Children's Home run by TS Children Services Ltd in Dudley

Inspection report for children’s home: 2726003 1 Registered provider: TS Children Services Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home was registered with Ofsted in November 2023 and is privately owned. It provides care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties, as well as learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2024. They were not present during the inspection, having resigned with immediate effect on the day it took place. The previous responsible individual, who remains employed by the organisation, led the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, two children were living in the home. Both were present and one of them spoke with the inspector.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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inadequate

There are serious and widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded and the care and experiences of children and young people are poor.

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inadequate

Date of last inspection: 4 September 2024

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2726003 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/09/2024 Full Good 14/03/2024 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: 2726003 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

There are significant shortfalls in the leadership and management of the home, as well as in the safety and protection of children. As a result, children’s overall experiences are inadequate. As a result of the serious concerns identified during this inspection, a compliance notice has been issued under regulation 13. In addition, a notice of restriction of accommodation has been served, meaning no further children may be admitted to the home. This restriction will remain in place and be kept under review.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Since the last inspection, one child has moved out of the home and two children have moved in. The move for the child who left was not in line with their care plan. Staff were unable to provide effective support to meet the child’s needs, resulting in them making no meaningful progress during their time at the home. The manager failed to escalate concerns to external services, missing the opportunity for the child’s emerging needs to be identified and addressed in a holistic way. Staff were unable to manage the child’s needs, and notice was served, leading to an abrupt and unplanned move. This was a negative experience for the child, who was denied the stability, consistency and planning essential for their emotional security and overall well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff do not meet children’s health needs effectively. When children miss or refuse their prescribed daily medication, staff do not follow agreed procedures or seek timely medical advice from the required healthcare professionals, as outlined in the children’s health plans. This failure places children’s health at risk and demonstrates a lack of professional curiosity and safeguarding awareness. As a result, serious medical needs may go unaddressed, compromising children’s safety and well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Not all children receive the support they need to reach their full potential in education. While staff provide some assistance with home learning, and the manager has worked with external agencies to secure appropriate provision for one child, this is not consistent for all children. Another child has been out of education for a significant period, and there is no clear or effective plan in place to meet their long-term educational needs. This lack of planning and urgency limits the child’s future opportunities, fails to uphold their right to education and reflects poor practice in addressing barriers to their learning and development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children have access to a wide range of activities in the local community. Staff encourage children’s interests and provide them with opportunities to broaden their horizons.

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

Children do not receive the right quality of care to promote their welfare. Children’s individual care plans are not kept up to date and do not accurately reflect their current needs. Plans are not routinely reviewed or amended following significant incidents. As a Inspection report for children’s home: 2726003 4 result, staff do not have access to accurate and up-to-date guidance to inform their care practice and safeguard children effectively. This undermines the consistency and quality of care provided.

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

Staff do not take appropriate action to keep children safe. On one occasion, a child disclosed feeling low in mood and expressed thoughts of hurting themselves. Despite this, staff failed to follow medical advice provided by professionals and did not remove potentially harmful items from the child’s bedroom. Although there was no immediate harm to the child, staff did not take the necessary steps to safeguard the child. This reflects extremely poor practice and a concerning lack of awareness in managing risk and responding to children’s emotional and mental health needs.

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

Safeguarding arrangements in the home are ineffective. When children return after being missing, staff do not consistently offer a return home interview. This represents a missed opportunity to understand the reasons behind the behaviour, explore any risks or concerns the child may have encountered and prevent repeat incidents. Two children do not have missing-from-home plans in place, and one of their plans is outdated and lacks essential information. The absence of up-to-date or comprehensive missing-from-home plans leaves staff without clear guidance on how to respond effectively, placing children at increased risk of harm.

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

Although there has been only one recorded incident of physical intervention, the response following the event was inadequate. The child was not spoken to or given the opportunity to reflect on and process what had occurred. Also, staff were not spoken to after the intervention, meaning there was no opportunity to identify learning or evaluate the impact on the child. This lack of post-incident support and reflection undermines the home’s ability to safeguard children and improve practice.

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

Children have not been offered independent advocates to help them express their wishes and feelings. Neither of the children currently have access to an advocate, and leaders have not taken steps to offer or facilitate support from an advocacy service. As a result, children are denied a vital opportunity to express their views to an independent person and receive guidance and reassurance from a trusted adult outside the home. This failure limits children’s understanding of their rights and restricts their access to entitlements, further undermining their ability to participate meaningfully in decisions about their care.

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

When children are involved in serious incidents, staff do not make the necessary referrals to external agencies for additional support. For example, following an incident in which a child used threatening language and claimed to be making a bomb, staff failed to seek advice or intervention from relevant professionals. This lack of external engagement undermines a coordinated, multi-agency approach to meeting the child’s needs. It also limits the home’s ability to address complex behaviours effectively and promote children’s long-term safety and well-being. Inspection report for children’s home: 2726003 5 Recruitment procedures are safe and robust. As a result, children are cared for by adults who have been appropriately vetted and deemed suitable to work with vulnerable children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered manager, deputy manager and responsible individual have all submitted their resignations. The registered manager stepped down with immediate effect on the first day of this inspection. During the inspection, support was provided by the previous responsible individual and the home’s internal quality and assurance officer. The absence of a stable and consistent leadership team has had a significant negative impact on the care and safety of children, as well as on the support available to staff. As a result, management oversight has been poor and ineffective, lacking the consistency required to ensure safe and high-quality care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Communication between leaders, managers and staff is ineffective. The manager is not leading the home in a manner that reflects the ethos and approach outlined in the statement of purpose. One member of staff commented, ‘The manager could manage the home better, and his communication is not great.’ This highlights a disconnect between leaders and the staff team, which contributes to a lack of clarity, direction and consistency in care practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered manager and responsible individual do not routinely monitor, review or evaluate the quality of care provided to children. As a result, they have failed to identify shortfalls in staff practice or take timely and appropriate action to ensure children are safe and well cared for. This lack of oversight has contributed to significant failings in safeguarding, and placed children at risk of harm.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

When incidents occur, staff do not make clear, detailed or accurate records of what has happened. The registered manager has not identified or addressed this shortfall in practice. As a result, the poor quality of recording limits the manager’s ability to evaluate staff actions, learn from incidents and implement necessary improvements. This undermines effective oversight and compromises the safety and well-being of children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered provider has failed to ensure that managers and staff receive regular supervision. In addition, no staff member or leader has received an annual appraisal. This lack of oversight means that the staff are not given essential opportunities to reflect on the care they provide, consider their practice or identify and address professional development needs. As a result, staff are not being supported to improve or maintain the quality of care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager takes prompt action when complaints and allegations are made, and information is appropriately shared with external professionals to avoid delays and protect children from harm. However, once investigations are concluded, the manager does not consistently update children on the outcomes. This lack of communication undermines children’s trust in the leaders of the home and fails to promote a culture of openness and transparency. As a result, children may feel discouraged from raising Inspection report for children’s home: 2726003 6 concerns or reporting issues, which compromises their sense of safety and emotional well-being.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders have not ensured that all staff have the necessary skills and experience to meet children’s needs. Some staff have not received training in key areas such as physical intervention and responding to missing-from-home incidents. This lack of training has had a direct and negative impact on children’s safety, experiences and well-being. Staff are not equipped to respond effectively when such incidents occur. Without the required knowledge and skills, staff are unable to protect children appropriately or support them in a safe and informed manner.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Despite the shortfalls identified, children’s social workers provided a generally positive assessment of the care offered in the home. However, this external feedback does not mitigate the serious concerns found in practice, particularly in relation to safeguarding, leadership and the consistency of care. Inspection report for children’s home: 2726003 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 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 promotes their welfare.

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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

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

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)(f)(g)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that the registered manager’s monitoring systems are effective and robust. All staff must have the necessary experience and training to meet each 27 July 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2726003 8 child’s individual needs. When children make disclosures, they must be kept informed of the outcomes in a timely and appropriate manner.

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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

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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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

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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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 located so that children are effectively safeguarded. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(b)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that the home environment, including children’s bedrooms, is safe. Children’s risk assessments must be kept up to date. Care should be delivered consistently in accordance with each child’s plan. Additionally, children should be spoken to in a manner that encourages them to express their feelings and views. 27 July 2025

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met; 27 July 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2726003 9 children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff help each child to—

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Requirement Due date

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well-being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that children are supported to take their prescribed medication and that staff work collaboratively with health professionals to meet each child’s individual health needs in a holistic and coordinated manner.

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home;

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Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority. 27 July 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2726003 10 that arrangements are in place to —

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Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed;

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Requirement Due date

that, subject to regulation 22 (contact and access to communications), contact between each child and the child’s parents, relatives and friends, is promoted in accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

that staff help each child to access and contribute to the records kept by the registered person in relation to the child. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(c)(d)(f))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring effective planned care and arrangements are in place when children move in and out of the home.

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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. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c)) 27 July 2025

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all children have access to appropriate advocacy support and are provided with an independent advocate who can advise them and help ensure that they receive the support needed to express their views, wishes and feelings about their care and lives. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 23, paragraph 4.16)  The registered person should ensure that all children and staff involved in a physical intervention are spoken to within the specified time frame. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24) Inspection report for children’s home: 2726003 11

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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: 2726003 12

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: TS Children Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 11 Waterloo Road, Wolverhampton, West Midlands WV1 4DJ

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Inspector

Jas Nahar, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2726003 13 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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