Children's home run by Excel Residential Care Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2727237 1 Registered provider: Excel Residential Care 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 children’s home is operated by a small private company. It registered with Ofsted in May 2023. It provides care for one child who has been affected by adverse childhood experiences that have led to associated trauma and complex behaviours.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, no children were living in the home. A child who recently moved from the home contributed to the inspection.

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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: 12 November 2024

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2727237 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/11/2024 Full good 16/01/2024 Full good Inspection report for children’s home: 2727237 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The same child had been living in the home since the last inspection but had moved out a few days before the inspection. The home is empty and is undergoing redecoration in readiness to welcome a new child. The child who had been living in the home was still involved in the inspection and was able to share their views by telephone.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have formed trusting relationships with the child. The child said, ‘This was the best place I have lived. I would rate it 6000 out of 6000.’ Staff fully understood the individual needs of the child and how best to support them. They placed the child at the centre of their practice, especially in times of crisis. The child felt safe and valued the care and support provided by staff. When the child moved on from the home, they wrote farewell letters to each member of staff to express their thanks. This demonstrates that the child felt a sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The chosen model of therapeutic care is clearly embedded in the home. In-house clinician support and reflective sessions with staff have helped to underpin theory to practice. This has ensured that a child-centred, consistent approach is provided by staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since moving into the home, the child’s motivation to learn has significantly improved. With staff support, barriers to learning have been addressed, leading to increased engagement, exam participation and a secured place in post-16 education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Routine health checks are attended by the child, who is supported by staff. The manager requests specialist support to meet the individual needs of the child. They advocated and continually challenged professionals to secure this on behalf of the child. During the time that the child was without specialist care, the manager ensured that the child’s needs were met through in-house therapeutic support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child knows how to complain. When they have done so, they have received a detailed response and resolution in a timely manner. While complaints have been dealt with promptly by the manager, there is no clear recording of the steps taken to address the compliant or the action taken by the manager.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child experienced a sensitive and well-supported move, with the manager playing a key role in helping them settle into their new home. Ongoing contact has reassured the child that moving on does not mean losing important relationships, promoting a positive ending. The social worker described the move as ‘well managed’, and the family praised staff, saying they ‘couldn’t do enough’.

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

Managers and staff have a clear understanding of safeguarding thresholds and processes in the home. Staff understand their responsibilities and how to keep the child safe. The Inspection report for children’s home: 2727237 4 complexities of the child’s care plan have meant that staff have shown resilience and an ability to respond to fluctuating need and number of incidents. One social worker said, ‘The home welcomed [name of child], who has complex needs, in difficult circumstances. I would have no issue placing another child in their care.’

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

There is a clear and consistent approach to risk management. Detailed risk assessments, which are overseen by the manager, ensure that staff are knowledgeable about effective strategies to reduce and respond to risk and behaviours. This practice contributes to the child’s safety and promotes their welfare.

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

Incidents of self-harm are managed sensitively. Staff understand the risks associated with self-harm and have received additional training to ensure that they can support the child. The child’s plans effectively address the child’s vulnerabilities and set out the action that staff should take. When it has been necessary to conduct a room search following a self-harm incident, this has been done with dignity and respect and with the child’s consent.

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

Positive behaviour is consistently promoted. Staff recognise and reward progress and achievements for the child. Where behaviour escalated, staff would consider several strategies to de-escalate behaviour. Following incidents, staff would take time to reflect with the child to learn from the incident. Where possible, follow-on key-work sessions are completed to reinforce the relationship with the child and mitigate the risk of incidents reoccurring.

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

Incidents of physical restraint are managed well by staff. The use of restraint has been required to prevent the risk of self-harm and risk of harm to staff. When holds are used, they are proportionate. Holds are brief. Incident reports are detailed, timely and have clear managerial oversight. Timely debriefs take place with the child and staff.

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

The home environment provides a safe and secure place for the child. The home has been adapted to ensure that it continues to be a safe space when the level of need increases during times of crisis.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by a suitably qualified and child-focused registered manager. She has an exceptional understanding of the child’s experiences, personality, needs and risks. She has formed a resilient team who have been consistent in their commitment and care of the child. This means that the child has experienced care from a consistent core team of staff. When additional staff have been required, the manager has used staff from neighbouring homes in the first instance, and agency staff are only used as a last resort.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel supported by the manager. Managers and leaders have understood the emotional impact placed on staff when caring for the child during times of crisis. Clinical supervision has been provided. Additionally, staff can access external well-being support through their employer. Inspection report for children’s home: 2727237 5 The manager has formed effective working relationships with professionals and the child’s family. This has ensured a strong working approach and improved outcomes for the child. An example of this is with family time progressing out of the home, to the child spending quality time in the community and being able to attend family events.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager actively and regularly monitors the quality of care in the home. While monitoring systems are in place, they are not yet used consistently and effectively. This resulted in senior leaders’ oversight of reports not being visible to the manager or staff team. This means that there have been missed opportunities for learning and reflection from incidents to effectively review the progress of the home. Additionally, supervision is taking place for the manager every month, but the supervision record cannot be viewed. Inspection report for children’s home: 2727237 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 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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h)) 15 July 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 39 (3)) 15 July 2025

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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: 2727237 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Excel Residential Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 5 Rockside, Mow Cop, Stoke-on-Trent ST7 4PG

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Ariana Carreon-Palmer

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Inspector

Joanne Hawkins, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2727237 8 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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