Children's Home run by Embrace Care North West Limited in Sefton

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2862725 1 Registered provider: Embrace care North West Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and provides care for up to 2 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, one child was living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered in December 2025.

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This monitoring visit

At a full inspection on 7 and 8 July 2026, the home was judged as inadequate. Compliance notices relating to regulation 12, ‘The protection of children standard’ and regulation 13, ‘The leadership and management standard’ were issued.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken to meet the steps in the compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, the registered manager is no longer in post. The same child remains living in the home. They shared no concerns of their experiences in the home.

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This monitoring visit

There have been no safeguarding incidents involving the child since the last inspection. There were concerns around the child’s peer who visited the home. However, staff took appropriate action by raising these concerns with management.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have ensured that the child’s risk assessments have been reviewed and updated to reflect their identified vulnerabilities and known risks. However, risk assessments were not clear on guidance regarding the action staff should take if electronic cigarettes were present in the home. This was rectified during the visit. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2862725 2 Staff have completed all training required for them to be able to support and meet the needs of the child. Furthermore, staff have benefitted from external safeguarding training, with some of this being specific to the shortfalls identified in the inspection. This included training on room searches, risk assessments and children being missing from home.

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This monitoring visit

Staff who were spoken with were able to clearly identify the learning they had gained from training and explain how they had implemented it in their day-to-day practice. In addition, staff were able to identify the measures they take when lone working and when the child’s friends visit the home to ensure their safety.

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This monitoring visit

Direct work has been undertaken with the child to help them develop their independence skills, healthy relationships and their knowledge of risks associated with electronic cigarettes.

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This monitoring visit

New systems have been implemented by the responsible individual to review and monitor the quality of care in the home and staff practice. These have identified shortfalls in staff practice, which have then allowed for appropriate action to be taken.

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This monitoring visit

A case review was held on 4 September 2026. It was deemed that sufficient action has been taken to meet the steps in the compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

The other requirements raised at the last full inspection have not been considered during this visit. They remain in place and will be reviewed at the next inspection. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2862725 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/07/2026 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2862725 4

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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 with the given timescales.

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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

take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff actively support the child to access and receive all outstanding immunisations, in line with their health needs and healthcare plans. 16 October 2026

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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 16 October 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2862725 5 that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, managers and leaders must ensure that when a child is admitted to the home, they are able to meet the child’s needs. Plans must identify all known risks and support needs.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff support children in developing independence skills in accordance with their age and level of understanding.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy which—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard children accommodated in the children’s home from abuse or neglect.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the missing child policy”) setting out—

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Requirement Due date

the steps taken, and to be taken, to prevent children from being absent without permission; and

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Requirement Due date

the procedures to be followed, and the roles and responsibilities of persons working at the home, in relation to a child who is, or has been, so absent.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must keep under review and, as necessary, revise the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 34 (1)(a) (4)(a)(b) (6))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that the child’s missing-from-care protocol is regularly reviewed, kept up to date and contains all relevant information. Staff should also have easy access to this document. 16 October 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which— Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2862725 6 include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff have easy access to the child’s case records and are able to locate key information promptly. In addition, all welfare checks undertaken on the child must be recorded comprehensively, including the time of each check and the outcome.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires.

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Requirement Due date

A visit by the independent person to the home may be unannounced. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a) (3))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that independent visits take place each month, include unannounced visits and consultation with the child’s parents. 16 October 2026

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that they escalate concerns when local authority documents are not received, namely the pathway plan. 16 October 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment 16 October 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2862725 7 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;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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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) (3)(a)(d))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers should ensure that gaps in employment are scrutinised, evidence of scrutiny is recorded and they have copies of all require identification documentation

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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.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2862725 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Embrace care North West limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Douglas Fairless Partnership, Seymour Chambers, 92 London Road, Liverpool L3 5NW

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Inspector

Michelle McGrath, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2862725 9 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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