Children's Home run by New Start in Liverpool

Inspection report for children’s home: SC444411 1 SC444411

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private company. It provides care for one child who may experience social and/or emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home. The child spoke to the inspector.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2024.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 28 January 2025

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC444411 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/01/2025 Full Good 28/02/2024 Full Good 05/10/2022 Full Good 14/09/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: SC444411 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has lived at the home for over 3 years. During this time, the child has developed positive and trusting relationships with staff, who have provided consistent support. This has provided stability and a strong sense of belonging for the child.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have a good understanding of the child’s health needs and ensure that they access appropriate health services when needed. The manager advocates for specialist assessments and therapeutic interventions when necessary. The child benefits from effective support from the in-house therapist.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff consistently prioritise education and the manager strongly advocates for the child. The manager and staff support the child to explore future goals and aspirations. As a result, the child has a positive attitude towards learning and has made significant progress.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff understand the importance of family time. The child is supported to spend time with those important to them in a safe, well-planned way. Additionally, the child has access to a wide range of activities and opportunities, including holidays abroad.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager listens to and acts on the child’s views. Recent renovations included the removal of a wall in the living room following feedback from the child, creating a larger and more homely space. The child’s bedroom is personalised, and they have a pet hamster, which gives them positive childhood experiences.

p.3

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

The child has made significant progress while living at the home. Staff support the child to develop independence skills in a measured way and in line with their needs. The child can carry out a variety of tasks, including cooking, laundry and cleaning.

p.3

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

The child is kept safe by staff who are knowledgeable about their current needs and vulnerabilities. Staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities. They know how to escalate concerns, including to external safeguarding partners.

p.3

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

Incidents are infrequent. However, on one occasion the child was able to access an item that had not been securely stored. Measures to rectify this matter were actioned during the inspection.

p.3

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

Missing-from-home episodes are rare. However, on one occasion staff did not follow the child when they left the home and they did not fully follow the home’s missing-from- home protocol. Inspection report for children’s home: SC444411 4 The staff team provides the child with consistency and stability. Staff recruitment is conducted safely to ensure that only suitable individuals work with the child.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is experienced in residential childcare and is working towards the relevant qualification. She has responsibility for another home in the organisation and is supported by an experienced responsible individual.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

New members of staff complete an induction before being enrolled on the recognised childcare qualifications. Staff have access to a wide range of training to enable them to develop their skills to meet the child’s needs. The registered manager ensures that staff have access to specialist training to ensure that emerging needs for children are managed effectively.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say that they feel well supported by the manager. Staff receive regular supervision sessions which help them to reflect on and develop their practice. Regular team meetings provide opportunities for discussion, reflection and shared learning.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has developed positive working relationships with other professionals and carers. She advocates effectively for children and appropriately challenges professionals to help achieve the best possible outcomes for the child.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Consequences are not frequently used; however, when implemented, they have not always been proportionate to the behaviour, indicating the need for consequences to be reviewed by the manager. Inspection report for children’s home: SC444411 5

p.4

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.5

Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

p.5

Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

p.5

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

p.5

Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii))

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person and staff must ensure that all potentially unsafe or hazardous items are appropriately secured and stored safely, including being always locked away where necessary to prevent children from accessing them.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all staff understand and implement the home’s missing-from-home protocol consistently. 1 March 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: SC444411 6

p.5

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that consequences used to address poor behaviour are restorative in nature, to help children recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves, other children, the staff caring for them and the wider community. Staff should be skilled in supporting the child to understand the consequences of their behaviour and to carry out any restorative actions. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 47, paragraph 9.38)

p.6

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: SC444411 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: New Start Ltd, 179 Townsend Lane, Clubmoor, Liverpool L13 9DY

p.7

Inspector

Sonja Vega, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC444411 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.7

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8