Children's Home run by Still Adventures Ltd in Sefton

Inspection report for children’s home: 2787363 1 Registered provider: Still Adventures Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a multi-build setting operated by a private provider. The setting operates across 3 homes, providing 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, 2 children were living in 2 of the homes.

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Information about this children’s home

The inspection started on 30 June 2026. The inspectors returned on 15 July 2026 to gather additional evidence in line with Ofsted inspections and visits: deferring, pausing and gathering additional evidence policy, following further concerns being raised.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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inadequate

There are serious and widespread failures that mean children and young people welfare is not promoted or safeguarded and the care and experiences of children and young people are poor and they are not making progress.

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2787363 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/06/2025 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2787363 3

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Summary of findings

Following the last inspection, 2 children have moved into and out of the home.

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Summary of findings

Two of the homes where children are living do not provide them with a warm and nurturing environment. There are shortfalls in relation to children’s experiences.

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Summary of findings

Incidents that have occurred have not been managed well by staff. There are also shortfalls in relation to the competence of leaders and managers. This has resulted in children not being safeguarded. Safer recruitment checks are not consistently taking place, and leaders’ and managers’ oversight is not yet effective. Three compliance notices and a suspension notice were issued following the full inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Two of the homes do not provide nurturing or homely environments for children. Repairs, redecoration and the replacement of damaged or unsuitable furniture are not completed in a timely manner. One child’s bedroom requires immediate cleaning due to unsanitary conditions. The garden also requires maintenance. Consequently, the condition of the homes does not adequately promote children’s wellbeing.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Care-planning arrangements are poor. Leaders and managers did not demonstrate how they could meet one child’s needs effectively before they moved in. This prevents staff from being fully prepared to provide the child with safe, consistent and appropriately planned care. This poor planning resulted in one child moving out after only 11 days.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Leaders and managers do not take sufficient action to ensure that staff adhere to the medication policy. As a result, staff were administering medication without being trained, and there were concerns about how staff were diluting a child’s epilepsy medication.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Two parents spoken to during the inspection said that communication with leaders, managers and staff is poor. They stated that they do not receive sufficient information or regular updates about their children. This limits parents’ involvement in their children’s care and progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children’s experiences of education are variable. The manager works with relevant professionals to ensure that one child’s needs are met. However, another child is currently not accessing education. There is insufficient structure and routine in the home to support this child’s learning and educational engagement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff and leaders demonstrate limited understanding of a child’s learning difficulties and are unclear about the child’s diagnoses. Staff do not have sufficient knowledge of the child’s needs, behaviours or communication style. This undermines their ability to provide safe, informed and individualised care. Inspection report for children’s home: 2787363 4

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Processes for identifying and managing risks to children are poor. Children’s risk assessments are not consistently updated to include relevant information about known risks. This contributes to serious incidents in which children are not adequately safeguarded. Staff rely on the emergency services to manage some children’s behaviour. One child’s placement ended abruptly because staff were unable to safely manage the child’s known behaviours.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Staff fail to follow children’s safety plans. Staff are not sufficiently vigilant. For example, a child who had a deprivation of liberty order was able to access the roof of the home on 2 separate occasions, placing them at risk of significant harm.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

One child has access to age-restricted video games. Some of these games contain violent content and are not suitable for children.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Leaders and managers do not take sufficient steps to reduce fire risks in the home or address the actions identified in the fire risk assessment. They are aware that one child presents a risk of fire-setting, but this risk is not adequately assessed, and appropriate measures are not put in place to reduce it. For example, inspectors found a flammable bottle left in the garden despite the known fire-setting risks associated with the child.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Records relating to children’s injuries, self-harm and the use of physical intervention are inconsistent and, in some cases, contradictory. For example, multiple records relate to the same incident and contain conflicting information about whether a child sustained injuries, how the injuries were caused or why staff used physical intervention.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

There are concerns relating to the accuracy and authenticity of recordings made by staff and leaders. For example, a child’s self-harm record stated that staff used physical intervention to prevent a child from banging their head, biting themselves and hitting their body against a radiator. The record stated that staff observed these behaviours. However, the manager confirmed that staff did not witness these actions. This raises concerns about the accuracy and reliability of records.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

On another occasion, staff restrained a child in their bedroom. The intervention does not appear proportionate to the circumstances. The child was injured during the restraint, but it is not clear how the injury happened.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Injuries and bruising following the use of physical intervention are not adequately explored. Records do not provide clear explanations for how injuries occur or demonstrate that managers consider whether staff practice contributes to them. This prevents leaders from identifying poor practice and taking action to protect the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Inspection report for children’s home: 2787363 5 Leaders’ and managers’ monitoring of the home does not address shortfalls in safeguarding practice and the quality of care provided to children. They do not take opportunities to reflect and learn to improve the safety of children and the quality of care. There is insufficient exploration of serious incidents and concerns, which has compromised children’s welfare, experiences and progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff training is not being kept up to date by the manager. This prevents staff from developing the key skills required to provide the most effective care for the children and prevents the manager from evaluating staff’s strengths and training needs. Furthermore, staff have not completed bespoke training to meet the needs of children in their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The responsible individual does not have sufficient oversight of children’s care or the registered person’s care practice. They have not provided the manager with regular supervision. During supervision sessions, the needs of staff and children have not been discussed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There are significant concerns relating to the integrity and transparency of leaders. Records state that medical advice is sought for a child following self-injury; however, this did not happen until 2 days later. There is no independent scrutiny of a restraint involving senior leaders in which the child sustains injuries.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff have received individual supervision from the manager. However, safeguarding is not always discussed during supervision sessions. This does not provide the manager or staff with opportunities to reflect and develop their care practice or discuss specific or wider safeguarding issues. This limits the impact of reflection or learning outcomes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager does not yet have an impactful auditing system in place whereby she can review the quality of care provided for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders have failed to provide children with consistent care. Staff morale is low. Since the last inspection, there has been a high turnover of staff. Children are currently being cared for by an inconsistent and inexperienced team of staff who fail to provide them with the stability they require.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The home’s statement of purpose and workforce development plan contain all relevant information; however, information relating to the staff team is not accurate. Another staff member in the workforce development plan is described as ‘experienced’. However, this is their first role working with children, and they have only been employed for 6 months. This limits Ofsted’s ability to monitor all staff’s skills, experience and qualifications effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders have not taken sufficient action in relation to the previous statutory requirements. Four of these, along with additional requirements and recommendations, have been restated. Due to the shortfalls identified, a restriction notice preventing the home from providing further accommodation for children was issued. Additionally, compliance notices under Regulations 12, 13 and 25 were issued. Following Ofsted Inspection report for children’s home: 2787363 6 carrying out further inspection activity in the form of gathering additional evidence, the service was suspended. Inspection report for children’s home: 2787363 7

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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Requirement Due date

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

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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 home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(b)) 9 August 2026

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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

promotes their welfare. 9 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2787363 8 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 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

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

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Requirement Due date

*If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(1) applies to the home—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home. (Regulation 25 (2)(b)) 9 August 2026

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child is only permitted for the purpose of preventing—

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Requirement Due date

injury to any person (including the child);

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Requirement Due date

serious damage to the property of any person (including the child); or

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Requirement Due date

a child who is accommodated in a secure children’s home from absconding from the home.

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate. ( Regulation 20 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager should ensure that all restraints are proportionate, carried out safely and recorded and escalated appropriately. 9 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2787363 9 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

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager should assess whether staff have the skills, knowledge and experience to meet children’s needs before they move into the home. Care planning should continue to be dynamically reviewed. 9 August 2026

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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; 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.

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (“the Level 3 Diploma”); or 9 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2787363 10 a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1st April 2014, 1st April 2016. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(d) (4)(a)(b) (5)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager should ensure the safe recruitment of staff. The manager should ensure that staff have the necessary skills, knowledge and expertise to meet children’s needs.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, staff supervision should discuss safeguarding practice and children’s care and safety needs. 9 August 2026

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

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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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understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect; 9 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2787363 11 provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably.

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(v)(vii)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager should ensure that children are cared for as outlined in the home’s statement of purpose. Children should be supported to understand and contribute to their care plans.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording and safe administration of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child;

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Requirement Due date

a correct record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that medication is administered to children as directed in the home’s policies. 9 August 2026

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Requirement Due date

A responsible individual must have the capacity, experience and skills to supervise the management of the home, or the homes, in respect of which the responsible individual is nominated. (Regulation 26 (7)(b)) 9 August 2026

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

◼ The registered person should ensure that when a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority provides the opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. The registered person should ensure that there are no delays in requesting that the local authority meets with the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30) ◼ The registered person should have a workforce plan that can fulfil the workforce- related requirements of Regulation 16, Schedule 1. The plan should include accurate Inspection report for children’s home: 2787363 12 roles and experience of staff currently working in the home and any further training required for their development. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)

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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: 2787363 13

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Still Adventures Limited

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Debreece Nicholls

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Inspectors

Corline Parker, Social Care Inspector Anver Rose, Social Care Inspector Eleanor Quanbrough, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2787363 14 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. 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 . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the

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Inspectors

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 .

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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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