Children's Home run by Rencare Homes Limited in Knowsley

Inspection report for children’s home: 2827777 1 Registered provider: Rencare Homes Limited

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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 provider. It provides care for up to 2 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home. The child spoke to the inspector about their experiences of living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Inadequate

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

At the full inspection on 21 and 22 April 2026 the home was judged as inadequate. A monitoring visit was carried out on 11 June 2026 to monitor three compliance notices under regulation 12, ‘The protection of children standard’, 13, ‘The leadership and management standard and 8, ‘The education standard’ under section 22A of the care standards Act 2000. Following the visit, a case review was held which concluded that the provider had taken sufficient action to meet the compliance notices. Inspection report for children’s home: 2827777 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/04/2026 Full Inadequate 05/08/2025 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2827777 3

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Summary of findings

The child living in the home is making positive progress when considering their starting point. Staff understand the child’s risks and are supporting the child well. Risks for the child have reduced.

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Summary of findings

Safeguarding practice prioritises the safety and wellbeing of the child. However, there are shortfalls in the leadership and management of the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, the same child remains living at the home. The child has been supported to settle and has built positive relationships with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote a range of activities based on the child’s individual interests. These have included swimming, baking and going out for walks with staff. This promotes a stronger sense of belonging for the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child’s learning. The child is supported to engage in on-line learning with a mentor, learn independence skills, and undertake different vocational courses. The child’s participation is encouraged through positive praise and incentives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is registered with primary health services and supported to attend routine and external professional emotional well-being appointments. However, there has been a delay in the child having a health assessment and staff’s understanding of outstanding immunisations has not been prioritised.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s time with their family and friends is supported by the staff. The child’s parent said, ‘the staff are brilliant and nothing they can do better’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home was clean and tidy and the child has been supported to personalise their bedroom. There are photos of the child around the home. There was a leak from the bathroom and maintenance required on the child’s bedroom door. Swift action was undertaken to address during the inspection.

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

There has been a significant reduction of incidents since the last inspection and risks for the child have reduced.

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

Staff have a good understanding of the child’s individual risks and vulnerabilities. The child’s risk assessment and behaviour support plans are regularly reviewed, and all known risks are documented. This ensures that there is a consistent and informed approach to safeguarding. Inspection report for children’s home: 2827777 4 Staff have meaningful conversations with children and discuss a range of topics. This includes fire safety, the importance of education, emotional well-being and grief and loss. This helps the child to develop their understanding of risk and develop their emotional resilience.

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

Partnership working with professionals has improved. One social worker said, ‘there is very good communication, and [child’s name] is making progress’.

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

There has been a significant delay in the manager having all required documented to proceed with their registration. The decision by the provider has been made to recruit a new manager. The manager is planning to remain working in the home to ensure there is a thorough handover to the new manager. The responsible individual continues to be in the home on a regular basis to offer additional support to the child and staff.

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

There is a stable and committed staff team, which means the child is being supported by staff who know them well. Their nurturing care helps the child to express their feelings to staff, who are responsive to the child’s needs.

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

Staff including the manager receive regular reflective supervision. Staff feel supported by the manager and team meetings create an additional forum to reflect on the child and improves consistency in staff’s practice.

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

Staff have undertaken relevant training to meet the child’s individual needs. Staff who are not qualified are all enrolled on an appropriate qualification. The homes workforce development plan has been updated to reflect the homes aims and objectives as well as the statement of purpose.

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

Leaders and managers have reflected on moves out of the home. There has been learning and reflection which has enabled them to strengthen practice. They have also purchased a new car which will help staff to support children more effectively

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

The manager has completed a six-monthly quality of care review. This includes feedback from one child and staff. However, the report does not consider feedback from all children who have lived in the home during this period, parents and professionals. This reduces the opportunity for the manager to fully evaluate the care provided to children effectively.

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

Internal monitoring systems have improved. However, the independent visitor has not been supported to gain valuable feedback from professionals and parents. This is an area leaders and managers are taking action to address. Inspection report for children’s home: 2827777 5

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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 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 promotes their welfare.

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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

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 the children are best met; and

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Requirement Due date

the 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)(g)(i)(h)) 4 December 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2827777 6 Specifically, the registered person must ensure that the new manager applies to register with Ofsted.

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Requirement Due date

Additionally, the registered person must ensure that the independent visitor is supported to gain external feedback.

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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 are supported to have all their health needs met which includes children being supported to have all their immunisations. 30 October 2026

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed; and

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Requirement Due date

make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home. 4 December 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2827777 7 The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b) (4)(a)(b) (5))

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Information about this inspection

The inspector has 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: 2827777 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Rencare Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 41 Davern Close, London SE10 0HP

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Melanie McGuinness

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Inspector

Michelle Snape, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2827777 9 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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