Children's Home run by Helpful Investments Ltd in Warrington

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2793292 1 Registered provider: Helpful Investments Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in October 2025 and is operated by a private company. It provides 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 this inspection, no children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager in post since March 2026. A new manager applied to register with Ofsted. However, after this inspection, he withdrew his application.

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Inspection date: 4 August 2026

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 4 August 2026

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2793292 2

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Findings from the inspection

We identified the following concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection:

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Findings from the inspection

 The provider intended to move a child into the home with learning disabilities. This is not in line with the home’s conditions of registration.  The provider had not made an application to vary the conditions of their registration.  One child did not have a positive experience living at the home.

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Findings from the inspection

The provider planned for a child with a specific learning disability to move into the home. This is not in line with the provider’s conditions of registration. Staff do not have the skills or experience to provide care for a child with learning difficulties. The home environment is not suitable to meet this child’s needs.

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Findings from the inspection

The acting manager and responsible individual accepted that they could not meet the needs of the child who previously lived in the home. This child experienced an unplanned ending to their time living in the home.

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Findings from the inspection

The child disengaged from staff and made little progress while living in the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Following this experience, the acting manager took action to identify learning and improve staff practice.

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Findings from the inspection

A child moved out of the home in line with their wishes. The child’s parent and social worker were positive about the acting manager’s efforts to help the child build relationships with staff and settle into the home. However, despite these efforts, the child did not successfully engage with staff.

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Findings from the inspection

The child’s education provision was changed by the manager to meet the child’s needs more effectively. Despite the changes, the child refused to engage. The child subsequently moved out of the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff tried to help the child to meet their health needs. However, the child would not attend appointments. Therefore, the child’s overall health needs were not met.

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Findings from the inspection

The acting manager advocated for the child to ensure that time with their family increased to meet their needs. The social worker said the acting manager’s communication with a parent was one of the best interactions she had seen. The parent felt valued and involved.

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Findings from the inspection

The child developed positive relationships with some staff members. This helped them to engage in some activities they enjoyed, such as attending events and concerts. However, other relationships were not positive. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2793292 3 Physical intervention was used on one occasion to prevent a child from harming themselves or others. Records do not demonstrate the actions that staff took to manage this incident.

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Findings from the inspection

Both the acting manager and deputy manager were involved in the incident. However, they did not receive a debrief. The child’s debrief was carried out by a member of staff who was not aware of the incident. Managers did not carry out a review of the incident. This meant that opportunities to learn and improve practice were missed.

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Findings from the inspection

On the day of the inspection, the acting manager advised that a child was due to visit the home before moving in later that week. The acting manager shared details of the child’s specific needs, which are complex and do not reflect the current conditions of the home’s registration. The acting manager identified that the home’s bathroom would need to be modified to meet the child’s physical needs. Therefore, the current home environment does not meet the child’s specific needs.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, staff have taken sufficient action to manage safeguarding incidents. Staff liaise with the child’s social worker as necessary. The child’s social worker did not raise any concerns in relation to the staff’s ability to keep the child safe.

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Findings from the inspection

The provider agreed for a child to move into the home who has a learning disability and associated mobility difficulties. This is outside the home’s conditions of registration. This raises concerns about the decisions made by leaders and managers for children who have complex needs and how these would be met safely by staff. The director and managers accepted this. They did not continue with plans for the child to move into the home.

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Findings from the inspection

The acting manager worked with agencies and family members to support the child to remain living in the home. However, he concluded that staff’s skills and experience were not sufficient to meet the child’s needs. The acting manager has recruited new staff to strengthen the team’s skill base. However, despite these efforts, there continue to be gaps in the skills and experience needed to support children with complex needs.

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Findings from the inspection

The acting manager worked with the staff to reflect on their practice and consider the factors that contributed to the previous placement breakdown. Staff engaged in the session, which was supported by the psychological team. Through reflection, staff recognised that future placements would benefit from greater consistency in their care practices.

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Findings from the inspection

The acting manager responded effectively to a complaint made by a parent. The manager addressed concerns using performance improvement plans for the staff, which involved additional training.

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Findings from the inspection

The previous requirements and recommendations were not considered during this inspection. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2793292 4 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2793292 5

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/04/2026 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2793292 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

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that when there are any allegations against staff relating to a child, they carry out a thorough investigation and liaise with the appropriate authorities. 30 September

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults. 30 September Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2793292 7 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand, in a way that is appropriate according to the child’s age and understanding, personal, sexual and social relationships, and how those relationships can be supportive or harmful;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop the understanding and skills to recognise or withdraw from a damaging, exploitative or harmful relationship;

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Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child’s respect and trust;

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Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children;

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Requirement Due date

are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same;

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Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children;

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Requirement Due date

understand and communicate to children that bullying is unacceptable; and Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2793292 8 have the skills to recognise incidents or indications of bullying and how to deal with them. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(ix)(x)(xi)(xii)(xiii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that any consequences or behaviour management strategies used are restorative and link to the needs of the child. Any consequences must be appropriate and proportionate.

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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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

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs; and

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Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well- being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that children’s health needs are prioritised and that any referrals, investigations or treatments are undertaken without delay. 30 September

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Requirement Due date

the privacy of children is appropriately protected; 30 September Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2793292 9 children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises; and

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Requirement Due date

any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home;

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Requirement Due date

is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and

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Requirement Due date

allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21 (a)(b)(c)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that the removal of any communication devices or property is undertaken in collaboration with the child, placing authority and parents where applicable. This includes ensuring that the child has use of a telephone to make private calls when required.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must also ensure that any searches of the child’s property and items are carried out in line with the child’s care plan and with their consent, where appropriate. The child should be informed before a search takes place where safe to do so.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child—

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or 30 September Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2793292 10 there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, when allegations against staff are raised, the registered person must ensure that they notify Ofsted without delay.

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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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that all paperwork relating to the child’s care and needs is regularly reviewed and updated with any significant changes, including risk assessments, placement plans and care plans. 30 September

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure; 30 September Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2793292 11 the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b) (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii) (b)(i)(ii)(c))

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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.

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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 children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)) 30 September Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2793292 12

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they have consent from those with parental responsibility and the placing authority for the use of any restrictive equipment. The use of such equipment should be regularly reviewed to ensure that it is a necessary and proportionate measure to keep children safe. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.16)  The registered person should ensure that each child is supported to learn and provided with the resources they need. Staff should be creative in providing opportunities for children to study and learn. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 18, paragraph 5.18) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2793292 13

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Helpful Investments Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 31 Bridge Street, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, Wales SY23 1QB

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Inspector

Andrea Foreman, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2793292 14 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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