Children's Home run by Roundhouse Care in Staffordshire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC478852 1 SC478852 Registered provider: Roundhouse Care Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private provider and provides care for up to three children with social and/or emotional difficulties and learning disabilities.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The previous manager left the setting on 18 December 2024. A new manager is in place and has applied to register with Ofsted.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Three children were living in the home at the time of the inspection. One child present during the visit was happy to take part in the inspection.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 21 January 2025

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC478852 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/01/2025 Full Good 24/10/2023 Full Good 07/02/2023 Full Good 15/09/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC478852 3

p.2

improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, one child has moved out of the home, and another has moved in under emergency circumstances. Leaders and managers did not gather sufficient information about this child. This meant they did not fully assess the risks or consider the impact on existing children. One child reported feeling ‘scared’ of the new child. The manager has since acknowledged that staff are unable to meet the child’s needs effectively, and plans are in place for them to move on. This poor planning has led to the experiences of children being affected.

p.3

improvement to be good

The physical environment is poorly maintained and does not provide children with a warm, homely space. Children’s bedrooms are untidy, and one child lacks appropriate furniture and window coverings to support their privacy. Delays in completing maintenance tasks have compromised the quality of the living environment and negatively impacted children’s day-to-day experiences. However, managers did begin to address these issues during the inspection.

p.3

improvement to be good

Despite these concerns, children do make progress in other areas of their lives. One child is doing well at school and making academic progress. When other children struggle to attend education, alternative methods of learning are put in place, including the use of tutors to support children to continue their learning.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff ensure children’s physical health needs are promoted. Children are registered with local health services and attend routine and ad hoc appointments as needed. When children have additional health needs, staff work with professionals to identify the most suitable support. Furthermore, children are supported with their emotional well-being. One child has weekly sessions with an appointed therapist and staff have made attempts to find appropriate support for another child.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children are encouraged to have positive time with their families. Staff take children to see their families and recognise the importance of children maintaining links with their families.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children can identify adults they trust. Staff who have worked in the home for a longer period have built positive and meaningful relationships with the children. One child said that their favourite staff members are the best thing about living in the home.

p.3

improvement to be good

Risks to children are not always identified or managed effectively. Concerns relating to physical aggression towards staff and incidents of peer-on-peer abuse have not been fully assessed or planned for by managers. This led to a serious incident involving all Inspection report for children’s home: SC478852 4 children, which required police intervention. Additionally, the manager failed to notify Ofsted of the incident. The lack of effective risk management has the potential to place children at risk of harm.

p.3

improvement to be good

Leaders and managers have not identified health and safety concerns effectively. The tumble dryer was located with combustible items and highly flammable liquids, and water damage was visible in the same area as the electricity consumer unit. This has potential to increase the risk of fire; however, no smoke detector was present. This has potential to place children and staff in danger. Leaders and managers addressed this issue during the visit.

p.4

improvement to be good

Use of restraint is rare. When it has been used with one child, it has been proportionate and used as a last resort to ensure the safety of children and staff. However, managers have not consistently ensured that children and staff are spoken to promptly following incidents. This limits opportunities for reflection and represents a missed opportunity to support learning and improve practice.

p.4

improvement to be good

There have been two allegations made by children since the last inspection. Leaders and managers have ensured children’s immediate safety and children have been spoken to by someone independent. Information is shared with relevant professionals and investigations are completed when necessary. However, on one occasion the manager failed to notify Ofsted of the allegation.

p.4

improvement to be good

There have been two occasions when one child has been missing from home. On both occasions, staff took positive steps to try and locate the child, conducting searches of known areas and working with police and family members where possible. This approach has ensured that the child was located and returned home safely. Additionally, staff have a good understanding of children’s missing-from-care protocols and know how to keep them safe.

p.4

improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, there have been improvements in the recruitment of staff. All staff working with children now receive appropriate checks before they can work in the home. This helps assure managers that only adults who are safe to work with children are employed.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers do not have effective oversight of the home. There are no robust monitoring systems in place to evaluate the quality of care provided to children. Additionally, systems for accessing information when the manager is not present are not in place. Furthermore, serious incidents are not consistently reviewed by the manager, which limits their ability to identify and address shortfalls in practice.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staffing arrangements are not always effective. A considerable number of staff have left since the last inspection, resulting in a high reliance on agency staff who do not know the children well. This has disrupted the continuity of care and means there are not Inspection report for children’s home: SC478852 5 always enough staff with the appropriate skills, experience or qualifications to meet children’s individual needs. As a result, children’s day-to-day experiences have been negatively affected.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff do not receive regular supervision or appraisal, and current supervision arrangements do not support their professional development effectively. Opportunities for reflection and learning are limited, and staff report feeling unsupported and unheard. As a result, morale is low, and the working environment does not promote a positive or cohesive team culture.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff training is not always kept up to date. Some staff had not refreshed their mandatory training courses for a significant period of time. A member of staff who has been working in the home for five weeks has not been provided with any of the home’s designated online training. Additionally, not all staff have completed courses relevant to the specific needs of children. Leaders and managers have not had effective oversight to monitor progress relating to staff learning. This has impacted on the quality of care children receive.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager does not consistently work effectively with external professionals. While one professional spoke positively about the progress and experiences of the child they are involved with, another expressed concerns about the quality of leadership and management and the effectiveness of partnership working. As a result, children do not receive well-coordinated care that meets their individual needs. Inspection report for children’s home: SC478852 6

p.5

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.6

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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that any risks posed to children are assessed and kept under review and that any risks relating to children moving into the home are assessed prior to them moving in. Part of this requirement was not met from the last inspection and has been restated. 7 August 2025

p.6

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.6

Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(d))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that any health and safety concerns are identified and rectified within appropriate timescales to ensure children’s safety. 7 August 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: SC478852 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—

p.6

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.7

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))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that systems are in place to promote learning and reflection following incidents with children and that managers have effective monitoring systems to review the quality of care provided to children. This requirement was not met from the last inspection and has been restated. 7 August 2025

p.7

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—

p.7

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.7

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager should ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs within appropriate timescales, and that staff have the skills to meet children’s individual needs. 7 August 2025

p.7

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—

p.7

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and 7 August 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: SC478852 8 promotes their welfare.

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.8

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child.

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that there are sufficient staff to care for children and that the staff team provides continuity of care to children living in the home.

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children.

p.8

Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

p.8

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)(ii))

p.8

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that any maintenance tasks or repairs to damage to the home are completed without delay and that children’s bedrooms are well maintained, have suitable furniture and are comfortable for children. This requirement was not met from the last inspection and has been restated. 14 August 2025

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the behaviour management policy”) which sets out— 7 August 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: SC478852 9 the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

p.8

Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

p.9

Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

p.9

Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

p.9

Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (1)(b) (3)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

p.9

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that that staff and children are spoken to following incidents of restraint within appropriate timescales.

p.9

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

p.9

Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

p.9

Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)) 7 August 2025

p.9

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: SC478852 10

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Roundhouse Care Limited

p.10

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: C/O Phil Bessant Limited, Agincourt House, 14 Clytha Park Road, Newport NP20 4PB

p.10

Inspector

Carl Wilton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC478852 11 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.

p.10

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.11

Inspector

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.11

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.11

Inspector

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

p.11