Children's Home run by Rubix Housing Ltd in Liverpool

Inspection report for children’s home: 2829855 1 Registered provider: Rubix Housing Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home and the manager registered with Ofsted in January 2026 and is owned by a private company. It provides care for up to 2 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home. The child spoke with the inspector.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: A monitoring visit was carried out on 19 March 2026 to explore specific concerns relating to the effectiveness of safer recruitment processes and the robustness of arrangements for identifying, assessing and managing risks between children. Following a case review on 26 March 2026, a compliance notice was issued under regulation 13. Inspection report for children’s home: 2829855 2

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Summary of findings

Children are settled and develop positive relationships with staff, who encourage them to engage in activities. However, care planning for children moving into the home requires improvement. Leaders do not consistently assess risks or follow safer recruitment procedures.

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Summary of findings

Staff do not always respond effectively to challenging behaviour and do not consistently address negative conduct. There are no structured plans to support staff in establishing positive daily routines.

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Summary of findings

Leaders and staff remain motivated to improve outcomes for children.

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improvement to be good

Children’s moves into the home are not thoroughly considered. Leaders and managers do not assess all known risks and behaviours before children move in. As a result, they do not fully consider the suitability of the placements, including the impact on the child already living in the home and challenges for children who are moving a long distance from their home area.

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improvement to be good

There are processes in place to ensure that children have key information about the home before they move in, including in emergency situations. Where possible, staff arrange visits to help familiarise children with the staff and home before they move in. However, managers do not obtain children’s statutory care plans at the time of admission. This does not ensure that the manager or staff are providing care to the children in line with their local authority plans.

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improvement to be good

When children move on from the home, leaders and managers try to obtain information from placing authorities to support smooth transitions for children, raising concerns when experiencing difficulties. Even when children leave at short notice, the manager and staff ensure that they celebrate their time in the home with a fun activity and meal.

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improvement to be good

The manager promotes children’s education. One child has not been in education, employment or training for a long period. The manager is working with professionals to address this. Plans are in place to implement a home tutor, and a work permit has been secured to enable the child to start work at a local cafe. However, staff do not have structured plans in place to support positive daily routines or alternative learning in the home.

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improvement to be good

Children are encouraged to express their wishes and feelings in weekly meetings and regular discussions with staff. Children are encouraged to use a ‘grumble sheet’ to voice Inspection report for children’s home: 2829855 3 their views, and staff respond to and act on their wishes. This empowers children to contribute to decisions about their daily lives and helps them feel heard and valued.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers have identified a positive behaviour support consultant to guide staff and carry out direct work with the child. The consultant shares a cultural background with the child, which leaders believe supports engagement and helps staff apply more targeted strategies.

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improvement to be good

Staff encourage children to participate in various activities, such as boxing, playing pool, bike riding and going to the gym. This helps children maintain hobbies that align with their interests and enables them to build social skills and form friendships in the local community.

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improvement to be good

The child has positive relationships with their allocated key workers and the manager. All staff members are being supported to build positive relationships with the child. Staff are committed to providing the child with good-quality care and support. This is helping the child develop a sense of safety and security in the home.

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improvement to be good

Staff practice is not consistent. Some staff lack confidence in challenging negative behaviours and do not apply the home’s rules and boundaries. Additionally, staff do not consistently carry out follow-up work with the child following incidents. This inconsistency, alongside a reluctance to address concerns, limits opportunities for the child to learn about risk, understand societal rules and boundaries, and recognise the consequences of their actions.

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improvement to be good

Staff have a good understanding of the child’s individual risks and the strategies needed to support them. However, risk assessments and missing-from-home protocols do not always provide clear guidance for staff to follow during crisis situations. This shortfall creates the potential for inconsistent practice.

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improvement to be good

Staff make consistent efforts to locate the child and maintain contact during missing- from-home episodes, encouraging a safe return. They search known locations, contact family and friends, and maintain communication so the child feels cared for. On return, staff welcome the child and take steps to ensure their safety and wellbeing. They carry out follow-up work to help the child understand the risks and impact of going missing. However, staff do not always offer an independent return home interview, which limits opportunities for the child to share concerns with someone outside the home.

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improvement to be good

Staff are trained in physical intervention; however, during an incident of physical aggression, staff did not implement their training to keep themselves safe. This resulted in a staff member being injured. Following the incident, the manager did not discuss the incident with staff. This prevents staff from reflecting on practice and limits management oversight and guidance. Inspection report for children’s home: 2829855 4 The provider informs the regulator of serious incidents; however, this is not always done through the correct process. This has led to delays in information being shared and limits the regulator’s ability to maintain prompt oversight of serious incidents. The manager has taken action to address this.

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improvement to be good

The manager and staff work effectively with external professionals, including youth offending services and behaviour support consultants. Staff encourage the child’s engagement with specialist services. As a result, the child has access to the support they need.

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improvement to be good

There are clear plans in place to support the reduction of restrictions linked to the child’s deprivation of liberty order. This helps the child adjust to the changes in a structured way and enables staff to maintain rules and boundaries to keep the child safe.

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improvement to be good

The manager responds appropriately to allegations and works effectively with relevant professionals to ensure thorough investigations. Staff have a good understanding of safeguarding and whistleblowing procedures.

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

Leaders and managers are motivated to achieve positive outcomes for children. The manager is new to managing regulated settings and is undertaking a detailed manager development programme supported by the organisation’s compliance officer. This programme supports the manager’s development in safer recruitment, manager analysis, safeguarding, leadership, and oversight of the home.

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

Leaders and managers have recently reviewed the home’s monitoring and reviewing systems to ensure that the home is compliant with regulations. The home’s trainee deputy completes daily checklists, the manager carries out weekly and monthly audits, and the compliance officer carries out quarterly audits.

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

Leaders and managers do not consistently follow safer recruitment procedures. They do not always obtain references from the most recent employer and do not consistently verify references. This limits their ability to fully assess suitability and identity and any development needs. Safer recruitment practice has been reviewed, with leaders and managers undertaking training and development sessions.

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

Independent person visits are not consistently taking place every month, and reports do not always clearly detail recommended actions. The independent person is limited in their review of the quality and care provided in the home and in their assessment of whether children are safeguarded, as consent to view children’s records is not in place.

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

Team meetings take place weekly and are well attended by the staff. Managers use these meetings to reflect on incidents and develop staff’s behaviour management skills.

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

Staff receive regular supervision. Supervision sessions are supportive and provide staff with guidance on maintaining the home’s rules and boundaries, and reporting and Inspection report for children’s home: 2829855 5 recording procedures. There is also a focus on ensuring that staff are familiar with the missing-from-home protocols and the fire evacuation procedure. Staff say they feel supported by the manager and enjoy working in the home.

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

The managers and staff have built positive relationships with the professionals involved in the child’s care. Professionals report that the manager and staff are communicative and keep them updated on all aspects of the child’s care.

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

A case review was held on 20 May 2026. It was agreed that, despite some remaining shortfalls, the steps outlined in the compliance notice under regulation 13 have been met. One requirement has been met, and 3 have been restated. Inspection report for children’s home: 2829855 6

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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 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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(d)(f))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that follow-up work is carried out with staff after incidents to ensure that they are applying their training in crisis situations and are using research to inform targeted work with children, particularly in relation to risk-taking behaviours.

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Requirement Due date

Additionally, leaders and managers must ensure that they are following safer recruitment procedures.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the previous monitoring visit and is restated. 24 June 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2829855 7 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

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

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(d))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that risk assessments and missing-from-home protocols provide staff with clear strategies to respond in crisis situations. Staff must understand what they need to do to keep children safe. They must also ensure that direct work and return home interviews with children are carried out and that staff receive debriefs following incidents. Additionally, any damage to the home should be addressed promptly to maintain safety.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the previous monitoring visit and is restated. 24 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. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that there are clear processes in place to ensure that robust risk assessments and information-gathering are carried out when considering any new placements. In addition, leaders and managers must 24 June 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2829855 8 ensure that children’s key documentation is obtained on admission.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the previous monitoring visit and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult;

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Requirement Due date

make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(iv)(vi)(ix))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager must ensure that staff implement the children’s day-to-day routines and maintain the home’s rules and boundaries in line with the children’s plans. 24 June 2026

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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 staff— 24 June 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2829855 9 help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

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Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(vi)(v))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that there are structured plans in place to support and enhance children’s learning when formal education is not in place.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home’s records (except for a child’s case records, unless the child and the child’s placing authority consent) as the independent person requires.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit (“the independent person’s report”) which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person’s report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(b) (4)(a)(b) (5)) 24 June 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2829855 10 Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that visits are routinely carried out and that the visitor is supported to access case records. In addition, the independent person must clearly identify any recommendations made.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should have a system in place so that all serious incidents are notified to the appropriate parties within 24 hours. The system should cover the action to take if the incident arises on a weekend or public holiday. Notification must include details of the action taken by the home’s staff in response to the incident. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.13)

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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: 2829855 11

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 69 Banstead Road, Carshalton SM5 3NP

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Chanell Duncan-Staple

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Inspector

Renée Sims, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2829855 12 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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