Budwood Limited

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Budwood Limited 1 Budwood Limited Registered provider: Budwood Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

This service is owned and managed by a private provider. The provider can accommodate up to 21 children living in six shared or group living situations in premises used to accommodate only looked-after children or care leavers.

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provider

At the time of this inspection, the service was providing support for 21 children aged 16 and 17.

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provider

The service has one individual who holds both the registered service manager and nominated individual roles. They have held these roles since the service was registered with Ofsted.

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provider

Inspection dates: The inspection was announced on 2 June 2025 and commenced on the same day. The inspectors were on site on 4 and 5 June 2025.

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Outcome

Inconsistent quality of service delivery adversely affects some children’s experiences, and this may limit their progress. Leaders and managers must make improvements. The next inspection will be within approximately 18 months.

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Summary of findings

Children live in well-maintained homes. Children and staff keep the homes clean and well decorated. This promotes a homely and welcoming environment.

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Summary of findings

Children are supported by a skilled and nurturing staff team. This supports children to develop independence skills and settle in the homes.

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Summary of findings

Most children attend college, and others are employed in the local area. Staff support and encourage good attendance.

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Summary of findings

Children are supported to keep safe at home and in the community. Episodes of going missing have decreased. Children understand the home’s boundaries. They Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Budwood Limited 2 share their feelings and frustrations with staff and explore better ways to express their emotions positively.

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Summary of findings

Inconsistent admission processes have resulted in leaders and managers accommodating some children when they are not ready for supported accommodation.

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Summary of findings

Leaders and managers have addressed safeguarding incidents effectively. However, they have failed to notify Ofsted of some serious incidents.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children live in well-maintained homes. Staff encourage children to take pride in their homes. They ensure they are homely and welcoming by decorating them with photos and other personal effects of their choice. Children’s bedrooms are well decorated with themes reflecting their interests. A child said, ‘I like it here,’ as he proudly showed the inspector his decorated bedroom, complete with musical instruments that reflect his love of music.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children are supported by a skilled, friendly and nurturing team of staff. Staff persevere in building and maintaining trusting relationships with children. However, this process is hindered because leaders accommodate some children who are not ready to live in supported accommodation. This has resulted in a need for higher levels of monitoring, more intensive care approaches for children, and some placements ending in an unplanned way.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff promote children’s education and professional development. Children are supported to register at colleges and obtain employment. Staff encourage children to maintain required college and work attendance. When issues arise, children are guided on how to communicate with their respective colleges and workplaces. Consequently, children enjoy and understand the importance of education and employment in their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff acknowledge the importance of capturing children’s views. They use well- planned approaches to capture children’s voices. Staff creatively involve children in discussions using an inclusive and curious approach, such as house meetings and one-to-one chats. This encourages children to talk about their daily experiences, feelings and wishes, while improving their social skills, building resilience and helping them feel listened to.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children participate in a variety of activities independently and with staff and managers. They enjoy life-changing experiences within the service and in the community. Children and staff engage in activities such as ‘Come Dine With Me’, Halloween, Christmas celebrations and Pride events. Children also independently access boxing clubs, horse riding, cinema visits, and time with friends and family. These experiences are captured in photos and personal items that decorate their Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Budwood Limited 3 bedrooms. Some children excitedly showed the inspectors photos and expressed how much they enjoy these special moments.

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How well children are helped and protected

Children are supported to understand ways of keeping themselves safe. Staff use reflective discussions to implement effective strategies to help children stay safe. They educate children about risks and how to stay safe at home and in the community. Risk assessments are regularly reviewed and used as effective tools to promote safe practice. Staff and children work together to develop strategies that encourage safe behaviour.

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How well children are helped and protected

Leaders and managers record children’s safeguarding concerns and share them promptly with social workers. However, leaders and managers fail to notify Ofsted of serious events that occur. This limits Ofsted’s oversight of how the provider responds to safeguarding situations to protect children from harm.

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How well children are helped and protected

Episodes of going missing have reduced. Children who historically went missing now communicate effectively with staff while in the community, confirming their location and when they plan to return home. Staff work collectively with other agencies to ensure that prompt measures, in line with protocols, are used to manage missing episodes.

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How well children are helped and protected

Children are aware of the service’s rules and boundaries. Staff use trusting relationships, therapeutic models of support and guidance from the therapy team to help children manage their feelings and build emotional resilience. This has resulted in a reduction in incidents. When incidents occur, staff talk with children and help them reflect on the impact of their behaviour towards others and how to resolve conflict.

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How well children are helped and protected

Rigorous recruitment processes are adhered to. Leaders and managers ensure thorough scrutiny before staff commence work. This means children are supported by suitable individuals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers maintain a nurturing and friendly culture within the service. They have high expectations for the support children receive and share this vision with a committed staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff receive regular and effective supervision. Managers use well-established approaches to hold reflective discussions with staff when practice issues emerge. Managers receive clinical supervision, and staff receive reflective practice sessions from the house therapist. These sessions provide guidance and support on improving practice and identifying areas for professional development. Consequently, staff feel valued and listened to. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Budwood Limited 4 Leaders and managers provide staff with opportunities to learn and develop. Training and development opportunities support staff in delivering good-quality care to children. When training is out of date, staff are directed to online resources to complete required training immediately, and arrangements are made for face-to-face refresher sessions. This ensures staff skills are constantly improved to meet

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

children’s needs. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Budwood Limited 5

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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 Supported Accommodation (England) Regulations 2023 and the ‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including 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 supported accommodation undertaking that puts children first and prioritises their wellbeing and development.

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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 supported accommodation undertaking in a way that is consistent with the ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the undertaking’s statement of purpose (Regulation 4 (1)(2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This refers to managers having a consistent admissions processes that means only children ready for supported accommodation are admitted to the home. 30 June 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify the CIECSS and any relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation or child criminal exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child and the registered person considers that incident to be serious. (Regulation 27 (3)(a)(b)) 30 June 2025 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Budwood Limited 6

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, 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 Supported Accommodation (England) Regulations 2023.

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Information about this inspection

. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Budwood Limited 7

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider address: Malvern View, Saxon Business Park, Hanbury Rd, Stoke Prior, Bromsgrove B60 4AD

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Inspectors

Alphie Khumalo, Social Care Inspector Stephen Challis, Social Care Inspector Sharron Escott, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Budwood Limited 8 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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