Children's Home run by Still Adventures Ltd in Sefton

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2787363 1 Registered provider: Still Adventures Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a multi-build setting operated by a private provider. The setting operates across 3 homes, caring for up to 3 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living in each of the 3 homes. All 3 children contributed to the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in February 2025.

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Information about this children’s home

This visit was undertaken to address specific concerns or allegations received by Ofsted.

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Inspection date: 14 January 2026

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has 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: 2787363 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 know children well and develop positive relationships. One child said, ‘Staff really care about me, and I like being here.’ Another child commented, ‘Staff look after me good,’ and said that they enjoy going scootering with staff. Staff adapt to the differing needs of children. Children know how to make a complaint. The manager responds in a timely way, which supports children feeling listened to.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are not in education. The structure and routine provided for children by staff are limited, as are their opportunities to learn and develop. Managers have not challenged other professionals effectively about ensuring education is available to children. Staff support children to develop independence skills and seek employment.

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Findings from the inspection

The home environments require attention. There are areas around each of the homes that are not well maintained. One child has not been able to access the games room for over 6 months, as the door lock requires repair. All children’s bedrooms require attention in relation to decoration, and some of the carpets are in a poor condition. Keys to unlock internal and external doors could not be immediately identified by staff. This impacts on children and staff being able to exit the home quickly in an emergency.

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Findings from the inspection

Individual risk assessments for children are detailed and help staff understand how best to support children when they are struggling with their emotions. However, staff do not always follow risk assessments. Incidents could be avoided or less serious in nature if staff followed the risk assessments. Serious incidents are not always notified to Ofsted. This restricts the regulator’s ability to monitor and evaluate how well children are safeguarded.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff understand children’s individual needs. However, staff do not have a deep understanding of children’s previous childhood experiences and the impact these have on their emotions and behaviour.

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Findings from the inspection

When children do go missing from home, staff work well with other professionals through sharing information and ensuring children are found and returned home.

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Findings from the inspection

Consequences given to children by staff are sometimes disproportionate and not always restorative. One child had been struggling with their emotions while out in the car. The consequence given by staff was the child not being allowed in the car for 3 days. The manager was reflective about the use of consequences and recognises this as an area for development. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2787363 3 Managers are verbally reflective about their oversight of the care provided to children and areas for continued professional development. This is not yet embedded into practice. Progress made by children is not yet monitored effectively or evidenced by managers or staff. Language used by staff is not always child friendly or child focused.

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Findings from the inspection

Training for staff does not consider the specific needs of children living in the homes. Managers and staff do not consistently work in line with their statement of purpose. There is no tutor available for children, and staff have not accessed training relevant to the provider’s preferred model of care.

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Findings from the inspection

The quality and frequency of professional supervision sessions is variable. Where there are clear support needs for staff, these are not set out clearly. Some staff say that supervision could be better and more supportive. This impacts review and progress of these areas for development.

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Findings from the inspection

Safer recruitment processes are not always followed. Where there are concerns raised about staff practice, investigations are carried out promptly. However, the manager is not always directly involved in these investigations and does not know the outcomes. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2787363 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/06/2025 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2787363 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

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

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)(ii)(v)(vi)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff understand and implement each child’s risk assessment. 12 March 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—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and 12 March 2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2787363 6 promotes their welfare.

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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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Requirement Due date

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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Requirement Due date

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

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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;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; 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)(a)(b)(c)(e)(f)(g)(i)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must have effective oversight of the quality of care provided for children, so they can identify areas of concern and respond with clear and measurable actions. This specifically relates to embedding monitoring systems, capturing children’s progress effectively and producing an ongoing review of their progress.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all staff have regular practice-related supervision where clear targets are set and reviewed. The registered person must also ensure that staff training is up to date.

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Requirement Due date

Additionally, the registered person must ensure that staff are providing care in line with the statement of purpose. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2787363 7 The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (3)(d)) 12 March 2026

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the consequences set are restorative in nature. 12 March 2026

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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)) 12 March 2026

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

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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

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1) (2)(b)(vii)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that improvements required around the homes are addressed without delay. 12 March 2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2787363 8 The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

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Requirement Due date

maintain regular contact with each child’s education and training provider, including engaging with the provider and the placing authority to support the child’s education and training and to maximise the child’s achievement;

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Requirement Due date

raise any need for further assessment or specialist provision in relation to a child with the child’s education or training provider and the child’s placing authority;

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Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child has access to appropriate equipment, facilities and resources to support the child’s learning. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(x)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children have access to education. 12 March 2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2787363 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Still Adventures Ltd

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Philip Pendleton

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Inspector

Kathryn Hurley, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2787363 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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