Children's Home run by Milestones Care Homes Ltd in Wirral

Inspection report for children's home: SC065780 1 SC065780 Registered provider: Milestones Care Homes Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

The home is owned and managed by a private company. It provides care for up to 3 children who may experience social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

At the time of this inspection, 3 children were living at the home. The children spoke with the inspector as part of the inspection.

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Information about this children's home

The manager has been in post since December 2025. The manager withdrew his application to register during the inspection.

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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 are not safeguarded and the care and experiences of children and young people are poor.

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inadequate

Date of last inspection: 16 September 2025

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC065780 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/09/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 23/04/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 03/05/2023 Full Good 26/07/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC065780 3

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Summary of findings

Safeguarding practice is not robust. Shortfalls in the leadership and management of the home have undermined staff's ability to safeguard children. Staff do not consistently place children's wishes and views at the centre of their practice and do not always understand their roles and responsibilities.

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Summary of findings

Managers and staff do not respond consistently to children who have returned home under the influence of alcohol. They fail to identify and implement effective risk reduction strategies. Furthermore, safer recruitment practice needs to be strengthened.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The inspection identified shortfalls in safeguarding practice and in the leadership and management of the home. These shortfalls have adversely affected children's safety and overall experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Frequent staff turnover has reduced the continuity of care children receive. These changes have also affected children's ability to develop secure and trusting relationships with the adults who care for them. One child said, 'A lot of people I was close to have left now, it makes it hard to trust new staff.'

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff do not consistently maintain the home environment to an acceptable standard. Although conditions in some areas have improved, progress to renovate other areas of the home has been slow. Managers have not completed maintenance and repairs in a timely manner. As a result, children do not live in a homely environment that supports their comfort or sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff do not consistently respond to children in line with their preferences when they are upset. As a result, children's wishes and feelings are not always central to practice. In addition, when children raise concerns about staff, managers do not always share the outcome with them. This means that children cannot be assured that their concerns have been taken seriously.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Despite the safeguarding concerns identified, children said they enjoy living in the home, and one child described staff as 'fun'. Children have lived in the home for a long time and do not want to move on from the home. Feedback from professionals is positive overall. One social worker said, '[Name of child] wants to stay here, they like it.'

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

When there are barriers to a child attending education, the manager works closely with the local authority and the child to develop a support plan. This is effective, and the child's attendance improves. Inspection report for children's home: SC065780 4

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

Staff do not understand their roles and responsibilities in keeping children safe. They do not always follow the agreed procedures in place to safeguard children. For example, staff do not always promptly share concerns about colleagues' conduct with leaders and managers. As a result, managers do not address poor practice quickly enough, leaving children at risk of harm.

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

Staff do not have the skills and knowledge to respond effectively to significant safeguarding concerns and do not consistently follow agreed safety plans. For example, on one occasion, staff did not seek medical advice for a child who returned home under the influence of alcohol or monitor their wellbeing throughout the night. Furthermore, managers made the decision not to administer the child's prescribed medication without seeking appropriate medical advice.

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

Staff do not consistently talk to children about their known risks and areas of concern. For example, when children are known to use electronic cigarettes, staff do not show sufficient professional curiosity about how children obtain these items or the associated health risks. In addition, staff do not speak to children about online safety after they have received threats online. As a result, children are not supported to understand and manage risks or make safer choices.

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

Managers and staff do not take appropriate action when children face risks in the community. For example, following an incident in which a child was assaulted, managers and staff did not develop effective safety plans to reduce future risks. This leaves children vulnerable to harm and fails to provide them with appropriate emotional reassurance.

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

When children spend time away from the home, staff do not take sufficient steps to assure themselves that children are safe. Staff rely on children's accounts of their whereabouts and do not use professional curiosity to seek further reassurance. Planning for these situations is not sufficiently robust, which leaves children at risk.

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

There are shortfalls in safer recruitment processes. Leaders and managers have not taken the appropriate steps to assure themselves that children are cared for by safe, appropriate adults. This leaves children at risk of being supported by unsuitable individuals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There are significant concerns about the leadership and management of the home. The identified shortfalls are undermining the staff team's ability to safeguard children effectively. Inspection report for children's home: SC065780 5 Leaders and managers have failed to identify and address significant shortfalls in staff practice and the recording of incidents. As a result, staff do not receive the guidance and challenge they need to improve their practice and safeguard children effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff have not completed the expected training relevant to their roles. For example, only one staff member has received training in respect of behaviour management and physical intervention. In addition, staff have not received training in relation to children's known risks, including substance misuse. This means that staff do not have the skills and knowledge required to meet children's individual needs safely and effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Supervision does not consistently take place in line with the home's statement of purpose. Supervision records are inaccurate, which calls into question the reliability of these records and whether meaningful discussions take place to reflect on and improve practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers have not completed the 6-monthly quality of care review. This limits their ability to identify areas of improvement and take the action needed to ensure that children receive good-quality care. As a result, shortfalls in the quality of care have remained unaddressed and continue to affect children's experiences. Inspection report for children's home: SC065780 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 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

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

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

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff have the relevant knowledge, skills and training to recognise and respond appropriately to children's alcohol and substance misuse. 6 September 2026 Inspection report for children's home: SC065780 7 Additionally, they must ensure that staff seek appropriate medical advice and take appropriate safeguarding action when children are under the influence of alcohol or other substances.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that effective plans, communication and monitoring arrangements are in place to reduce risks and safeguard children when they are away from the home.

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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

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and 6 September 2026 Inspection report for children's home: SC065780 8 feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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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)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that shortfalls in staff practice are promptly identified and addressed through effective management oversight and monitoring. Additionally, the registered person must ensure that monitoring and review systems are used effectively to identify weaknesses, take timely action to address shortfalls and improve the quality of care provided to children.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that reports and records accurately identify concerns, demonstrate management oversight and evidence any action taken and their impact.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that children experience continuity of care and support from staff who know and understand their individual needs. Additionally, the registered person must ensure that the home is managed by a consistent registered manager.

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Requirement Due date

Furthermore, the registered person must ensure that staff receive relevant training that enables them to meet the individual needs of children in a timely manner.

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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

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; and 6 September 2026 Inspection report for children's home: SC065780 9 enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that repairs, damage and the removal of unwanted items and rubbish are completed promptly to maintain a safe, clean and homely environment for children.

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Requirement Due date

Additionally, the registered person must ensure that all outstanding maintenance and improvement works are completed without delay to provide children with a comfortable, nurturing and well-maintained home.

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Requirement Due date

The children's views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children's care and welfare and their lives.

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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

ascertain and consider each child's views, wishes and feelings, and balance these against what they judge to be in the child's best interests when making decisions about the child's care and welfare;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how the child's views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child; and

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Requirement Due date

regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home's care. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that children's wishes and views are central to staff practice and that staff listen to children's views in their approach to managing children's 6 September 2026 Inspection report for children's home: SC065780 10 behaviour. The registered person must ensure that children are informed of outcomes of any investigations.

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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. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that recruitment practice is in line with children's home regulations. In particular, when an applicant has previously worked with children or vulnerable adults, all reasonable steps to verify the reason why the employment ended must be taken. 6 September 2026

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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: SC065780 11

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Milestones Care Homes Ltd

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: 5 Fletcher Close, Wirral, Cheshire CH49 5PH

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Inspector

Kitty Wiper, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC065780 12 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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