Children's Home run by Roundhouse Care in Staffordshire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC404983 1 SC404983 Registered provider: Roundhouse 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 privately owned home is registered to provide care for up to two children who may experience social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager in post since 18 December 2024. An interim manager was appointed on 1 April 2025. However, they have not applied to register with Ofsted. A permanent manager has now been appointed and is due to begin in post in August 2025.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children were living in the home at the time of the inspection. Both children present during the visit were happy to take part in the inspection.

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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 requires improvement to be 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 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.

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good

Date of last inspection: 23 October 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: SC404983 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/10/2024 Full Good 28/06/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 10/10/2022 Full Good 29/03/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC404983 3

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improvement to be good

Concerns have been identified regarding the leadership and management of the home, including the sufficiency, skills and experience of the staff team. This lack of stability has adversely affected children’s day-to-day experiences. One child said it had been hard with a high number of staff leaving. Nevertheless, despite these concerns, children do have some positive experiences and are making some progress.

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, one child has moved out of the home, and another has moved in under emergency circumstances. Both moves were well planned and managed effectively. Leaders and managers worked collaboratively with relevant professionals to ensure positive experiences for the children involved.

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improvement to be good

Staff provide good support to help children remain healthy. Children are registered with local health services and attend both routine and ad-hoc medical appointments. For children with specific or complex health needs, staff make timely referrals to specialist services to ensure they receive the most appropriate support.

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improvement to be good

Children are helped to maintain and develop positive relationships with their families. One child regularly sees several family members, and this is encouraged and facilitated by staff. For a child who has recently moved into the home, staff are working closely with professionals to support arrangements for them to see their family. This has resulted in a visit being scheduled.

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improvement to be good

Children’s progress in education is mixed. One child attends school regularly and is making positive progress. However, another child has experienced difficulties that have impacted on their academic progress. Leaders and managers have demonstrated strong advocacy on the child’s behalf, and as a result, a search for a more suitable education setting is now underway.

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improvement to be good

Despite a high turnover of staff, children are able to identify adults they trust. Staff who have remained in the home for a longer period have developed positive and meaningful relationships with the children, providing them with some emotional security and consistency.

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improvement to be good

Risks to children are not always identified or managed effectively. Concerns relating to a child who has repeatedly expressed thoughts of serious self-harm have not been fully assessed or addressed by managers. Immediate safeguarding measures were Inspection report for children’s home: SC404983 4 not implemented, and the child’s plan lacks sufficient guidance to support staff in managing these risks effectively and safely.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers have not identified or addressed health and safety concerns within the home effectively. Combustible materials were stored in close proximity to the boiler, which is contrary to the home’s fire safety procedures and increases the risk of fire. Additionally, a child’s bedroom is located directly above this area, further heightening the potential risk to both children and staff.

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improvement to be good

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

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improvement to be good

There has been a consistent use of consequences in response to children’s behaviour. However, these are often repetitive and lack proportionality, with frequent removal of devices for behaviours that may not warrant such consequences. This approach appears punitive rather than restorative, with limited evidence of the child’s voice or opportunities for reflection. One child commented, ‘I don’t think the use of consequences are always fair or work for me. I don’t feel I learn anything from them.’

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, there has been one safeguarding incident relating to two children living in the home. While appropriate action appears to have been taken at the time, the current manager was unable to provide documentary evidence to support this. This is because the incident was managed by a previous manager and relevant records are no longer accessible. As a result, systems for storing and retrieving important safeguarding documentation are not sufficiently robust.

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improvement to be good

Children have not been reported missing from home since the last inspection. However, there has been an increase in unauthorised absences for one child. On each occasion, staff have taken proactive steps to locate the child, including searching known areas and maintaining contact. This approach has ensured the child’s safe return without the need to involve the police. Staff demonstrate a good understanding of missing-from-home protocols and how to keep children safe in such circumstances.

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improvement to be good

Recruitment practice has improved since the last inspection. New staff now undergo appropriate checks to ensure they are safe and suitable to work with children.

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good

The absence of a permanent registered manager has unsettled the staff team and led to inconsistent leadership. Although recruitment efforts were ongoing, the interim manager has not applied for registration in line with regulatory requirements. The Inspection report for children’s home: SC404983 5 interim manager has though brought some stability, restoring staff’s confidence and improving care planning and advocacy for children.

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good

Leaders and managers do not have effective oversight of the home. While some monitoring systems are in place, they are not consistently used to evaluate the quality of care provided to children. Incidents are not routinely reviewed or evaluated by the manager, limiting their ability to identify shortfalls and drive improvements in practice.

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good

Staffing arrangements are not always effective. A considerable number of staff have left since the last inspection, leading to a high reliance on agency staff and staff from other homes. These staff are not always familiar with the children. This has disrupted continuity of care and, at times, left the home without sufficient staff with the appropriate skills, experience or qualifications to meet children’s individual needs. This has also led to permanent staff facing increased pressure, and children’s day-to- day experiences have been negatively affected.

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good

There are significant gaps in staff training. Essential courses relevant to meeting children’s needs have not been completed, and some staff have not refreshed their mandatory training for a considerable period. Although the manager has identified these training needs, delays in completion mean staff are working with children without sufficient knowledge and skills. This has the potential to impact on the effectiveness of care and how well children’s needs are met.

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good

Despite ongoing staffing challenges, staff acknowledge the positive impact of the interim manager. They describe feeling better supported, note improvements in the home’s environment and recognise a renewed focus on prioritising children’s needs. This has contributed to a more optimistic and child-centred culture within the home.

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good

The interim manager has strengthened partnerships with external professionals. Professionals are positive about their experience working with the staff and the progress and experiences of children, highlighting staff’s understanding of children’s needs and their strong advocacy when required. Inspection report for children’s home: SC404983 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

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the manager ensuring that immediate safety measures are implemented when a child expresses thoughts or intentions of causing harm to themselves. 4 September

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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

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))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered person ensuring that any risks posed to children are assessed and kept under review. 4 September

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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— 4 September Inspection report for children’s home: SC404983 7 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))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the manager ensuring that any combustible items are stored in line with the home’s fire risk assessment.

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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

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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

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))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the manager ensuring that systems are in place to promote learning and reflection following incidents with children. In addition, to have effective monitoring systems to review the quality of care provided to children. 4 September

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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

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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 the home has sufficient staff to provide care for 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)(d)(e)) 4 September Inspection report for children’s home: SC404983 8 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

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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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager should ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs in appropriate timescales. 4 September

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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; and

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager should ensure that any consequences given to children are reasonable and proportionate and ensure that children are given the opportunity to reflect and learn from their actions. 4 September Inspection report for children’s home: SC404983 9

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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: SC404983 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Roundhouse Care Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Carl Wilton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC404983 11 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 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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