Children's Home run by Pinnacle Care NW Ltd in Liverpool

Inspection report for children’s home: 2798687 1 SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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Registered provider: Pinnacle Care NW Limited Full inspection 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 company and provides care for one child who experiences social and emotional difficulties and/or has learning disabilities and/or alcohol dependency and/or drug dependency.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in August 2024. The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2025.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home and was spoken to by the inspectors.

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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: 27 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: 2798687 2 SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/01/2025 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2798687 3 SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child living in the home experienced a well-planned move into the home. The manager visited them and ensured that the child received information about the home and the staff team and facilitated a visit to the home for the child prior to their arrival. This helped to reduce the child’s anxiety and begin to build trusting relationships, resulting in the child settling in well.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff engage in activities with the child that the child enjoys. This helps to build a connection and helps the staff to develop an understanding of the child’s needs, likes and dislikes. As a result, the child has developed a strong attachment to the manager and the staff. The child shared with the inspectors that they feel the staff are comforting and this is the best home they have lived in.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s views, wishes and feelings are regularly sought. Staff receive the views through planned key-work sessions and conversations they have with the child. The child receives timely feedback, which helps them to feel heard, valued and involved in the decision-making.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is not attending full-time education. However, they are being supported to attend their provision on a reduced timetable. The manager works well with the child’s placing authorities and educational professionals to ensure that the child is provided with appropriate learning opportunities to support progress until the child is fully engaged with their education provision.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child to attend routine and specialist health appointments. The impact of the child’s earlier life experiences and ongoing emotional wellbeing support is assessed by child and adolescent mental health services, who support the staff to work therapeutically with the child and provide weekly therapy sessions for the child. This means the child’s complex health needs are recognised and understood and are being met by staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is decorated and furnished to a good standard. However, the home is due for redecoration, planned for the week after the inspection. The child likes their home and takes pride in it. Consequently, the child lives in a happy and safe home where staff treat them with dignity and respect. One professional said, ‘I have no concerns, [name of child] has settled well and has lovely relationships with staff.’

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

Risk management plans and safety plans are up to date and are regularly reviewed to reflect the child’s changing needs. They provide staff with appropriate strategies to reduce and minimise risk. Staff demonstrate they understand the child’s risks and vulnerabilities and take appropriate steps to manage these. Inspection report for children’s home: 2798687 4 SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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

Safeguarding incidents are managed well. However, on occasion, staff practice has fallen short. The manager responds swiftly and takes the appropriate action to address this with the member of staff and relevant safeguarding partners. This ensures that the staff caring for the child remain safe to do so. Not all serious incidents have been reported to Ofsted in a timely manner. This does not allow the regulator to have sufficient oversight and scrutiny of the home.

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

Allegations are taken seriously and investigated thoroughly. The manager shares the information with the local authority designated officer and implements safety plans to ensure that the child remains safe living in the home.

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

On occasion, the child has been missing from home or away from the home without authority for short periods of time. The manager and staff take a proactive approach to supporting the safe return of the child, working closely with placing authorities and the police to assess and reduce risks. As a result of this coordinated approach, the child is located quickly and returned home safe and well.

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

Staff recruited to work in the home are recruited in a safe way. The manager ensures that the necessary checks are completed before staff start working with children. This helps to ensure that the adults working with children are safe to do so.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is experienced, holds a childcare qualification and is working towards a management qualification. She has aspirations for the child in her care and is child-focused. Staff speak highly of the manager and the support she provides to her team. One member of staff said, ‘Management are approachable and supportive, offering clear guidance and making sure staff feel supported in their roles.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has established strong relationships with the network of professionals supporting the child. Information is shared promptly and decisions are made collaboratively to meet the child’s changing needs. The manager is confident to advocate on behalf of the child, ensuring that their views, wishes and feelings are heard.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

New staff receive an induction that provides them with a detailed programme of training and guidance for their new role. On completion of their probationary period, staff are enrolled on to a suitable qualification if they are not already qualified. This leads to consistency in care and support for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular practice-related supervision and attend regular team meetings. The sessions consider staff wellbeing and offer them opportunities to reflect on their practice. The manager and responsible individual provide effective oversight and appropriate challenge to staff where required. This helps staff to adapt their practice accordingly to meet the needs of the child. Inspection report for children’s home: 2798687 5 SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive training that supports them in their roles and to meet the specific needs of the child in their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The management team has a good level of oversight over the home and of the quality of care provided to the child. Robust reviewing and monitoring systems support the management oversight and help to address any shortfalls as they arise. However, the manager has not ensured that the home’s statement of purpose is up to date, as amendments to the staffing structure are required. Inspection report for children’s home: 2798687 6 SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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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 compile in relation to the children’s home a statement ("the statement of purpose") which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (1) (3)(a)(b)) 19 April 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 incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that all serious incidents are notified to Ofsted in a timely manner. 19 April 2026

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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: 2798687 7 SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Pinnacle Care NW Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Sinclair Accounting Co Ltd, 300 St. Marys Road, Garston, Liverpool L19 0NQ

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Rachel Springford

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Inspectors

Julie Elder, Social Care Inspector Shane North, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2798687 8 SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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Inspectors

to 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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