Children's home run by Young Foundations Limited in Wirral

Inspection report for children’s home: SC068410 1 SC068410 Registered provider: Young Foundations Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private company. It provides care for up to 6 children with mental health difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, 6 children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 3 November 2023.

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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: 28 January 2025

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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: SC068410 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/01/2025 Full Good 07/11/2023 Full Good 13/06/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 22/03/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC068410 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, 5 children have moved into the home, and one child has moved on. The inspector spoke with 3 children during this inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children experience well ‑ planned moves into and out of the home, supporting positive beginnings and endings. Leaders and managers take time to gather information about children’s individual needs and risks, and staff take time to get to know children before they move in. Since the last inspection, five children have moved into the home. Staff warmly welcomed a child who arrived during the inspection. One young person has moved on in line with their care plan as they reached adulthood. The young person was able to end their time at the home with a celebratory camping trip, which was organised in line with their wishes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have a strong understanding of each child’s individual needs. They receive regular consultation from a clinical psychologist, which further strengthens their insight and ability to respond effectively to help children. As a result, children benefit from nurturing care delivered through patient, therapeutic approaches. This consistent understanding helps children feel safe and cared for and supports the development of positive, trusting relationships with staff. One child said they feel safe and supported by the staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are central to care planning. They receive timely support from specialist services, ensuring that their physical, emotional and developmental needs are well understood and met. Staff work proactively with healthcare professionals to implement advice and interventions, which promotes children’s overall wellbeing and contributes to positive progress. For example, one child has made significant progress with their diet and no longer requires support from specialist healthcare services as a result. Another child, who struggled to engage in services, is now accessing them regularly, contributing to improved wellbeing.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views, wishes and feelings are actively promoted and encouraged. Most children attend their care reviews and express their opinions about their care. Children who do not communicate verbally all the time use established alternative communication methods, which staff understand well, ensuring that their views are accurately captured. Staff respond to children’s requests promptly and appropriately, helping them feel valued, heard and respected. Furthermore, successes are celebrated, and children receive instant rewards for achievements. This helps children feel a sense of fulfilment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s engagement in education is varied. While some children attend school or learning provisions regularly, others face significant barriers that affect their participation. Managers work effectively with professionals to reduce these barriers, and there are clear plans in place to support children whose education has been disrupted due to health ‑ related priorities. This ensures that all children have pathways back into learning when their circumstances allow. Inspection report for children’s home: SC068410 4 Staff do not always provide a consistent approach to supporting children with daily routines that help them reach their potential, particularly when current strategies have proved ineffective. This includes routines that promote learning and personal hygiene. In addition, leaders sometimes fail to ensure that children’s bedrooms are well maintained with repairs addressed promptly.

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

Children are helped to understand risks and how to keep themselves safe. Staff engage children in discussions about a range of topics, including online safety and risks relevant to their individual circumstances. They use various resources that children find meaningful, such as videos and booklets, to help them understand and remain engaged. This visual and accessible approach helps children develop their awareness and increases their confidence in making safer choices.

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

Missing-from-home incidents are uncommon. When children go missing, staff respond swiftly, follow procedures, and work closely with partner agencies to locate them and ensure their safe return. Leaders adapt learning from each incident that informs changes to plans and practice so that risks are further reduced. On one occasion, a child reported a significant concern after returning home from being missing, and this matter is under police investigation. Following the significant concern raised, leaders and staff took effective action, and this continues to be managed sensitively and appropriately.

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

Complaints are rare. When children make complaints, they are handled promptly and sensitively. Children are provided with clear, child ‑ friendly explanations in formats that make the process and outcome easy for them to understand, helping them feel informed and heard.

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

Staff respond to children effectively when incidents of self-injurious behaviour occur. Children are encouraged to express their feelings, and medical advice is sought to ensure that their wellbeing is prioritised. Following incidents, staff are encouraged to reflect on their practice and take proactive steps to reduce risks and promote children’s safety.

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

Staff are familiar with reporting procedures and follow safeguarding practices appropriately. When concerns are raised, leaders take effective action to explore the issues and manage incidents well, ensuring that children’s care and safety are not compromised.

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

When children raise concerns about staff practice, these are taken seriously and investigated appropriately, with all relevant professionals informed. Children are spoken to following the investigation by their allocated social worker. However, records do not clearly demonstrate that the outcome has been shared with the child or capture the child’s response to this, limiting the evidence of effective follow ‑ up. Inspection report for children’s home: SC068410 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by a suitably experienced and qualified registered manager. She is supported by an equally qualified deputy manager. Leaders are strong advocates for children and understand their needs well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals say that children are well cared for, and there is effective communication among all professionals, staff and leaders. One child’s independent reviewing officer said, ‘[Name of child] has made significant and sustainable progress since living in the home.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team has experienced changes since the last inspection; however, this has not compromised the care children receive. When there are gaps in the rotas, the staff commit to working extra hours to ensure consistency for the children. This approach provides continuity of care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Monitoring systems are in place that provide the manager with a clear overview of children’s care and development. These systems are also used to gather feedback from the staff working at the home. Senior leaders review this information, enabling them to gain an accurate understanding of staff wellbeing and professional development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive training that is closely aligned to the needs of the children, and team meetings are used effectively as a platform for reflection and to strengthen practice. This helps staff continually enhance the quality of care provided. Furthermore, staff receive regular supervision that focuses on their personal development and their role in the home. This helps improve staff’s skills and confidence, ensuring that they are better equipped to meet children’s needs. Inspection report for children’s home: SC068410 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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

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)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that children have supportive daily routines that promote their learning and personal hygiene and to ensuring that children’s bedrooms are well maintained with repairs addressed promptly. 26 April 2026

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that when children make allegations against staff, a clear record is kept of the investigation outcomes. This should include evidence that the outcome has been shared with the child and their response has been recorded. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.14) Inspection report for children’s home: SC068410 7

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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: SC068410 8

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Children’s home details

Provision sub-type: Residential special school

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Alexander House, Highfield Park, Llangwyfan, Denbigh LL16 4LU

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Inspector

Joanne Humphreys, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC068410 9 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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