Children's Home run by CFS Care Limited in St Helens

Inspection report children's home: 2796672 1 Registered provider: CFS Care Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children's home

The home is operated by a private provider. It provides care for up to 4 children who may experience emotional and/or social difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children's home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2025.

p.1

Information about this children's home

At the time of this inspection, 3 children were living at the home.

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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: 2796672 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/05/2025 Full Good Inspection report children's home: 2796672 3

p.2

Summary of findings

Since the last inspection, a new registered manager is in post. They are experienced and support staff to develop their knowledge and skills. This enables staff to safeguard children effectively.

p.3

Summary of findings

Risks to children have reduced since they have been living at the home.

p.3

Summary of findings

Children enjoy good relationships with staff and take part in a variety of positive activities.

p.3

Summary of findings

Children make progress in many aspects of their lives.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, 2 children have moved on from the home. Senior leaders acknowledged that they could not safely meet the children's needs and worked with placing authorities to support them to move on. Two children have moved into the home. The manager completed a thorough assessment of the children's needs, alongside the skills of the staff team. The needs of the child already living in the home were considered. This ensures that children can live together safely.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy positive relationships with staff who know them well and there are many moments of laughter in the home. Staff use activities as opportunities to build trust with children and help them to find interests that they enjoy. Children take part in a variety of activities, including caravan holiday, Scouts, dance classes and fishing. These experiences support children to develop their confidence and have fun.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children's experiences in education are mixed. Two children attend school regularly and are making progress. For one child attending school is more difficult. The manager and staff understand these struggles and work closely with other agencies to ensure that education remains a shared priority. Staff encourage the child to maintain positive routines to prepare them for a return to education.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children spend time with family members and friends, and this is well planned. Managers and staff build positive relationships with family members through regular communication. Children remain close to people who are important to them and benefit from being involved in a wider support network outside of the home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children's health needs are understood by staff. Staff support children to attend routine health appointments. However, one child struggles to attend dental appointments. The manager has appropriately requested support from health professionals. However, there are missed opportunities for staff to talk to the child about the importance of attending these appointments. Inspection report children's home: 2796672 4 Children live in a comfortable home that has a family feel. Photos of children are displayed, which support a sense of stability and belonging. Staff encourage children to individualise their bedrooms to reflect their likes and interests. However, sensors on internal doors, including children's bedrooms, are not necessary to safeguard children.

p.3

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

Staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities. They update risk assessments and plans regularly and after any incidents. Plans set out actions for staff to take if risks increase. This supports staff to understand children's needs and keep them safe.

p.4

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

Children rarely go missing from home. Incidents of one child being missing from home have significantly reduced since the last inspection. On one occasion when a child was missing from home, practice fell below the expected standards. The manager took swift action to address this and ensure that staff understand the actions they must take when children are missing from home.

p.4

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

Staff develop skills to help them provide therapeutic care to children. Consequently, there are very few incidents in the home. When children experience distress, staff effectively use de-escalation techniques. Children have not needed to be held to keep them safe.

p.4

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

Staff implement consistent rules and boundaries for children. Children are confident to express themselves when they do not agree with boundaries put in place and staff talk to them about why they are important. However, consequences given to children are not always appropriate. Managers do not review the effectiveness of some consequences. In addition, staff do not always record children's views about the consequences. The manager has supported staff to understand the expectations in relation to the use of consequences, however this has not led to a consistent change in practice.

p.4

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

When searches of children's bedrooms take place, records evidence the reason for the search and staff inform children. However, on one occasion, a room search did not take place when there were concerns for a child's safety. This reduces the ability of staff to ensure that children are safe.

p.4

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

Children's views, wishes and feelings about the care they receive are regularly sought and responded to. Staff speak to children about their day-to-day care needs. However, there are missed opportunities to speak to children about important matters, including internet safety and the risks of alcohol.

p.4

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

The registered manager takes allegations and complaints from others seriously and ensures that they are investigated appropriately. Safer recruitment practices are robust, and the manager ensures that necessary checks are undertaken for any agency staff who occasionally work in the home. Inspection report children's home: 2796672 5

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection, an experienced and suitably qualified registered manager has managed the home. They have a visible presence and know the children well. She has high aspirations for children and high expectations of staff to provide good quality care.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff speak highly of the support the manager provides. Her leadership, knowledge and guidance is valued by staff. Staff are committed and motivated to support children and there is strong teamwork ethos.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

One member of staff said: 'Over the last year, I have grown not only as a person but as a support worker, though the guidance of the manager and other staff members. I absolutely love my job and feel that this is something I can see doing for the rest of my working life.'

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervision, probation and appraisal processes are used to help staff reflect on children's progress and their own practice. Feedback from children, colleagues and other agencies is used to support staff development.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff attend regular team meetings. They are used by the manager to share learning and embed teamwork. Children's needs are explored and staff receive support and challenge to ensure that they understand their roles and responsibilities when caring for children.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers understand the home strengths and areas for development. Robust auditing systems support leaders and managers to monitor the quality-of-care children receive. External scrutiny from the independent person is valued and the manager responds promptly to ensure that recommendations are addressed.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Feedback from external agencies and family members is positive. One parent said, 'Staff have lots of patience. For them it is not just a job, they truly care. They are absolutely phenomenal.' Inspection report children's home: 2796672 6

p.5

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.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy ("the behaviour management policy") which sets out—

p.6

Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children's home; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

p.6

Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

p.6

Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")—

p.6

Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b) (3)(a)(vii) (b)(i) (c)

p.6

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that there is a detailed record of any consequence which also includes an evaluation of the effectiveness of the consequence. Additionally, consequences that support good behaviour need to be reasonable and proportionate. 17 June 2026

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if— 17 June 2026 Inspection report children's home: 2796672 7 the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children;

p.6

Requirement Due date

the child's placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance;

p.7

Requirement Due date

so far as reasonably practicable in the light of the child's age and understanding, the child is informed in advance of the intention to do the monitoring or surveillance; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child's need for privacy.

p.7

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that internal door chimes are only used for the purposes of safeguarding children and that the necessary consents are in place.

p.7

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that, when there are concerns for a child's safety or well-being, the child's bedroom is searched for anything that may cause harm. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,' page 16, paragraph 3.20).  The registered person should ensure that staff help children to understand risks or vulnerabilities when concerns are identified. This includes, but is not limited to, the importance of attendance at health appointments, risks associated with alcohol or substance misuse and internet safety. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,' page 22, paragraph 4.10).

p.7

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: 2796672 8

p.7

Children's home details

Registered provider address: 146 Bolton Road, Atherton, Manchester M46 9LF

p.8

Inspectors

Anna Belshaw, Social Care Inspector Ruth Mortimer-Jones, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: 2796672 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.

p.8

Inspectors

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.9

Inspectors

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

p.9

Inspectors

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

p.9