Children's home run by Embrace Care Limited

Inspection report children's home: 2838778 1 Registered provider: Embrace Care Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

The home provides care for up to three children with learning disabilities, physical disabilities and/or sensory impairment.

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Information about this children's home

2 children were living in the home at the time of the inspection, both were spoken to as part of the inspection.

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Information about this children's home

The home and the manager registered with Ofsted in July 2025.

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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: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report children's home: 2838778 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have trusting and secure relationships with staff who know them well and put their wellbeing as a priority. Staff treat the children with dignity and respect, they experience care that is sensitive to their individual needs and abilities. Staff speak fondly and passionately about children in their care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children are new to the home they are welcomed sensitively and supported to move in with as much planning as possible based on their individual circumstances. There are robust assessments completed prior to agreeing for children to move in. This ensures that there is a child centred approach to assessing children's needs and that children are suitable to live together and that staff can meet the needs of children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have benefited from living at the home and have progressed in all areas of their lives, particularly their communication skills, personal care and their overall health has improved.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Family time is supported in line with agreed plans. Staff support children to maintain and embrace their culture and heritage. Children are supported to learn about their culture and religion through community groups, through food choices and cultural celebrations in the home. This promotes inclusivity and helps children to develop a sense of their own identity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to be involved in choices and decisions about their day-to-day care using their preferred communication methods. Staff are creative in identifying ways to help children to express themselves. Children make choices around their meals and activities and contribute to their routines.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children's education needs are met. Staff take children to school daily and work with school staff to share information and effective support strategies to help each child with their daily lives. Staf attend education reviews and meetings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work with relevant professionals to support children's health and wellbeing needs. Children attend routine health appointments and staff identify when specialist or urgent health care is required. Following this, staff provide specific aftercare to support a positive recovery.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to take part in meaningful and fun activities to meet their hobbies, interests and sensory needs such as swimming, aquariums, parks and Lego club at the local library. Inspection report children's home: 2838778 3

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

There have been no safeguarding concerns or allegations since the home opened. However, staff are suitably trained in safeguarding subjects to provide them with the skills to identify any concerns and to respond suitably. Safeguarding scenarios are discussed in team meetings and staff are able to explain the correct process they would follow should a concern arise.

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

Children receive high levels of close care, support and supervision from staff which is tailored to their specific needs. Audio surveillance is also used to support the needs of one child. However, there is not clear guidance for staff about how and when this surveillance should be used.

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

Children's support plans are detailed documents which provide staff with information and strategies to provide consistent care for children based on their individual needs. These documents are child-focused, and the child's voice can be heard throughout.

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

Due to the positive relationships between staff and children and the effectiveness of support strategies, physical intervention has been used minimally. When it has been necessary, the method used has been the least restrictive possible and used for the minimum amount of time needed. Staff have received a debrief and the child is supported throughout and after the incident. The manager has oversight of these reports and uses them to identify any changes needed to children’s plans.

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

Staff support children suitably during periods of distress and follow strategies detailed in their plans. Children receive help and support to manage their behaviour and feelings safely. Staff understand children’s experiences, respond with appropriate boundaries about what is safe and acceptable for each child and seek to understand the triggers for behaviour.

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

Staff complete direct work with children to help them understand and learn about their safety and their identity. Staff also create monthly and weekly summaries for children to celebrate their achievements and capture memories for them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is an experienced manager who is supported by a deputy manager and team of staff who all share the same vision and aspirations for what they want to achieve for children and for the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers make use of internal and external monitoring of the home. This provides scrutiny and ensures that the manager has oversight and can identify areas of positive practice and can drive improvements. Inspection report children's home: 2838778 4 There is a stable and consistent team of staff. This means that children are supported by staff who know them well. Staff enjoy working at the home and staff spoken to said that they feel valued and supported.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a positive ethos in the home, the staff team aspire to improve the lives of the children who live in the home. Staff have clear roles and responsibilities and have a shared sense of ownership and accountability; they work well as a team and managers lead by example.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are suitable arrangements in place for the safer recruitment of staff. Staff skills, experience, gender and cultural background are considered when allocating staff to the home to support children's individual identities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have completed a variety of training to provide them with the skills and knowledge to meet children's individual needs. Staff spoken to said that training is beneficial and helps them in their roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings are held regularly, are well attended, and staff understand their value. They are used as an opportunity for staff to share information and reflect on the previous month and as a training and development opportunity. The in-house therapist also holds separate therapeutic reflection sessions with the team to provide wellbeing support and to share strategies and guidance to help support children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff are committed to working together with placing authorities, specialist health advisers and schools. These positive and effective working relationships make sure that children consistently receive a high level of care and ensures that there is a wraparound approach to supporting positive outcomes for children. Inspection report children's home: 2838778 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that any monitoring and surveillance equipment has a written policy describing how this will support the safeguarding and well-being of those living in the home alongside clear guidelines of how and when this is to be used. ('Guide to the Children's Home Regulations'. Page 16, paragraph 3.16)

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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 children's home: 2838778 6

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: 116 Duke Street, Liverpool, Lancashire L1 5JW

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Responsible individual:

Registered manager: Samantha Middlehurst

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Inspector

Katie Tomlinson, social care inspector Inspection report children's home: 2838778 7 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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