Children's Home run by After Care (NW) Limited in Sefton

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC042652 1 SC042652 Registered provider: After Care (NW) Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

The home is owned by a private organisation. It provides care for up to 3 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

At the time of the inspection, a notice restricting of accommodation was in place, and one child was living at the home

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Information about this children's home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2024.

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This monitoring visit

This home was judged to have serious and widespread concerns at an assurance inspection on 11 February 2026. The inspector found that children had suffered harm, staff were unable to meet their needs, and children's progress hindered as a result. There were also shortfalls in the leadership and management of the home. As a result, Ofsted issued a notice restricting accommodation at the home. A monitoring visit took place on 25 March 2026 to monitor actions taken by the provider. The restriction remained in place.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this monitoring visit was to monitor the restriction of accommodation notice. The provider has complied with the notice, and no other children have moved into the home.

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This monitoring visit

Progress has been made since the last monitoring visit in safeguarding, and the leadership and management of the home.

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This monitoring visit

Safeguarding incidents at the home have reduced. The child's plans have been reviewed and now reflect their individual needs. Plans provide clear guidance and strategies for staff to follow to help keep the child safe. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC042652 2 Leaders and managers have provided additional training for staff to develop their knowledge and skills in caring for the child currently living at the home. The manager checks staff understanding by using quizzes to assess what they have learned.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have liaised with other agencies when there have been shortfalls in staff practice. When referrals are made to the local authority designated officer, the manager ensured that she was involved in any decisions made. As a result, only staff who are suitable now work at the home.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last monitoring visit, there have been changes to the senior leadership team. There is a new operational manager who has identified areas for development and put plans in place to improve practice; however, these are not yet fully embedded.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have not reflected on all the shortfalls identified at the previous inspections. There is a lack of accountability or lessons learned about the decision-making process for children moving into the home. The decisions led to children experiencing a difficult time living at the home and an abrupt ending for two children.

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This monitoring visit

A case review was held on 6 May 2026 following the monitoring visit. It was the decision of the case review that the provider had taken sufficient action to lift the restriction of accommodation.

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This monitoring visit

Some requirements made at the last inspection were not met. These will be considered at the next inspection. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC042652 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/01/2026 Full Requires improvement to be good 28/05/2024 Full Good 06/09/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 17/05/2023 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC042652 4

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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 with 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 their full potential; and promotes their welfare.

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that there is effective management oversight which considers the quality- of-care children receive. 1 June 2026

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children's home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home's statement of purpose; 1 June 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC042652 5 that arrangements are in place to—

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Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

that the child's placing authority is contacted, and a review of that child's relevant plans is requested, if—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person considers that the child is at risk of harm or has concerns that the care provided for the child is inadequate to meet the child's needs.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(ii)(e)(i)) The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children's safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children's home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b)(3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that leaders and managers obtain a reference from staff members' most recent employer, and all gaps in employment are explored and accounted for. Furthermore, all identification documents must be up to date. 1 June 2026

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children's home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC042652 6

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Children's home details

Registered provider: After Care (NW) Limited

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: After Care (North West) Ltd, 45 Kensington Road, Southport PR9 0RT

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Children's home details

Responsible individual: Timothy Blundell

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Inspector

Nicola Rutherford, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC042652 7 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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