Children's Home run by Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council in Sefton

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC036304 1 SC036304 Registered provider: Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority home provides care for up to 3 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There were no children living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager post has been vacant since September 2021. Since March 2026, there has been a new manager in post, who plans to register with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

On 13 August 2021, Ofsted imposed a 3-month restriction on the home’s registration following an inspection in June 2021 that judged the home to be inadequate. As a result, the conditions of registration were varied to require the provider to notify Ofsted before admitting any children to the home during the period of restriction.

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This monitoring visit

The provider appropriately notified Ofsted of its intention to reopen. This monitoring visit took place to ensure that the home is ready to open and that it can provide safe care for children. The visit was pre-arranged with the provider at an agreed date and time.

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This monitoring visit

There is now a new manager in post who is suitably experienced. The manager and responsible individual have weekly development meetings to implement plans to ensure that the home is operating in line with regulations. The manager is ambitious for the home and committed to improving experiences and outcomes for children. She has established a clear vision for the service and has developed a comprehensive action plan to drive improvement.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has strengthened monitoring and review arrangements. She has introduced weekly task lists and monthly audits that include clear action plans to address identified shortfalls. She intends to use both the independent person’s Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC036304 2 reports and the 6-monthly quality of care review to evaluate practice, identify strengths and drive further improvement.

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This monitoring visit

The provider did not consistently commission independent visitor reports or submit them to Ofsted over a prolonged period. Leaders and managers have now appointed an independent person to undertake monthly visits and submit reports to the regulator. In addition, the 6-monthly quality of care review had not been routinely completed or submitted to the regulator. The new manager is aware of these requirements and has completed the review since taking up post. She also understands the process for submitting them to the regulator.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have recruited a full staff team using safer recruitment practices. Staff bring a broad range of experience from residential care, family support, youth work and fostering services. Their qualifications and previous experience indicate that they have the skills required to meet children’s needs.

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This monitoring visit

Staff receive regular supervision from the manager and deputy manager. The manager has a supervision matrix in place, which includes annual appraisals. This ensures that supervisions and appraisals are carried out within the time frames.

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This monitoring visit

No children have lived at the home since the last inspection. Consequently, there has been no opportunity to evaluate safeguarding practice in operation, and the previous requirement is therefore restated. The manager has reviewed safeguarding procedures. Risk assessments, incident recording systems and safeguarding documentation now provide staff with clearer guidance on managing and recording incidents appropriately.

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This monitoring visit

The manager ensures that staff complete mandatory training, including first-aid training, before working directly with children. Staff also undertake additional training in areas such as child exploitation, self-harm, substance misuse and neurodiversity to help them meet a range of potential needs.

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This monitoring visit

The home’s location risk assessment is detailed and regularly reviewed. It identifies potential risks to children in the home’s locality. The manager uses local crime statistics and consultations with neighbours and local services to help evaluate and mitigate identified risks. The manager has recently updated the home’s statement of purpose, which indicates how the staff will provide individualised care to meet the quality standards for the children in their care.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has established plans to support children’s education. These include working with education providers and other professionals, supporting children with homework and promoting learning through activities, play and everyday interactions. However, as no children have lived at the home since the last inspection, the effectiveness of these arrangements could not be evaluated. The previous requirement is therefore restated. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC036304 3 The home has recently undergone an extensive refurbishment. The home is furnished and decorated to a high standard and provides a welcoming environment for children. Communal areas are comfortable and well maintained. Bedrooms are suitably furnished and offer children privacy. The home also benefits from a large, well-maintained garden that provides additional space for recreation and leisure activities.

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This monitoring visit

Seven of the 11 requirements raised at the last inspection have been met. Two requirements and one recommendation have been restated because no children have lived at the home since the last inspection. As a result, there has been no opportunity to fully evaluate the effectiveness of the actions taken. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC036304 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/06/2021 Full Inadequate 25/06/2019 Full Good 26/02/2019 Interim Declined in effectiveness 24/07/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC036304 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 with 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;

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(vi)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 13 October 2026

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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 staff— 13 October 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC036304 6 help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(viii))

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Requirement Due date

This is in relation to ensuring that children are provided with, and encouraged and supported to undertake, schoolwork when they are not attending school.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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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

The independent person must produce a report about a visit ("the independent person’s report") which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

and the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a) (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 13 October 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children; 13 October 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC036304 7 the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that all information about children is recorded in a way that is non-stigmatising and is helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: SC036304 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Town Hall, Oriel Road, BOOTLE, Merseyside L20 7AE

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Inspector

Renée Sims, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC036304 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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