Children's Home run by Elevated Living Group Limited in Cheshire EastOfsted inspection, 10 Sept 2026

Inspection report for children's home: 2845569 1 Registered provider: Elevated Living Group Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

This home is owned and managed by a private company. The home provides care for up to 2 children who may have social and emotional difficulties and learning difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

At the time of this inspection, one child lived in the home. They spoke with the inspector.

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Information about this children's home

The registered manager left the organisation in October 2025. A new manager has been in place since March 2026 and has applied to register with Ofsted

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children's home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 29 October 2025

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

An assurance inspection was carried out on 11 December 2025 following a whistleblowing concern reported to Ofsted regarding the child's safety. Serious failings in safeguarding, welfare and the management of the home led to the suspension of the registration. Inspection report for children's home: 2845569 2 An assurance inspection was carried out on 3 March 2026 to assess if the provider had made sufficient changes and was complying with the suspension notice. The provider had complied with the suspension notice and had taken sufficient action to rectify areas of concern. Inspection report for children's home: 2845569 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/10/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home: 2845569 4

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Summary of findings

Following a period of suspension, a child moved into the home under a carefully planned transition process that took place over 6 weeks. Prior to moving in, the child had opportunities to meet with leaders, managers and staff to support their move. However, following the child moving in, further changes in the staff team led to an increased reliance on agency staff.

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Summary of findings

Incidents are generally managed appropriately. However, there have been occasions where the child was exposed to risk due to inconsistent staff responses. Staff reliance on on-call managers for advice and guidance limited opportunities for them to exercise professional judgement and contributed to inconsistency in practice. As a result, the child has not always been able to develop trusted and secure relationships with all staff members.

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, one child moved out of the home and one child moved in. Leaders and managers ensured that information about the transition into the home was detailed and accessed additional training for staff. This was in relation to understanding what a deprivation of liberty order is. This ensured that staff had the necessary skills to supervise and support the child.

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improvement to be good

The child was able to meet with leaders, managers and staff over a 6-week period. Staff wrote letters to the child to support their transition into the home. The child was able to decorate and plan their bedroom so that it reflected their interests.

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improvement to be good

Staff have access to a comprehensive behaviour support plan that outlines the strategies required to support the child when distressed, including expectations for regular one-to- one time with adults. However, high staff turnover has contributed to inconsistencies in the management of incidents.

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improvement to be good

On one occasion when the child became highly distressed, staff stated that they would contact the police and withdrew to an office, rather than implementing the agreed support strategies. The on-call manager subsequently intervened and successfully de- escalated the situation. These inconsistent responses do not provide the child with the stability and predictability they need and undermine opportunities to develop trusting relationships with all adults involved in their care.

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improvement to be good

The child has been provided with a range of activities and new experiences in line with their interests and hobbies, such as horse-riding, ice skating and go karting. The child has developed strong relationships with the responsible individual, manager and deputy manager along with the staff who have remained working in the home. Inspection report for children's home: 2845569 5 The child is supported to attend their school provision. Over the summer period, the child was enrolled on an equine learning course. The child made significant progress and achieved certificates to reflect the progress they had made. This provided the child with opportunities to spend time with peers and develop new skills to support their confidence and learning.

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improvement to be good

The child is deprived of their liberty. There is a clear assessment and risk management plan in place. This sets out what the risks are for the child and the actions that staff need to take to ensure that the child is safeguarded.

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improvement to be good

Safeguarding incidents are not always responded to consistently. The child has been missing from home on several occasions. On one occasion, the child left the home without the knowledge of staff. The child returned to the home with a cut to their head and presented with slurred speech. This does not demonstrate that the plans in place are being followed to safeguard the child.

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improvement to be good

The child is prescribed controlled medication. Where there have been concerns that the child has not been taking it correctly or storing it, staff have completed a room search. This was proportionate and necessary. A review of medication processes has been completed by an independent nurse, and leaders and managers have made changes to this to prevent any reoccurrences.

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improvement to be good

The child is not cared for by a stable and consistent staff team. There have been occasions when staff have left the home during their shift without notifying managers and failed to return. Leaders and managers have responded by covering staffing shortfalls themselves and arranging agency staff. However, these arrangements do not provide the consistency required to meet the child's assessed needs. This shortfall has, at times, affected staffing levels and increased the risk to the child. It also limits the child's ability to develop safe, secure and trusting relationships with the adults caring for them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Since the full inspection, there have been several changes to the management of the setting. The new manager has been in place since March 2026; 2 further managers have left the home in the interim period. The manager is supported by the responsible individual and a deputy team manager who have remained in place along with some staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Leaders and managers are aware of significant staffing shortfalls resulting from staff sickness and the unplanned departure of newly recruited staff. To maintain care arrangements, the manager, deputy manager and remaining staff have regularly covered rota gaps. However, this has resulted in some staff working beyond their contracted Inspection report for children's home: 2845569 6 hours, contributing to work-related stress and further staff sickness. These ongoing staffing challenges reduce workforce stability and place additional pressure on those responsible for providing care and support to the child. A stabilisation review has been completed in response to staffing challenges and a plan devised to recruit more staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Leaders and managers are committed to improving the quality of care, stability and consistency for the child. Recent changes have been made to recruitment processes and attempts made to use agency staff who are familiar to the child. Staff have been appointed but have not begun their employment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Leaders, managers and staff have developed positive relationships with professionals. Feedback from professionals highlights the child's progress since moving into the home. Professionals comment on the drive and commitment of the leadership team. Inspection report for children's home: 2845569 7

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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 within 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

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child's health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(b)(d))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that staff understand their roles and responsibilities so that children are protected from harm. 6 December 2026

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are supported to develop and maintain positive relationships with others.

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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— 6 December 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2845569 8 meet each child's behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child's relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for their behaviour, in accordance with the child's age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand and respect the rights of others; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child is supported to develop positive relationships with peers and adults. (Regulation 11 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that all staff use a consistent, child-centred communication and behaviour support approach that the child can understand, to promote positive relationships.

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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

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'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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. 6 December 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2845569 9 (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that all staff undertake the necessary training to meet the needs of children and implement this in practice.

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that they have management oversight to evaluate the quality of care being provided and identify areas of learning to make continuous improvements in addition to ensuring that staff are provided with support to complete their role effectively.

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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: 2845569 10

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Elevated Living Group Limited

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: In Accountancy Ltd, 2 Station View, Hazel Grove, Stockport SK7 5ER

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Inspector

Nicola Forrester, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2845569 11 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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