Children's Home run by Almoner Care Group Limited in Liverpool

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2746850 1 Registered provider: Almoner Care Group Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private organisation. It provides care for up to 2 children who may experience social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this visit, one child was living at the home. The child discussed their experiences of living at the home with the inspectors during the visit.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has applied to register with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

This home was judged to have serious and widespread shortfalls at the assurance inspection on 10 March 2026 due to shortfalls in leadership and management, recruitment of staff and the day-to-day operation of the home.

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This monitoring visit

Three compliance notices were issued under section 22A of the Care Standards Act 2000. These were in relation to Regulation 32 (recruitment of staff), Regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard) and Regulation 45 (review of quality of care).

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to consider if leaders and managers have taken effective action to meet the steps outlined in the compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

Inspectors identified that none of the compliance notices have been met.

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This monitoring visit

The responsible individual and members of the leadership team have undertaken an audit of all the recruitment files for the staff employed at the home. The audit identified several shortfalls, including gaps in employment history and missing references. Insufficient progress has been made in obtaining the appropriate missing information so that they can be satisfied that staff can safely work with children. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2746850 2 Failure to recruit staff safely is a reoccurring failure identified at previous inspections. Since the last inspection, two staff members have been recruited. The responsible individual and leadership team failed to show sufficient professional curiosity when recruiting one new member of staff. They failed to take any action when it was identified that the reasons given for leaving their previous employment by the new member of staff and the former employer did not match. Therefore, the compliance

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This monitoring visit

The manager has completed a quality of care review report. However, this is the first report submitted since the home was registered, and it does not meet regulatory requirements. The report lacks feedback and does not include the views and experiences of the child living at the home. The report largely describes the care provided, rather than offering an evaluation of its impact. Furthermore, it is unclear how the actions identified by the manager have been determined. Actions outlined in the report are not specific or measurable, and there are no timescales set for their completion. The report does not evaluate the quality of care provided or set out how the manager intends to improve the quality of care provided to children. Therefore, the compliance notice under Regulation 45 is not met.

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This monitoring visit

At the time of this monitoring visit, the leadership team was in the process of developing a system to monitor key documents relating to the care of the child. However, this system has not yet been implemented. As a result, there remains a lack of effective oversight and monitoring of records to ensure the quality and consistency of care provided.

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This monitoring visit

A review of some key documents has been carried out, including risk assessments and the child’s care plan, which are now up to date. Although the documentation of a recent missing-from-home incident was clear, the actual incident had not been handled by staff as well as it could have been, and the responsible individual confirmed that he had addressed this with the staff concerned.

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This monitoring visit

The leadership team has created new personal development files for all staff members, which contain a record of the training undertaken and associated certificates. However, there has been no review of individual staff training needs to inform tailored personal development plans. Additionally, leaders have not developed an overarching training or workforce development plan to ensure that staff have the skills and knowledge required to meet the specific needs of the child living at the home. Therefore, the compliance notice under Regulation 13 is not met. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2746850 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/09/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 10/06/2025 Full Inadequate 14/01/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 24/09/2024 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2746850 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 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 if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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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) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the gaps in employment are fully documented, explored and analysed and that appropriate references are acquired.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at previous inspections and is restated. 30 June 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must— 30 June 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2746850 5 supply to HMCI a copy of the quality-of-care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed. (Regulation 45 (1) (4)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at previous inspections and is restated.

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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 staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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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

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to 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;

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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) (a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must carry out an evaluation of the skills, qualification and experience of all staff to ensure that they can meet the needs of the child living at 30 June 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2746850 6 the home and, where gaps are identified, provide appropriate training or developmental opportunities.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the provider must implement effective review and monitoring systems.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should create a workforce plan which can fulfil the workforce related requirements of Regulation 16. The plan should detail the necessary management and staffing structure, the experience and qualifications of staff currently working within the staffing structure and any further training required for those staff to enable the delivery of the home’s statement of purpose. (Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)

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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: 2746850 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Almoner Care Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Seymour Chambers, 92 London Road, Liverpool, Merseyside L3 5NW

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Inspectors

Helen Humphreys, His Majesty’s Inspector Julie Elder, Social Care Compliance Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2746850 8 regulates 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

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