Children's Home run by Meadows Care Limited in Birmingham

Inspection report for children’s home: 1228090 1 Registered provider: Meadows 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 home is registered to provide care for up to four children with complex emotional and social needs due to past trauma.

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Information about this children’s home

The previous manager left their position in April 2025. A new manager has been appointed but had not started in their role at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered provider has recently appointed a new responsible individual, and Ofsted is currently checking this person has the relevant capacity, experience and skills to carry out the role.

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Information about this children’s home

This inspection was brought forward in order to address specific concerns received by 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 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: 5 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: 1228090 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/11/2024 Full Good 26/07/2023 Full Good 12/12/2022 Full Good 09/11/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1228090 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of this inspection, two children were living at the home. Since the last inspection, one child had moved into the home and one child had moved out. Children are happy living at the home. One child said, ‘I love it here,’ and a professional said, ‘I feel that this one is the right fit for my child.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide practical support and resources to help children engage in positive routines, including their education. When full-time education is not in place, staff support children to engage in tuition and home learning. There is effective communication with education professionals to secure appropriate educational placements for children when needed. This collaborative working supports children to achieve their academic potential.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health and well-being are actively promoted through access to in-house clinical support. The organisation’s clinical team provides tailored input for children, and offers advice and supports reflective practice for staff. This helps guide staff in how to best to support children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Leaders and managers engage with the wider system effectively to encourage the best outcomes for children. When children present with more complex behaviours, managers work with the local authority to agree plans to keep children safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff and managers make thoughtful and personalised efforts to meet children’s cultural and religious needs. They provide practical support to enable them to attend their chosen place of worship. One professional said that staff have a good understanding of their child’s cultural needs and listen to them. This support has significantly contributed to the child’s sense of belonging and emotional well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote a wide range of opportunities for children to have fun and participate in new experiences. This helps children pursue their hobbies and interests. One child is heavily involved in extra-curricular activities, and this has enabled them to pursue their talents, build confidence and supports their social development. It has also been a protective factor in reducing the child’s vulnerability to exploitation.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The quality of the physical environment of the home is mixed. While some communal areas are well decorated, welcoming and provide a homely feel, other parts require improvement in cleanliness, hygiene and maintenance. Overall, this detracts from how welcoming the home environment is for children.

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

Children say that they feel safe living at the home and have adults whom they can speak to if they have worries or are upset. Inspection report for children’s home: 1228090 4 Children are supported by staff to raise concerns or make complaints and feel confident that they will be listened to. When complaints are made, managers respond promptly and appropriately, with clear records kept. Safeguarding procedures are followed, and staff have a good understanding of what to do in these instances. Managers liaise with safeguarding partners, which reflects a transparent response and supports leaders’ ability to keep children safe from harm.

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

Incidents of children’s whereabouts not being known have been rare. When these have occurred, staff follow children and make extensive searches of the local area. Once children have returned home, staff are warm and supportive towards them. This helps to reduce the likelihood of future occurrences.

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

There have been occasions when some children’s behaviour has increased the risk presented to them. On some of these occasions, staff have used restraint as a last resort to keep children safe. Managers generally have good oversight of these incidents and consider the practice of staff to ensure that this remains safe, appropriate and in the best interest of children. However, there has been one occasion when a child sustained an injury during the use of restraint, and this was not followed up with the child. This is a missed opportunity for the child raise any concerns and for managers to understand how the injury occurred.

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

Staff have not consistently supervised children as outlined in their plans. This has at times resulted in them being exposed to risks that could have been prevented. This does not fully promote children’s safety or well-being. Managers have identified these occasions and take action to ensure they strengthen staff’s understanding.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager left their post in April 2025. The previous responsible individual has taken the position of interim manager while a permanent manager is recruited. She is supported by a suitably qualified and an experienced senior manager within the company. This has provided some strength to the management structure until the new manager commences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers respond well when issues and concerns have arisen, and they are committed to providing children with a high standard of care. There have been some occasions when staff responses have not aligned with the home’s ethos and expected professional boundaries. Managers have taken steps to address concerns through supervision, training and where necessary formal procedures. Effective responses to practice issues support leaders in driving forward the quality of care provided to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has experienced ongoing challenges in maintaining a stable and suitably qualified staff team. While action has been taken to minimise the impact that this has on children, it has at times put pressure on more experienced members of the team. Inspection report for children’s home: 1228090 5 Staff receive regular supervision. These opportunities provide staff with an opportunity to reflect on their practice and how this meets children’s needs. This support contributes to the development of the team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers follow safe recruitment practices, and this helps them assure themselves that there are safe adults working in the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 1228090 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 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

that staff 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

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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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. (Regulation 12 (1)(a)(iii)(v)(vii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff supervise children in line with their plans and that any concerns relating to restraint practice are clearly followed up. 11 August 2025

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1) (2)(c)) 11 August 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 1228090 7 In particular, ensure that the home is kept clean, safe and in a hygienic condition.

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(e)) 12 January 2026

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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: 1228090 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Meadows Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Egerton House, Wardle Road, Rochdale OL12 9EN

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Inspector

Chrisoula Contoyianni, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1228090 9 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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