Children's Home run by Alcedo Gold in St Helens

Inspection report for children's home: 2842431 1 Registered provider: Alcedo Gold 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 company. It offers care for up to 2 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children's home

A new manager is in post. They have not yet applied to register with Ofsted.

p.1

Information about this children's home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living at the home. Inspectors spoke with the child about their experiences.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

requires improvement to be good

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

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

p.1

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.

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children's home: 2842431 2

p.1

Summary of findings

A small team of core staff care for the child, supported by a high number of non- permanent staff. Leaders and managers understand the risks posed to the child. However, shortfalls in safeguarding practice were identified at this inspection. External risk factors have impacted on the child's progress. Leaders and managers have identified weaknesses in practice, and there are plans in place to address them.

p.2

improvement to be good

One child has continued to live at the home since the last inspection. The child has experienced some unsettled periods due to escalating risks arising from outside of the home. Managers and staff are working with the placing authority to plan for the child to move on from the home. Staff are supporting the child to prepare for this move.

p.2

improvement to be good

The child enjoys positive relationships with permanent members of staff. However, some staff have left, leading to an increase in non-permanent staff working in the home. This means that the child is not always familiar with staff who are caring for them.

p.2

improvement to be good

The child enjoys positive activities outside of the home. This includes going to a football match and theme park and visiting the Lake District. Photos of these experiences are kept and provided to the child to keep in their 'journey book'. This helps the child to have fun and reflect on positive life experiences.

p.2

improvement to be good

Staff speak to the child about important topics such as anti-social behaviour, fire safety and the impact of substance misuse. However, there are missed opportunities to support the child to understand acceptable behaviour, particularly in relation to racism.

p.2

improvement to be good

The child's education needs are understood by staff. Staff supported the child to sit their exams and identify a suitable college place. Staff encourage the child to develop their independence skills in line with their age. This includes working with the child to plan, shop and cook for meals and budget their money.

p.2

improvement to be good

The child lives in a comfortable, clean home. However, some damage to the wall in the child's bedroom has not been repaired promptly, and the carpet needs replacing.

p.2

improvement to be good

Leaders and managers provide staff with detailed plans to follow when risks to the child increase. However, staff do not always follow these plans, which potentially leaves the Inspection report for children's home: 2842431 3 child at risk of harm. For example, searches of the child's bedroom do not consistently take place when there are concerns about substance misuse and smoking in the home.

p.2

improvement to be good

Leaders and managers recognise the risks posed to the child from substance misuse. However, when room searches raise concerns about the child potentially misusing substances, staff do not always explore the concerns with the child. Medical advice from medical professionals is not consistently sought when there is evidence that the child has misused substances.

p.3

improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, the number of missing-from-home episodes has significantly increased. Staff responses to the child going missing are inconsistent. On one occasion, staff did not make appropriate arrangements for the child's safe return home. On another occasion, staff ended their communication with the child, despite their whereabouts being unknown. This practice does not ensure that children who are missing receive the support they need to return home safely.

p.3

improvement to be good

When the child was injured outside of the home, staff encouraged and supported the child to receive medical attention. However, staff did not talk to the child about the importance of follow-up treatment. This does not support children to consider their long- term health needs.

p.3

improvement to be good

Leaders and managers respond promptly to fire safety concerns. Advice and guidance are requested from specialist services to ensure that the safety of the child and staff is not compromised.

p.3

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

Since the last inspection, there have been changes to the leadership and management of the home. A new manager is in post. The manager has a visible presence in the home and has developed a trusting relationship with the child.

p.3

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

Several permanent staff are no longer working at the home. The manager has worked some shifts in the home to ensure that the child has familiar staff caring for them. Leaders and managers have recruited to vacant positions, but new staff are yet to start their employment. The manager relies on staff from the wider organisation to ensure that there are adequate staff to care for the child. Many of the staff caring for the child have limited experience of caring for children who live in children's homes, and they are not qualified. Permanent staff are completing the relevant qualification.

p.3

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

Leaders and managers have implemented new internal review systems to monitor and evaluate the quality of care children receive. When a shortfall in staff practice was identified, the manager took prompt action to ensure that this was addressed. However, not all shortfalls in staff practice are identified by managers. This limits opportunities to ensure that the child is effectively safeguarded and improve staff practice. Inspection report for children's home: 2842431 4 The organisation uses on online recording system. Important conversations with the child are not recorded in a consistent way. This means that valuable information about the child is not always clearly captured.

p.3

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

Team meetings are held on a regular basis and are well structured to support staff reflection and development. Staff receive regular supervision. Supervision sessions provide staff with an opportunity to reflect on the child's needs and risks and consider their own practice. Core staff receive training to meet the child's specific needs, including substance misuse.

p.4

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

Professionals say that they have good working relationships with the manager and staff. Safeguarding concerns are communicated effectively with external professionals. Leaders and managers take a collaborative approach and challenge other professionals effectively to ensure that the child's needs are met. Inspection report for children's home: 2842431 5

p.4

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.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

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;

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home's child protection policies; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home's child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(c)(e))

p.5

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that searches of children's bedrooms take place when there are concerns for their safety and that staff follow the home's procedures when children are missing from home.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that medical advice is sought when there are concerns that children may have misused 2 September 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2842431 6 illegal substances and that staff talk to children about the importance of attending health appointments.

p.5

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—

p.6

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home's workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

p.6

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

p.6

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)(c)(d)(e)(f)(h))

p.6

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that children are cared for by a consistent staff team who have the experience and skills to meet children's needs.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that they have oversight of the work staff are doing to identify any shortfalls and implement any learning. 2 September 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2842431 7

p.6

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that any damage to children's bedrooms is repaired promptly and that the bedroom carpet is replaced. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that no more than half the staff on duty at any one time, by day or night, at the home are from an external agency. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 54, paragraph 10.17)  The registered person should ensure that children's records are well organised and capture important conversations that contribute to their life story. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 62, paragraph 14.4)  The registered person should ensure that notifications to the regulator are made when there are serious concerns over a child's missing behaviour, taking into account

p.7

Recommendations

the frequency, even if, in isolation, each event would not warrant this. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 63, paragraph 14.11)

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 for children's home: 2842431 8

p.7

Children's home details

Registered provider address: Alcedo House, Unit 14, Slaidburn Industrial Estate, Slaidburn Crescent, Southport PR9 9YF

p.8

Inspectors

Anna Belshaw, Social Care Inspector Ruth Mortimer-Jones, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2842431 9 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.

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 .

p.9

Inspectors

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