Children's home run by Good Foundations Limited

Inspection report children's home: SC063318 1 SC063318 Registered provider: Good Foundations 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 is owned and managed by a private organisation. It provides care for up to 4 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties and learning disabilities.

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Information about this children's home

There were 2 children living at the home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children's home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2011.

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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: 11 February 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 children's home: SC063318 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/02/2025 Full Good 04/07/2023 Full Good 17/01/2023 Full Good 03/11/2021 Full Good Inspection report children's home: SC063318 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are provided with nurturing care. They speak positively about their experiences of living at the home and build strong relationships with the staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, 2 children have moved out of the home and 1 child has moved in. When new children move into the home, they receive well planned transitions. Staff take time to get to know children and where possible, they visit the home before they move in. This supports positive transitions and helps children to build relationships quickly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children move on from the home, staff take time to ensure that they feel supported. They accompany children to their new placements and offer emotional support and the opportunity to say goodbye. Decisions about children leaving the home are made in their best interests.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that children’s physical and mental health needs are met. They support children to attend health appointments and remind them of the importance of doing so. Staff ensure that children have access to specialist services when needed and incorporate professional advice and guidance into children’s plans.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote and encourage children’s access to education, training and employment. When children struggle to engage with their learning, staff work closely with education providers to remove any barriers and ensure that children’s voices are heard. Staff connect children with external support agencies to help them explore their options. This means that children have access to alternative learning opportunities and careers advice.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to prepare for independence. They promote good routines and help children to develop life skills. For example, supporting children with budgeting, shopping and laundry tasks. One child told the inspector that since living at the home, they have felt ‘more reassured and excited’ for independent living due to the support of the staff team.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to socialise and take part in fun activities. Children attend youth clubs and spend time with their friends and family. Staff also spend time with children doing activities they enjoy. For example, one child regularly visits a local pool hall with staff, and another child enjoyed a summer holiday with staff. These experiences help staff build strong relationships with children and create positive, lasting memories.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff build strong relationships with children's families. Parents say that they are happy with the care their children receive and that staff are ‘nurturing and compassionate’. One parent said that staff do not let the child’s challenges define them and appreciate who they are. Inspection report children's home: SC063318 4 Children's records are not always sufficiently detailed or reflective of the work staff carry out. This limits leaders’ and managers’ ability to review records effectively and is a missed opportunity to capture special memories for children and record all aspects of their progress.

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

Staff know and understand children's individual risks and respond effectively to safeguarding concerns. There are clear plans in place to support staff in safeguarding children. Plans are regularly reviews and updated with detailed chronologies.

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

When children go missing from the home, staff act proactively to locate them and ensure their safe return. Staff search for children and contact their family and friends. When children return, independent return home interviews take place that give children the opportunity to share any concerns and the reasons behind their behaviours can be explored.

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

Staff respond consistently and calmly to incidents of children self-harming. Children are offered medical assistance and staff complete room searches to ensure their safety. The manager and staff team work collaboratively with children and other agencies to reduce known risks. One mental health professional reported that staff have quickly built a professional relationship through good communication and effective information sharing.

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

Staff ensure that children understand the risks associated with the internet and mobile phones and there are clear plans in place to manage these risks. One child, for whom this was previously a high risk, has now progressed to having their own smartphone. This represents significant progress for the child.

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

Staff have meaningful conversations with children about their thoughts, feelings and risks. They provide advice and guidance and approach conversations sensitively and without judgement. However, staff are not proactive in educating children about all known risks. For example, staff did not actively support one child to understand the potential risks of exploitation and support the child to develop strategies to reduce their vulnerability to exploitation when they move on from the home, as outlined in the child’s plans.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is experienced and caring. She has developed good relationships with the children living at the home and is actively involved in their care. The manager is supported by a deputy manager, who is enthusiastic about providing a loving home environment for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a positive dynamic at the home. Staff speak highly of the manager and say that they feel well supported. Staff receive regular supervision and say that the manager takes the time to help them in their work. One member of staff said that the manager is a ‘great mentor’ and has given them ‘confidence in their ability’. Inspection report children's home: SC063318 5 Since the last inspection, there have been several changes to the staff team. This has been well managed through core staff members covering shifts and the use of relief staff who know the children well. There has not been any use of agency staff. This means that children have experienced consistency in their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers are well organised and have effective systems and processes in place to support the review of children's records and the day to day running of the home. For example, monthly audits and the annual development plan help the manager maintain a good understanding of the care provided to children and ensure effective oversight of records. However, at times the manager’s oversight lacks evaluation of children’s progress and the effectiveness of staff practice. This includes limited analysis of the consequences implemented for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings are held regularly and are well attended by staff. Leaders and managers use these meetings as an opportunity to share information about the children and the running of the home and to review incidents and the procedures in place to safeguard children. Team meetings provide staff with time to reflect on their practice and refresh their knowledge of safeguarding procedures. Team meeting minutes are written to a good standard, which promotes accountability.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive training relevant to the children's needs and there are plans in place to develop the practice of new staff members. Leaders and managers promote continuous professional development to help enhance staff skills and knowledge. They review the work carried out by staff and check their knowledge and understanding to ensure learning is embedded into practice. Inspection report children's home: SC063318 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, 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 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

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. (Regulation 13(1)(a)(b)(2)(f)).

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that there is effective oversight of the children’s records to monitor children’s progress and understand the effectiveness of staff practice. This includes reviewing the effectiveness of consequences implemented for children. 10 April 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

are kept up to date. (Regulation 36(1)(b)).

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children’s records are adequately detailed and reflect all work carried out by the staff team. 10 April 2026

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Recommendations

Inspection report children's home: SC063318 7  The registered person should ensure that staff provide children with education, advice, and guidance around all potential risks that could impact their wellbeing, as outlined within their individual plans. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 35, paragraph 7.18).

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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: SC063318 8

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Good Foundations Limited

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: 6 Tower Quays, Tower Road, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH41 1BP

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Inspector

Hayley Smith, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report children's home: SC063318 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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Inspector

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