Children's Home run by Helpful Investments Ltd in Warrington

Inspection report for children’s home: 2793292 1 Registered provider: Helpful Investments 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. 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

The home was registered with Ofsted in October 2025. There is no registered manager in post.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home. The child was spoken to during the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2793292 2

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Summary of findings

The overall experiences and progress of the child are compromised by some shortfalls in safeguarding practices and the overall leadership and management of the home.

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Summary of findings

The child is making some progress and there are plans for the child to attend full-time education.

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Summary of findings

Leaders and managers do not consistently manage allegations against staff effectively.

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improvement to be good

One child lives in the home. The home is clean and suitable for the needs of the child. Staff ensure that the child’s artwork is proudly displayed in the home. This contributes to the home having a homely environment.

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improvement to be good

There are window restrictors in the home. However, it is not clear how these are assessed to be appropriate. This also detracts from the homely environment. The new manager is taking action to address this.

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improvement to be good

The child’s parent provided positive feedback about the staff. They said that staff communicate with them and help their child to spend time with people who are important to them.

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improvement to be good

The child is registered with a local school. The child is beginning to attend school. This is progress from the child’s initial starting point. However, staff do not provide the child with any other learning. This does not support the child to develop in this area.

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improvement to be good

The child’s social worker is positive about the support staff provide to help the child attend school. They said that communication has improved since the new manager has been in post. The social worker said that the manager and staff support the child in line with their care plan.

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improvement to be good

The previous registered manager and current acting manager do not ensure that consequences for the child are used appropriately. For example, in some situations, staff are punitive in their approach. For example, the child’s electronic devices are removed if they do not follow routines.

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improvement to be good

The child is starting to build relationships with staff. Positive interactions were observed between the child and staff. Inspection report for children’s home: 2793292 3

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improvement to be good

Safeguarding processes are not always followed correctly. On one occasion, a safeguarding incident was not sufficiently escalated to ensure that a full and thorough investigation was carried out. This shortfall could compromise the child’s safety.

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improvement to be good

Risk assessments are not consistently updated to include relevant information. This could impact negatively on staff’s safeguarding practices.

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improvement to be good

One child reported poor practice, including being hurt during an incident. While some of the information was shared with the placing authority, the previous registered manager and responsible individual did not ensure that this was investigated effectively. The acting manager accepts this shortfall and is taking action to address this.

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improvement to be good

Safer recruitment processes are followed. This helps to ensure that only suitable staff are recruited to care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

There is no registered manager in post. Since the home was registered, the previous registered manager left. There is an acting manager in post. They have applied to register with Ofsted.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

There are gaps in management oversight of the child’s care. The previous manager’s monitoring and review systems did not always identify shortfalls in the care that staff provide for the child. Therefore, it is not clear how staff are supporting the child to make progress in all areas of their life.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The previous manager does not take sufficient action when recommendations are made in external monitoring reports. This could impact on staff making continuous improvements to the care they provide for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Leaders and managers do not consistently notify Ofsted of all serious incidents in line with regulation. This impacts on Ofsted’s monitoring of the home to ensure that children are safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

External professionals describe positive communication with staff. Professionals said that staff advocate for the child. One child’s social worker said that they do not have any concerns with the way the home is managed or the child’s care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The new manager is taking action to address the shortfalls. However, this is not embedded in practice. Inspection report for children’s home: 2793292 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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

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

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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

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;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the manager must ensure that any allegations against staff are thoroughly investigated and all relevant professionals are informed. 20 July 2026

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— 20 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2793292 5 meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand, in a way that is appropriate according to the child’s age and understanding, personal, sexual and social relationships, and how those relationships can be supportive or harmful;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop the understanding and skills to recognise or withdraw from a damaging, exploitative or harmful relationship;

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Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child’s respect and trust;

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Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children;

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Requirement Due date

are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same;

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Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children;

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Requirement Due date

understand and communicate to children that bullying is unacceptable; and Inspection report for children’s home: 2793292 6 have the skills to recognise incidents or indications of bullying and how to deal with them. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(ix)(x)(xi)(xii)(xiii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that the use of any consequences or behavioural management strategies are restorative and link to the needs of the child. Any consequences must be appropriate and proportionate.

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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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

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs; and

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Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well-being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that children’s health needs are prioritised and that any referrals, investigations or treatment are completed without delay. 20 July 2026

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Requirement Due date

the privacy of children is appropriately protected;

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Requirement Due date

children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s 20 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2793292 7 premises; and

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Requirement Due date

any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home;

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Requirement Due date

is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and

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Requirement Due date

allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21 (a)(b)(c)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that the removal of any communication devices or property is done so in collaboration with the child, the placing authority and the parents where applicable. This includes ensuring that the child is able to have use of a phone to make private calls if required.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must also ensure that any searches of the child’s property and items are done in line with the care plan and with consent, and they must ensure that the child is informed first where safe to do so.

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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

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child —

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or 20 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2793292 8 there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, when allegations against staff are raised, the registered person must ensure that they notify Ofsted without delay.

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that all paperwork relating to the child’s care plan and placement needs is updated regularly with any significant changes, including risk assessments, placement plans and care plans. 20 July 2026

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they have consent from those with parental responsibility and the placing authority for the use of any restrictive equipment. This should be regularly reviewed to ensure that this is a necessary and proportionate measure to keep children safe. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.16)  The registered person should ensure that each child is supported to learn and is provided with resources. Additionally, ensure that staff are creative in providing opportunities for children to study and learn. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 18, paragraph 5.18) Inspection report for children’s home: 2793292 9

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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: 2793292 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Helpful Investments Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 31 Bridge Street, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, Wales SY23 1QB

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Inspectors

James Meeks, Social Care Inspector Shane North, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2793292 11 and inspects 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

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

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