensure effective oversight of children’s care. The registered person must ensure that staff have the knowledge and skills to meet all of children’s needs. 1 March 2026

p.5

Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.5

Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

p.5

Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 1 March 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2832239 6 ensure that staff—

p.5

Requirement Due date

ascertain and consider each child’s views, wishes and feelings, and balance these against what they judge to be in the child’s best interests when making decisions about the child’s care and welfare;

p.6

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how the child’s views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child;

p.6

Requirement Due date

make each child aware of and, if necessary, remind them of each of the matters in sub-paragraph (d)(i) to (iii);

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that an explanation is given to each child as soon as reasonably practicable after the child’s arrival about—

p.6

Requirement Due date

how to make a complaint or representations in relation to the home or the care the child receives and how any such complaint or representations will be dealt with. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(vii)(d)(i))

p.6

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that staff follow internal complaints procedures and that children are informed of the action being taken in response to their complaints.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand the children's home's overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.6

Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably. (Regulation 6 (1) (2)(b)(vii)) 1 March 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2832239 7 Specifically, the registered person must ensure that all children’s bedroom furnishings are maintained to an acceptable standard.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month. (Regulation 44 (1)) 1 March 2026

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

p.7

Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

is an organisation or a partnership; (Regulation 27 (1)(a)(b)(i)) 1 March 2026

p.7

Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

p.7

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff are proactive in promoting children’s school attendance. When children are not attending school, the registered person should ensure that staff provide children with suitable structured activities. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.15)

p.7

Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

p.7

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2832239 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Phoenix Care & Education Limited

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 22-24 Balfour Road, Bootle L20 4NZ

p.8

Inspector

Sarah Gilbert, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2832239 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.

p.8

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.9

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.9