Children's Home run by Capricorn Care NW Ltd in Knowsley

Inspection report for children's home: 2827895 1 Registered provider: Capricorn Care NW 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 provider. It offers care for one child 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 inspector spoke with the child about their experiences of living in the home.

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Information about this children's home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2025.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children's home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children's home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 29 October 2025

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2827895 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/10/2025 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2827895 3

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Summary of findings

The child living in this home has made considerable progress since the last inspection. Staff have supported the child to achieve and make significant progress in their education, personal development, independence and with their emotional wellbeing.

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Summary of findings

Staff work closely to provide a safe, nurturing environment where they support the child to make and learn from mistakes. The child has age-appropriate boundaries in place and staff complete targeted work around keeping safe and making safer decisions. As a result, risks for the child have significantly reduced and incidents in the home are rare.

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Summary of findings

Staff have continued to work with and establish positive relationships with the child's family, promoting the child's identity and supporting the child to rebuild better relationships with the people most important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The child has lived in the home for a long time and has been supported by staff to make exceptional progress in all aspects of their life. The child said, 'things were good before, but I feel they are so much better now. I feel listened to, I have more freedom, I see more of my family and the staff here are like part of my family. I wouldn't change anything and there's nothing they [the staff] can do better.'

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Since the last inspection, the child has been supported back into school for the first time in several years. Staff worked closely with the child, placing authority and external professionals to identify the most appropriate setting and have worked openly with school staff to ensure that they provide a consistent, supportive approach. As a result, the child now attends fulltime education and is making plans for their future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff support the child to strengthen their relationships with their family and staff have continued to build positive relationships with individual family members. The child's grandparent said 'I can relax knowing that [my grandchild] is there. Staff look after [Name of child] so well, I couldn't ask for more. The progress [Name of child] grandchild] has made in the last year has been fantastic. They [Staff] have even supported [name of child] and their brother to have a better relationship and the time we spend as a family is really lovely. I am so proud of [my grandchild] and so thankful.'

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The child has increasing freedoms in line with their age and development. Staff support the child to understand how to make positive choices and share a consistent approach resulting in mutual trust and understanding. The child spends time in the local community with friends and is given age-appropriate opportunities to take risks and learn from mistakes with unwavering support from staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff tailor information to suit the needs of the child and develop creative ways to capture the child's views and input into their care. Staff create videos and animations Inspection report for children's home: 2827895 4 with and for the child to identify any changes or developments to their care plan, allowing the child multiple opportunities to express their views or request any changes to their care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff understand the child's physical and emotional health needs and work closely with an external therapist to ensure that they share an informed, consistent and nurturing approach. Staff support the child to fully explore their identity and to gain a better understanding of their life experiences with sensitivity and care.

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

Since the last inspection, significant incidents in the home have dramatically decreased. Staff's approach is underpinned by clear, detailed risk assessments and support plans which the child has been supported to create, where appropriate, with staff. As a result, any incidents are quickly resolved with consistent de-escalation, and the child is supported to reflect on their decisions through supportive discussions.

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

Physical intervention is extremely rare, with one incident since the last inspection. Staff only use physical intervention as a last resort and this is closely overseen by the manager, with detailed evaluations and individual discussions taking place with all staff involved. The child's views are clearly obtained and acted upon, and the child was effectively supported to reflect on this incident with no further incidents taking place.

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

Additionally, incidents of the child being missing from the home have significantly reduced. Staff support the child to understand the risks and to make better, more informed decisions when feeling frustrated or upset. Staff complete relevant direct work with the child to understand the risks around being missing from the home and allow the child the freedoms to make informed and safer decisions when spending time in the community away from adult supervision.

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

Allegations have also reduced with clear, safe guidance for staff to follow should any allegation occur. Managers take immediate and effective action to ensure that the child is safe and spend time gathering the child's views and supporting them to reflect. Appropriate external agencies are informed of any allegations and managers work with both the child and staff to support effective resolution and to learn from any incidents.

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

Consequences are appropriately used and evaluated to determine their effectiveness. The child is encouraged and supported to share their views and contribute any learning following a consequence being given. Equally, rewards are effectively used to promote positive behaviours and for staff to recognise and celebrate the child's achievements and progress.

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

Safer recruitment practices are followed when new staff join the team, however clearer records as to how any employment gaps are identified and explored would strengthen safer recruitment processes. Inspection report for children's home: 2827895 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are led by a present and knowledgeable manager who inspires staff to strive for excellence in their practice. The manager knows the child very well and shares a positive relationship with them, while maintaining fair and effective boundaries in the home. The manager is supported by a staff team who are aspirational for the child and work together to ensure that the child's identified goals are achieved.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff say that the manager is supportive, approachable and has created an open, trusting environment where staff both support and challenge one another to provide exceptional care. Staff work closely together to ensure that there is consistency across the staff team and that all decisions made as a team and individually are in the best interests of the child. One staff member said 'we all have different roles and are different people, but we work in the same way for [the child] and to achieve the best outcomes. We genuinely are like a family, and I love coming to work.'

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Team meetings are used to share up to date research in practice and to reflect on practice in the home as a staff team. Staff share any learning they may have acquired, and the external therapist is regularly invited by the manager to attend team meetings to share therapeutic learning and explore any challenges with the team. Equally supervisions are held regularly with staff who say that supervisions are both supportive and helpful in developing their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff have clearly identified roles within the team but are encouraged and supported to develop and progress should they wish to. The manager has a clear vision in respect of the home and staff team and future plans to develop the home are well thought out with significant consideration around impact for the child and their future progression.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager uses well established systems to support effective oversight. The manager has clear insight and oversight into almost every facet of the home and staff practice. The manager also uses external feedback, the child's views and staff discussions to develop and constantly improve practice in the home whilst continuing to praise and recognise achievements as a team and with the child. As a result, both staff and the child feel valued and celebrated in the home. Inspection report for children's home: 2827895 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that safer recruitment practices are consistently robust and include recorded details of how gaps in employment history have been explored. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 61, paragraph 13.1)

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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: 2827895 7

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Capricorn Care NW Ltd

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Penny Lane Business Centre, 374 Smithdown Road, Liverpool, Merseyside, L15 5AN

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Inspector

Justina Henry, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2827895 8 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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