Children's Home run by Support and Sustain Care Ltd in Wolverhampton

Inspection report for children’s home: 2603750 1 Registered provider: Support and Sustain Care Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered with Ofsted in July 2021 and is owned by a private company. It provides care for up to three children 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 and spoke with the inspector.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager is suitably qualified and experienced. They have submitted an application to register with Ofsted and are currently awaiting a fit person interview to determine their suitability for registration.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2603750 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/07/2024 Full Good 24/05/2023 Full Good 04/10/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 14/06/2022 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: 2603750 3

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improvement to be good

Children’s experiences and progress are mixed. While some children have made good progress in certain areas of their lives, this has not been consistent. Children speak positively about their experiences in the home and say that staff have helped them. However, there have been occasions when children have not received the help and care that they need. This has had an impact on the overall quality of their experiences.

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improvement to be good

Managers and staff have not ensured that children live in a clean and welcoming environment. Some areas of the home are visibly dirty, and there is rubbish in the rear garden. One child’s bedroom and bathroom are in poor condition, and these issues have gone unnoticed by managers and staff. This lack of oversight has the potential to pose health and safety risks. As a result, the child is not being provided with a nurturing and hygienic environment in which to live.

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improvement to be good

At the time of this inspection, one child had moved into the home, and two children had moved out. To support these transitions, staff promoted positive endings. Children received gifts and farewell cards to wish them well, helping to create lasting positive memories. As a result, children continue to feel valued and supported after leaving the home.

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improvement to be good

Children have positive experiences of moving into the home. The manager ensures that the admission process is well planned and child centred. Before moving in, children are visited by staff to help them feel more comfortable. For one child, the children’s guide was translated into their primary language to support their understanding. The child currently living at the home has only been there for a short period of time. Therefore, they have not had the opportunity to build trusted and secure relationships with staff. However, staff are committed to developing these relationships. This nurturing approach helps to reduce children’s anxieties and provides support during challenging times.

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improvement to be good

Staff promote children’s education. Staff advocate well for children to ensure that they receive education that suits their needs and abilities. Children who are not attending school are offered formal and informal learning opportunities. This improves children’s life chances.

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improvement to be good

Overall, staff are committed to providing care that consistently reflects children’s ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Staff make efforts to engage children in a variety of activities based on children’s interests. This helps children build their own sense of identity. Inspection report for children’s home: 2603750 4

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improvement to be good

The manager and staff demonstrate awareness of the risks posed to children. Risk management plans are in place to address a range of needs and situations. However, these plans do not consistently consider all the known risks and how they may be mitigated or managed. Additionally, plans are not always kept up to date. Inaccurate information can lead to confusion among staff, particularly new team members, about how to respond to specific risks. This lack of clarity does not suitably equip staff to safeguard children effectively.

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improvement to be good

Staff take appropriate action when children go missing from the home, and they support their safe return at the earliest opportunity. They actively search for children and use one-to-one sessions to explore and respond to their feelings. While staff understand the procedures to follow if children go missing, the quality of risk assessments is poor. These documents do not provide staff with all the necessary information to offer effective support. As a result, children may be placed at increased risk of harm.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns, complaints and allegations against staff. They share relevant information promptly with safeguarding professionals and take suitable action to safeguard the children and staff involved.

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improvement to be good

Physical interventions used by staff are proportionate to the risks posed to children and others. However, management oversight identified inconsistencies with the recording and reporting of these incidents. This limits the managers’ ability to monitor patterns and ensure that all interventions are appropriately documented and reviewed.

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

During this inspection period, there has been instability in the leadership and management of the home. The manager, deputy manager and all but one member of staff resigned suddenly. Concerns were raised regarding a culture of bullying and the integrity of managers and senior leaders, which required investigation by an independent agency. This instability has contributed to inconsistent care and support for children.

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

The current manager has been in post for a relatively short period and is awaiting a fit person interview to confirm her eligibility for registration with Ofsted. She has extensive experience in this sector, although she is still adjusting to the responsibilities of the management role. The manager is dedicated and demonstrates a clear willingness to develop, which provides a strong foundation for driving improvements in the home.

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

Managers ensure that appropriate recruitment checks are completed before staff begin working in the home. This helps to minimise the risk of children being cared for by individuals who are not suitable to work with children. While staffing levels are sufficient to meet the needs of children living at the home, the team is relatively new. As a result, there is a lack of cohesion in staff practice and the care provided for children. There Inspection report for children’s home: 2603750 5 have been concerns when staff have not consistently applied therapeutic approaches or maintained clear boundaries. Although the manager has addressed these issues in team meetings, some inconsistencies in practice are linked to weaknesses in behaviour management plans and the guidance provided. Inconsistent staff approaches have the potential to leave children vulnerable.

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

Staff report they are happy working at the home and feel supported and listened to by the manager. They receive a wide range of training and take part in regular supervision to help them meet children’s needs. Team meetings are child centred and focus on staff development and improving the quality of care for children. These meetings provide reflection and development opportunities for staff.

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

There are areas of managerial monitoring and oversight that require improvement. Managers use a range of reviewing and monitoring systems; however, oversight is inconsistent. The manager’s review of some incidents lacks analysis and is not always effective in identifying shortfalls in the home. Additionally, staff recording and reporting practices require improvement. Training has been identified to address these issues.

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

There are appropriate processes in place to ensure notifications are made to Ofsted when required. This supports Ofsted’s ability to monitor safeguarding arrangements effectively. Inspection report for children’s home: 2603750 6

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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

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)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that risk assessments are thorough and accurate and that any guidance or advice is consistently followed. 16 Jul 2025

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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

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. 16 Jul 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2603750 7 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)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure a supportive and positive culture between the staff and leaders in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The home’s monitoring systems must be effective in identifying any shortfalls.

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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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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 the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the cleanliness of the home must be closely monitored and regularly checked, including children’s bedrooms, bathrooms and the garden. 16 Jul 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

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. 16 Jul 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2603750 8 (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular ensure all children’s records are updated and that all the information recorded is clear and factual.

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Requirement Due date

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

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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: 2603750 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Support and Sustain Care Ltd

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Inspector

Tonia Dubidat, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2603750 10 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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