Children's Home run by Care Perspectives Ltd in Sandwell

Inspection report for children’s home: 2765520 1 Registered provider: Care Perspectives 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 is a privately owned children’s home that provides care for up to three children with learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has been registered with Ofsted since 30 April 2024. A new manager has been in post since May 2025 and has submitted their application to register with Ofsted.

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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 requires improvement to be 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: 17 February 2025

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2765520 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/02/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2765520 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children were living in the home at the time of this inspection. They were both spoken to. One child said they feel safe and happy living in the home. This is in contrast to how they felt at the last inspection. Since the last inspection, no children have moved in or out.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment has improved. The decor and furnishings are bright and evoke warmth and homeliness. Children live in comfortable and cosy surroundings. However, there was a delay in decorating one child’s bedroom wall. This is despite staff purchasing wallpaper the child had chosen a month ago. Maintenance took action during the inspection to resolve this.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both children attend school. One child has started a new school after receiving individual tuition. They are now learning in a small group environment and have 100% attendance. Another child is making excellent progress given their starting point. They recently completed their end of school exams and did well. This child’s school is at a distance from the home, and staff have supported them to attend by driving them. This means the child is able to complete their exams in a familiar learning environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff form positive relationships with children. Children are at ease in their interactions with staff. One child is spending more time in the communal areas of the home. Although they still require encouragement, they will at times choose to do so.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are having positive experiences. Both children are looking forward to holidays abroad with staff. One child is going to Euro Disney. Both children are very excited for their holidays and have chosen the staff they wish to go with them. For one child, a holiday abroad is a new experience.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children experience an array of activities, such as youth clubs and Scouts. They enjoy these activities and form social relationships outside of the home. Both children have been nominated for awards by their placing authority to recognise their progress. One child has chosen the staff they would like to attend this with.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children’s health needs. One child has recently attended the dentist for the first time in a while. The child experiences anxiety; however, staff have helped them to overcome this. This has ensured that the child’s health needs are being met.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s relationships are not routinely promoted in the home. Staff do not encourage children to spend time together. One child has kicked the other child’s bedroom door on two occasions recently. The child made a complaint, which managers responded to appropriately. However, they did not attempt to restore the Inspection report for children’s home: 2765520 4 children’s relationship. This could lead to children isolating themselves, which could have a negative impact on their mental health.

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

Since the last inspection, leaders and managers have focused on upskilling staff. They have also reviewed the home’s safeguarding policies and procedures. Safeguarding incidents have reduced, and there has been no use of physical intervention.

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

There has been a significant reduction in children’s complaints and allegations against staff. Since the last inspection, there has been one allegation, and managers responded appropriately. They informed all relevant professionals, including the local authority designated officer.

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

Children rarely go missing from home. When children do leave the home, staff keep them in eyesight and support them to return home quickly.

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

Children receive good support from the company’s clinical team. Qualified psychologists provide children with therapy. Children are developing safer ways to process their emotions and feelings. One child has also recently started equine therapy. The clinical team also provides advice and guidance to staff about their practice. Staff are implementing this, although it is not yet embedded.

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

Staff help children to process loss. They have helped one child to process their grief after the loss of a close family member. Staff created a memorial area in the home’s garden and held a special ceremony. The child said this has helped them a lot to deal with their feelings.

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

Staff are more child focused when responding to children’s behaviour. However, some staff do not always respond with empathy and understanding. One member of staff used the loss of time with their family as a way to manage one child’s behaviour. This is not in line with the home’s model of care. Even so, staff practice is an improving picture.

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good

Since the last inspection, the manager has left, and a new manager has joined. The new manager has been in post for four weeks. A new responsible individual has also recently joined the company.

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good

The staff team has experienced some instability. Some staff have left, although some have rejoined since the changes in the management of the home.

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good

Leaders have completed an investigation into concerns about the previous manager’s practice. This includes an allegation made by a child. They have taken appropriate Inspection report for children’s home: 2765520 5 action to ensure that children are safe. Leaders liaised with appropriate professionals during the investigation process, but they did not inform the local authority designated officer of the outcome. Leaders took action during the inspection to do so and to consider next steps.

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good

Record-keeping practice in the home varies. Some records contain inaccuracies and language that could be stigmatising. This does not support children’s understanding of their journey living in the home.

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good

Staff receive training that supports their understanding of children’s needs. They have completed refresher training in the home’s model of care and safeguarding. Staff have started to receive regular and meaningful supervision. This is encouraging them to reflect on their practice.

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good

Leaders have completed learning and reflection around their roles and responsibilities. They are implementing measures to strengthen the monitoring and oversight of the home. The manager is starting to put in place new monitoring systems. There is a home development plan in place. Inspection report for children’s home: 2765520 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 positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

understand and communicate to children that bullying is unacceptable;

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Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(b)(c) (2)(a)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(xii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that managers and staff routinely promote relationships between children who live in the home. 12 September Inspection report for children’s home: 2765520 7 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;

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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 have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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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;

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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)(c)(g)(h)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all staff understand how to respond to and meet children’s needs in line with the home’s statement of purpose. They should ensure that they take necessary action to improve staff practice to ensure children receive consistent care.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that monitoring systems quality assure children’s records.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders must also ensure that they liaise with the relevant professionals, such as the local authority designated officer, once disciplinary action completes to consider next steps, if any. 12 September Inspection report for children’s home: 2765520 8

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the language used in children’s records is not oppressive or stigmatising to children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: 2765520 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Care Perspectives Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 47 Morris Road, Leicester LE2 6BR

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Inspector

Sarah Berry, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2765520 10 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 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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