Children's Home run by CareTech Holding Limited in Telford and Wrekin

Inspection report for children’s home: 2804719 1 Registered provider: CareTech Holding 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 operated by a private organisation. It was registered with Ofsted in January 2025 to provide care for up to four children who have learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left the home in April 2025. The home now has a new manager who has applied to be registered with Ofsted and is waiting for their application to be considered.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2804719 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The first child moved into the home in April 2025 and remains the only child living in the home. Their transition into the home was planned well. This practice helped the child to settle quickly. The child said that they are happy, and that staff look after them well. They like the food, and they are consulted about what they like.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Relationships between the child and staff are very positive. Despite only having lived in the home for a short time, the child has quickly built a rapport with staff. Staff have developed a good understanding of the child, their needs and their personality. All staff speak fondly of them. For example, staff have engaged with the child about what they want for their birthday and already know what presents they think they would like.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff make excellent arrangements to support the child’s education if they are not able to attend school. A wide range of activities are planned to cover all subjects that the child would have been studying in school. The importance of routine is recognised through an informal timetable. Activities are thoroughly planned and evaluated and have included trips to museums, treasure hunts, mathematics activities and science experiments.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s health needs are consistently met. Routine appointments are attended and when medical attention is needed it is sought quickly. On one occasion, the child needed to go to hospital for a minor injury and staff supported the child and followed medical advice.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff recognise the importance of supporting the child to develop independence skills. The child has been supported to learn how to use the washing machine and helps with cooking. They have also learned about meal planning and have been to the shops to buy ingredients to use in their cooking. The manager has created an independence workbook that will help staff to support the child with different areas of independence. This work will help to equip the child with the life skills they need as they move into adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is supported by staff to maintain relationships with people who are important to them. Staff have welcomed visitors into the home and have also facilitated regular phone calls. One important person is unable to travel to the home, so staff have taken the child to see them and have made it into a full day out with time at the beach with the people who are important to them. This demonstrates that staff understand the importance of a child’s wider network.

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

Staff have a good understanding of safeguarding and how to keep the child safe. The child’s plans show effective risk assessment and there have been no incidents since the home opened. Staff know what action to take if they have a concern. Inspection report for children’s home: 2804719 3 Medication is well managed. Plans clearly show what medication a child should be receiving, and medication records demonstrate that these are being given correctly. All staff complete medication training but only senior staff are currently responsible for administering it.

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

The child knows who to talk to if they have any worries. They are provided with accessible information about the complaints procedure and advocacy services. Positive relationships between one child and staff have enabled the child to speak to staff about a difficult topic. As a result of speaking out, the child has been sensitively supported to manage their feelings about a significant life event.

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

Staff are recruited safely into the home. The required safer recruitment checks are carried out before candidates are offered employment, and once employed staff receive a thorough induction with supervision from experienced staff. This helps to ensure that only suitable people can work in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Management arrangements have changed since the home was registered. The provider was proactive in recruiting a new manager. This allowed a long handover period between the two managers and helped the new manager to become familiar with the home before they took responsibility for it. The new manager is ambitious and is driven to give children the best possible experiences while living in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has sufficient, well-trained staff to meet the needs of the child currently living there and those of another child who is due to move into the home soon. The provider is taking a sensible approach to increasing the number of children and is not planning on taking any further children until additional staff are in place.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has built positive relationships with professionals and people who are important to the child. Feedback about the manager and the home is positive and people feel confident about the care that is being provided. One person said that the good communication and openness helps them to feel confident that the child is being well looked after. A professional remarked on how the care provided has resulted in the child being very relaxed and showing less anxiety-driven behaviour since moving into the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The use of monitoring systems is effective. A wide range of checks are completed regularly by managers and staff to ensure that the home is safe and that documents are up to date. Support and oversight from senior managers are extensive, which helps the manager to feel confident in their role.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular, good-quality supervision and observation of their practice. New staff are supported through their probation period with regular reviews to ensure that they are making the required progress. Inspection report for children’s home: 2804719 4

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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: 2804719 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: CareTech Holding Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 5th Floor, Metropolitan House, 3 Darkes Lane, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire EN6 1AG

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Inspector

Vicky Smith, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2804719 6 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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Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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