Children's Home run by Still Adventures Ltd in Sefton

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2787363 1 Monitoring visit

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This multi-build setting is owned and 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.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The registered manager and responsible individual have been absent from their roles since July 2026. This inspection was supported by the company’s directors.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living in one of the homes.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The home was inspected on 30 June, 1 and 2 July 2026 and was judged ‘inadequate’. A notice restricting accommodation was served, and compliance notices were issued under Regulation 12 (the protection of children standard), Regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard) and Regulation 25 (fire protection).

p.1

This monitoring visit

An inspector returned on 15 July 2026 to gather additional evidence following further concerns being raised. Serious and widespread failures were identified during this visit. Following this visit, Ofsted issued a suspension notice on 16 July 2026, and 3 compliance notices were issued.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Monitoring visits were carried out on 23 and 30 July 2026 to monitor adherence with the suspension notice. The child was still living in the home at the time of the visits. On 31 July 2026, Ofsted lifted the suspension notice and issued a notice restricting accommodation.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the compliance notices issued under Regulations 12, 13 and 25.

p.1

This monitoring visit

There has been progress in improving the physical environment of the homes. The child’s bedroom has been redecorated, and new furnishings have been provided. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2787363 2 Renovation and decoration are also taking place in several areas across the homes. However, this work is not yet complete. Some aspects of the physical environment remain unsuitable and do not provide appropriate accommodation. Although remedial work has started, further work is required across the homes. In the home that is currently occupied by a child, improvements are still needed to ensure that the environment is consistently safe, homely and nurturing.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have increased their focus on staff learning and development. Staff have attended a range of training that is specific to the needs of the child currently living in the home. Further training and development opportunities are planned. Staff spoken to during the visit demonstrated an improved understanding of the child’s needs and risks. They are better able to describe how they should respond to the child and provide care that is consistent with their individual needs.

p.2

This monitoring visit

A new responsible individual and interim manager have been appointed. They are supported by a quality assurance manager. This has resulted in increased auditing and quality assurance activity and has helped leaders to better understand the shortfalls in practice and the improvements that are required. However, these leadership arrangements are new and are not yet fully embedded. Further work is required to ensure that roles and responsibilities are clearly understood and that arrangements for management oversight are effective.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have reviewed and updated policies and procedures relating to the administration of medication. Staff have been supported to understand these changes through workshops, planned training and discussions in team meetings. Managers have also introduced additional auditing and oversight of medication practice. This has strengthened medication arrangements and provides managers with greater assurance that staff are following the required procedures.

p.2

This monitoring visit

There has been a significant reduction in incidents involving one child. Leaders and managers consider that this is, in part, because staff have developed a better understanding of the child and are more confident in responding to their needs. When incidents have occurred, staff have responded appropriately and provided the child with support. Managers review incidents and use these opportunities to encourage staff to reflect on their practice and consider what can be learned to further improve the child’s care.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The atmosphere in the home has improved. During the visit, the child and staff appeared noticeably more relaxed. Inspectors observed increased engagement and positive interaction between the child and staff. This demonstrates progress in the relationships between the child and those caring for them.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The compliance notices issued at the full inspection are considered to have not been met, but progress has been made to complete most of the individual steps. Requirements remain in place where necessary actions have only been partially addressed. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2787363 3 A notice restricting accommodation has been reissued because the condition of the homes means that it would not be safe for additional children to be admitted at this time. Further work is required before the accommodation can provide children with a safe, suitable and homely environment. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2787363 4

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/06/2025 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2787363 5

p.4

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

p.5

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

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;

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

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;

p.5

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)) 7 October 2026

p.5

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

p.5

Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and 7 October 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2787363 6 have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff have the skills, knowledge and experience to meet children’s needs before they move into the home. Care planning should be kept under continuous review.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

p.6

Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

p.6

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,

p.6

Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

p.6

Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2.

p.6

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—

p.6

Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (“the Level 3 Diploma”); or

p.6

Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The relevant date is— 7 October 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2787363 7 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

p.6

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))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff are recruited using safer recruitment practices. Staff must have the necessary skills, knowledge and expertise to meet children’s needs.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff supervision includes discussion relating to safeguarding practice and children’s care and safety needs. 7 October 2026

p.7

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

p.7

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect;

p.7

Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably.

p.7

Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to— 7 October 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2787363 8 meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(v)(vii)(c)(i))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that children are cared for in accordance with the home’s statement of purpose. Children should be provided with a suitable environment that meets their care needs and provides a homely environment.

p.8

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)) 7 October 2026

p.8

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that when a child returns to the home after being missing from care or absent without permission, the responsible local authority provides them with the opportunity 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 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)

p.8

Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

p.8

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2787363 9

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Still Adventures Ltd

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider address : 68 Blundell Road, Hightown, Liverpool L38 9EQ

p.9

Inspector

Eleanor Quanbrough, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2787363 10 to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked-after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.9

Inspector

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 terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.10

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.10

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.10