Children's Home run by Elmhirst Care LTD in Barnsley

Inspection report for children’s home: 2816417 1 Registered provider: Elmhirst 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 owned and operated by a private provider. It was registered with Ofsted in April 2025. It offers care for up to three children, who may experience emotional and social difficulties. This is the first inspection of the home since registration.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager holds the required qualification and registered with Ofsted when the home opened.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home, and they were spoken with during the visit.

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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: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2816417 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child who is currently living in the home is making good progress in different aspects of their development. For example, they are benefiting from improved sleep patterns and better personal care routines, and they are developing trusted relationships with staff. Changes in these key areas are having a positive impact on the child’s day-to-day experience.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When the child has challenges handling their emotions, staff work with relevant healthcare professionals to identify the reasons behind this and ways to support the child most effectively. Assessments of need are done slowly and thoroughly to make sure that any conclusions drawn are the most appropriate. Primary healthcare needs are also met to promote the general well-being of the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s move into the home was well planned. Staff had the right information to help them to understand and meet the child’s needs. The child’s room is decorated to reflect their interests and preferences. This helps the child to develop a sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is an abundance of toys and games that the child enjoys playing with. Staff have started a gardening project so that the child can learn about the food they eat and how it grows. The child is enthusiastic about this.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When the child’s schooling is disrupted, managers collaborate with education workers to formulate a pathway for the child to return to school. In the meantime, staff provide informal learning opportunities using a combination of educational resources and community visits and activities. This provides structure to the child’s days and keeps them interested in new things.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers take account of the child’s vulnerabilities and ensure that new children do not move in unless the impact on the children living in the home can be managed. Good- quality key-work sessions provide opportunities to gather the child’s views on this and other topics, as well as educating the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The majority of records are suitably detailed, but a small number do not make it clear who has written them and when. Additionally, when plans are updated, it is not always obvious what changes have been made; highlighting these changes would make them clearer.

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

Staff are consistent in their understanding of the child’s risks and vulnerabilities. Risk assessments are relevant and contain the information that staff need to respond appropriately. Inspection report for children’s home: 2816417 3 There have been no incidents of the child going missing from home, harming themselves, or the use of police to manage behaviours in the home. This is positive and shows that the plans to support the child are effective.

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

The child feels safe to share thoughts, feelings and worries with staff. This is a reflection of their growing trust in adults and seeing them as reliable and responsive.

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

There have been two allegations since the home opened. The management response has been thorough, which provides reassurance that the child’s concerns are taken seriously, while also protecting the staff concerned.

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

Staff are quick to respond during incidents, although sometimes in their haste have not strictly followed plans to manage behaviours. It is also noted that a recommended behaviour management approach from some multi-agency plans is not implemented. This reduces opportunities to use preferred methods and promote consistency.

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

While staff are suitably trained in behaviour management, their lack of experience has resulted in them not always responding effectively to children when they have presented challenges. The manager has identified this and addressed it through both group and individual sessions, which has been effective in improving staff practice. Despite this, there is further work needed to ensure that staff consistently respond to manage behaviours.

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

Some staff started working at this home, despite being recruited by a different registered provider. Although there has been no noted impact on children, managers failed to ensure that there was a record of how they had satisfied themselves that suitable safer recruitment checks had been undertaken and were in date.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers focus on building on the positive achievements made since the home opened. They are modest in their aspirations, wanting to consolidate strengths before further development. Managers have arranged for staff to complete added bespoke training that is relevant to the child’s emerging specific needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers are held in high regard by the staff. They say they benefit from the managers’ guidance and support. One staff member said: ‘Managers are amazing, more than dedicated, and have created a nurturing, loving home.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from a thorough induction, a training programme, regular team meetings and staff supervision. This means they have appropriate learning opportunities and time for professional discussion and reflection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager submits safeguarding notifications to Ofsted. However, there have been incidents which inspectors considered serious enough to notify, but which the Inspection report for children’s home: 2816417 4 manager did not. This reduces the regulator’s ability to monitor the provider’s response during significant events.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is effective collaboration with social care professionals. The manager has responded swiftly to requests for more information and increased communication. The manager is responsive to the wider team around the child, and professionals speak positively about her.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have established a child-focused culture, where the child’s wishes are central to their care and they have influence over decisions taken. This helps the child to understand that their views are important and that staff listen to what is important to them. Inspection report for children’s home: 2816417 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 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

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person should ensure that staff consistently follow plans which are intended to promote children’s safety. 31 August 2025

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person should ensure that all significant events that may reasonably be deemed serious in nature are notified to the regulator. 31 August 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that case records are kept up to date and signed and dated by the author of each entry. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3)  The registered person should maintain good employment practice. They must ensure that recruitment of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1) Inspection report for children’s home: 2816417 6

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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: 2816417 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Elmhirst Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Andrew Wright & Company, 10 Cliff Parade, Wakefield WF1 2TA

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Inspector

Rachel Ruth, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2816417 8 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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