Children's Home run by Milestones Care Homes Ltd in Wirral

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC065780 1 SC065780 Registered provider: Milestones Care Homes Limited

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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 small private company. It provides care for up to 3 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this visit, 3 children were living at the home. The inspector spoke with one child as part of the visit.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager withdrew their application to register with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

This home was judged ‘inadequate’ following a full inspection on 21 and 22 July 2026. Serious shortfalls in safeguarding and leadership arrangements were identified. As a result, compliance notices were issued under section 22A of the Care Standards Act 2000 relating to Regulation 12 (the protection of children standard), Regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard) and Regulation 6 (the quality and purpose of care standard).

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to review whether the steps in the compliance notices have been met and to assess whether further enforcement action is required. Leaders and managers have met the actions set out in the compliance notices relating to Regulations 6 and 12. However, they have failed to meet all the actions set out in the compliance notice relating to Regulation 13. Therefore, the compliance notice under Regulation 13 has been reissued.

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This monitoring visit

Requirements not subject to compliance notices were not explored during this visit and will be reviewed at the next full inspection. The responsible individual was present during the visit. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC065780 2 Since the last inspection, the management arrangements have changed. The manager withdrew his application to register with Ofsted. The responsible individual is now overseeing the day-to-day management of the home. He has taken appropriate action to recruit a deputy manager to support staff in the interim, and recruitment is ongoing to identify a manager.

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This monitoring visit

Renovations and repairs to the property have been prioritised. Improvements to the home are ongoing, with additional work scheduled to take place in the next few weeks. Soft furnishings and photos of children have been added throughout the home, creating a warm, homely environment that provides children with a sense of belonging.

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This monitoring visit

On 2 occasions, a child has been under the influence of substances. Staff have sought medical advice or treatment and appropriately considered the administration of prescribed medication. Staff speak to children about substance misuse and encourage them to engage with specialist services.

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This monitoring visit

Clear safety plans have been introduced for children when they spend time in the community. When children do not engage in the agreed safety plans, staff follow the missing-from-care procedure. This helps staff maintain better oversight of where children are and who they are spending time with when they are away from the home.

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This monitoring visit

Management oversight of staff practice remains inconsistent and does not identify shortfalls in the quality of recording. Additionally, review and monitoring systems are not effective. This does not support leaders or managers to identify shortfalls in practice promptly, limiting their ability to take timely action to address concerns.

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This monitoring visit

The training offer available to staff has been strengthened, and staff have undertaken a range of online courses relevant to children’s needs. However, team meetings and in-house training are not taking place consistently. This does not support staff to reflect on training they have received or enable managers to test staff’s understanding and knowledge.

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This monitoring visit

A case review was held on 9 September 2026, and it was agreed that, despite some remaining shortfalls, the provider has met the steps set out in the compliance notices relating to Regulations 6 and 12. However, the provider has not met the steps set out in the compliance notice relating to Regulation 13. A compliance notice will be reissued in relation to the leadership and management of the home. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC065780 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/07/2026 Full Inadequate 16/09/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 23/04/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 03/05/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC065780 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 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

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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

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;

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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 children are best met; and 1 November 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC065780 5 feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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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)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that effective monitoring and review systems are in place to identify weaknesses in staff practice and recording, demonstrate management oversight, and take timely action to address shortfalls and improve the quality of care provided to children.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and has been restated.

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Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

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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

ascertain and consider each child’s views, wishes and feelings, and balance these against what they judge to be in the child’s best interests when making decisions about the child’s care and welfare;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how the child’s views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child; and

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Requirement Due date

regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home’s care. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that children’s wishes and views are central to staff practice and that staff listen to and 1 November 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC065780 6 take account of children’s views when managing their behaviour. The registered person must also ensure that children are informed of the outcomes of any investigations.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and has been restated.

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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: SC065780 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Milestones Care Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 5 Fletcher Close, Wirral, Cheshire CH49 5PH

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Inspector

Kitty Wiper, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC065780 8 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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