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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2785316 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 operated by a private provider. It provides care for 4 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, 3 children were living in the home. The inspector spoke to 2 children about their experiences of living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2025.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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inadequate

There are serious and widespread failures that mean children are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded, and the care and experiences of children and young people are poor and they are not making progress.

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inadequate

Date of last inspection: 12 November 2024

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2785316 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/11/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2785316 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Shortfalls in care planning have impacted on children’s experiences of living in the home. The impact of the risks and needs of children moving in on the children already living in the home are not considered. One child moved out of the home after a short time as staff could not keep them safe. Leaders and managers did not consider the child’s risks before they moved in and that the inexperienced staff team would not be able to meet their needs. Consequently, the child made little progress and did not have a positive experience moving out of the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The children living in the home say that they are happy. Children have opportunities to go on holidays and spend positive time with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Changes to the staff team mean that the children have not been provided with consistent care by a stable staff team. These changes have not helped children to build trusted relationships with those caring for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children are making progress in education. Staff advocate for children who do not have a school place and ensure that a suitable place is identified.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff support children to spend time with their family and friends. Staff maintain regular communication with family members to keep them updated about their child. This helps children to maintain their identity and continue to see people who are important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff have meaningful conversations with children around risks they may be exposed to. When additional professional advice is required, this is prioritised.

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

Safeguarding practice in the home is poor.

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

For one child who has moved on from the home, their risks of being missing from home increased during their time living there. Staff, including the manager, did not understand the risks associated with the child being missing and were not proactive in their responses to safeguard the child. Records of incidents are poor and lack detail, professional curiosity and robust managerial oversight. This leaves children at risk of harm.

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

Children’s risk assessments and behaviour support plans do not include all known risks or guidance for staff to follow. This does not ensure that children are effectively safeguarded and that staff are provided with guidance on how to meet the children’s needs. Inspection report for children’s home: 2785316 4 Children’s health needs are not understood. Records of concerns are not clear and do not evidence that appropriate action was taken when a child returned home under the influence of illegal substances. Additionally, medication protocols are poor. The recording of why one child requires medication is not clear for staff, and planning before the child moved into the home was not effective. The manager was not clear on prescribed and non-prescribed medication and what medication was in the home.

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

When children have raised complaints, the manager has supported them and notified relevant safeguarding professionals. Action has been taken following complaints and children have been updated on the outcomes. This ensures that children feel listened to and action is taken to improve the care for children.

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

Not all areas of the home were safe and welcoming. Four fire doors were not compliant with regulations and one door was being held open by a belt. Action was taken to rectify this during the inspection. The conservatory was cold and not an area where the children could relax or play. This does not provide the children with a warm and homely environment to live in.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There have been changes in the management team since the last inspection. The manager is supported by a deputy manager, and both are experienced.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leadership and management oversight of the home is poor and does not recognise or address shortfalls in recording and practice. Leaders and managers were unable to provide accurate information of the actions taken by staff when there have been concerns for a child’s welfare. They have not ensured that all serious incidents are notified to Ofsted as required by regulation. This limits the regulator’s oversight of practice in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager did not understand the home’s internal policies for medication and when to notify Ofsted about any serious concerns. This does not demonstrate strong and effective leadership.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff have received training. However, not all staff have received training on all topics relevant to the children’s needs. This means that staff do not have the skills, knowledge and understanding to meet all the children’s specific needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Supervisions are held on a regular basis. However, discussions can be repetitive, and actions identified, including doing direct work with children, have not been followed to help support and develop staff to aid the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Regular team meetings have taken place. These are opportunities for staff to discuss the children’s needs and address any challenges.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

An independent person visits the home monthly but there is a delay in reports being received by Ofsted and on occasions the independent person has only been in the home Inspection report for children’s home: 2785316 5 for a short period of time. The reports lack analysis of serious incidents and did not recognise the pattern of failing to notify the regulator. Therefore, the independent person is not providing the additional layer of scrutiny and oversight they should.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers do not have effective internal monitoring systems in place. This limits oversight of practice and reduces opportunities for leaders and managers to reflect and develop, to improve the quality of care provided.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The quality of care review does not evaluate or analyse children’s achievements and themes of concern. The report does not include or evaluate the opinions of children, family and staff. This is a missed opportunity to help the leaders and managers to evaluate the quality of care effectively. Inspection report for children’s home: 2785316 6

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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

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; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies; 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)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff take action to safeguard children at all times.

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Requirement Due date

They must ensure that children’s plans include all known risks for children and clear strategies for staff to follow.

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Requirement Due date

They must ensure that staff understand and follow all plans. 8 March 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2785316 7 They must ensure that staff have the skills, knowledge and understanding to meet the needs of all children living in the home.

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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

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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; 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)(h))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff are provided with training on topics relevant to the children’s needs.

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Requirement Due date

They must ensure that all incidents are reviewed and that action is taken to address any shortfalls in staff practice.

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Requirement Due date

They must ensure that systems are in place to monitor the care provided to children. 8 March 2026

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children— 8 March 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2785316 8 receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that children only move into the home when it has been identified that their care needs can be met.

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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. (Regulation 23 (1)) 8 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)) 8 March 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to— HMCI. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a) (7)(a)) 8 March 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and 29 May 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2785316 9 any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

after completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review ("the quality of care review report").

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Requirement Due date

the system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3) (5))

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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: 2785316 10

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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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Inspector

Michelle Snape, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2785316 11 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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