Children's home run by Warrington Borough Council

Inspection report for children’s home: 2795771 1 Registered provider: Warrington Borough Council

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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 and managed by the local authority. The home provides a short- breaks service and cares for children who may have social and emotional difficulties or a learning need.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, the home 3 children were staying at the home. Two of them were spoken to during the inspection.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2795771 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/03/2025 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2795771 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This home provides a short-breaks service which supports children and families. The service is complemented by the provider’s outreach service, which helps children to remain living with their families in their local community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children feel welcome and understood at the home. Staff and leaders work with the outreach service and external professionals to ensure that children enjoy their time at the home and that their individual needs are understood by the staff caring for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that children have access to a range of fun and meaningful activities when they stay at the home, such as baking and movie and pamper nights. Leaders and staff ensure that when required, support is in place when children go back home to their families.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the daily care needs of each child and children are encouraged to express their views about the care they receive. Staff support children to be involved in day-to-day decision-making during their time at the home and fulfil their wishes where possible.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children are staying at the home, staff talk to them about things which may be important to them. This allows children to have time to explore their emotions, likes, dislikes and future aspirations. This supports children in developing a sense of their own identity.

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

There are detailed and clear plans in place for each child, which provide guidance for staff in their work with children. Staff regularly update the plans and children are encouraged to contribute where possible, to ensure that their views are heard.

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

Risk assessments are in place which staff regularly update and review. Each risk is categorised according to severity and assessments provide a clear response for staff to follow should risks arise.

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

Staff engage children in structured sessions which focus on key topics in line with children’s individual circumstances and help give them the tools to use to keep them safe when not at the home. The sessions take place during each stay and are underpinned by the work done by the outreach team.

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

Since the last inspection, there have been no safeguarding concerns, allegations or disclosures. Staff are suitably trained and knowledgeable about managing concerns should they arise. Staff have a good understanding of the role of the local authority designated officer and when they need to be notified about any concerns. Inspection report for children’s home: 2795771 4 The home has suitable health and safety checks in place. However, a broken fence panel needs repairing to keep the outside area safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is an experienced managed who oversees the home and is supported by the deputy manager. Leaders and managers know the children who use the service well and have a vision for what children can achieve during their time at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has effective monitoring systems in place for oversight of the home. The system identifies key strengths and areas for development. She has created and developed tools and auditing systems to support her to make improvements. Quality of care reviews have been completed by the manager, but these have not been shared with the regulator.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager makes use of external monitoring of the home and uses this to support development and make any changes required. However, the independent person does not routinely gather the views and opinions of children or the professionals involved in their lives. This is a missed opportunity for the independent person to hear the opinions of children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are positive about their roles in the home and feel valued and supported. They have clear roles and responsibilities and know what is expected of them. This supports accountability and a sense of shared ownership, which contributes to them working well as a team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a consistent staff team who know the children who use the service well. Each staff member has access to a wide variety of training, including specific areas to help them to support individual children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular and supportive supervision. Staff speak highly of the support they receive from managers, both emotionally and in relation to their professional development. However, supervisions are not always practice related. They do not provide staff with opportunities to reflect on their practice and how their own feelings may be affected by the behaviour of children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2795771 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 registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that supervisions are practice related and focus on how staff have supported children staying in the home. 28 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

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

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a) (4)(b)) 28 March 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2795771 6 Specifically the registered person must ensure that quality of care reports are completed and a copy is sent to HMCI.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure broken fence panels are fixed to ensure children are safe outside. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that the independent person contacts external professionals and routinely consults with children who stay in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.5)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have 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: 2795771 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Warrington Borough Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 1 Time Square, Warrington WA1 2NT

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Inspectors

Vicky Byron, Social Care Inspector Katie Tomlinson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2795771 8 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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