Children's Home run by Children & Adolescents Placement Provisions Ltd in West Northamptonshire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2594233 1 Registered provider: Children & Adolescents Placement Provisions Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and provides care for up to four children. At the time of the inspection, one child was living at the home. Two children have moved from the home since the last inspection. Where possible, children were consulted as part of the inspection process.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspectors were aware during this inspection that a serious incident that occurred at the setting since the last inspection is under investigation by the appropriate authorities. While Ofsted does not have the power to investigate incidents of this kind, actions taken by the setting in response to the incident were considered (where appropriate) alongside other evidence available at the time of the inspection to inform inspectors’ judgements.

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Inspection date: 28 August 2025

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 28 August 2025

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspectors evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance inspection was carried Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2594233 2 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2594233 3

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Findings from the inspection

We identified the following serious and/or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection:

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have failed to adequately supervise children as set out in their care plans and risk assessments. This has resulted in a serious incident of a sexual nature. Leaders and managers have failed to implement learning from serious incidents. This has resulted in them being unable to improve practice and keep children safe.

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Findings from the inspection

The independent person who visits the home monthly does not set out in their report their views on whether children are effectively safeguarded or their well-being promoted. Leaders and managers do not recognise the need for this or how the statement could support their monitoring of the quality of care provided.

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Findings from the inspection

When allegations or practice concerns are raised, staff do not respond appropriately. Staff delayed reporting a serious allegation to the police. Leaders have failed to inform the local authority designated officer of all safeguarding practice concerns relating to staff. They have also failed to inform Ofsted of significant incidents relating to a child’s health.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers do not respond to complaints or concerns raised by children’s lead professionals or family members. This has resulted in the concerned party feeling unheard and worried for the child’s safety. This shows a lack of professional curiosity and full assessment of all information by staff.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff record-keeping is poor. There are gaps in records relating to medication administration processes and it is therefore not clear whether a child has taken their prescribed medication. Staff do not always record their conversations with children. When discussions or activities are recorded, they often lack detail. Staff do not ensure that appropriate return interviews are carried out with children when they return from time away from the home without permission. Staff do not record attempts made to arrange return home interviews with external professionals.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff build meaningful relationships with children. However, at times, they do not appropriately challenge children’s behaviour. For example, staff do not record if they discourage a child from using a vape. Staff have failed to ensure that children understand when CCTV devices in the home are in use.

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Findings from the inspection

Management oversight of the home has not been effective. There is confusion between leaders and managers about who has daily oversight of the home. This has resulted in there being a lack of accountability. Staff do not receive practice-related discussions to reflect on their practice or raise concerns. Leaders and managers also fail to ensure that appropriate checks are completed to ensure staff are safe to work in the home. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2594233 4 Leaders and managers do not ensure that the home is in a good state of repair. One child’s bedroom door is unsafe. The door is splintered and it does not shut properly. The shower screen in the child’s bathroom is also broken. Damage also remains from children who previously lived at the home. For example, the fridge has numerous dents in it. This does not create a homely environment.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and the manager were supportive of the assurance inspection. They were able to demonstrate that the care plan and risk assessment are being adhered to for the child currently in their care. Although assurances were given regarding actions they plan to take, these plans were not clear or time specific.

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Findings from the inspection

None of the six requirements or three recommendations have been met since the last inspection. These have been restated, four as compliance notices. As a result of this inspection, Ofsted issued a restriction of accommodation notice, effective from 29 August 2025. This prevents any children from moving into the home.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/06/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/05/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 03/05/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 05/07/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2594233 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 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

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 work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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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

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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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)(b)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to the registered person ensuring that there are robust systems in place to review the quality of care received by children and that this is used to make continuous improvements. It also relates to leaders and 31 October 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2594233 6 managers effectively liaising with key professionals and ensuring that any complaints are responded to appropriately. Leaders also need to fulfil their duty to assess the suitability of the responsible person.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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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;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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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

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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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;

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are located so that children are effectively safeguarded; 31 October 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2594233 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)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to the registered person ensuring that staff respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns and, where appropriate, using the whistle-blowing policy. It also relates to ensuring that all staff follow children’s care plans.

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Requirement Due date

It also relates to ensuring that all staff working in the home have undergone the appropriate schedule 2 checks. Leaders and managers also need to ensure that the home is safe for children to live in, primarily that fire doors are suitable and that children have a safe place to shower that is free from damage.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

*The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children;

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Requirement Due date

the child’s placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance;

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Requirement Due date

so far as reasonably practicable in the light of the child’s age and understanding, the child is informed in advance of the intention to do the monitoring or surveillance; and

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, that monitoring and surveillance are not in place without a clear and agreed rationale to safeguard children. It also relates to ensuring that this is no more intrusive than necessary and that children are informed of the need for it.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 31 October 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2594233 8 *The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. Regulation 33 (4)(b)

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this refers to the manager ensuring that all staff, including agency staff, receive supervision from a suitable person working at the home.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 31 October 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. (Regulation 23 (1)(2)(c)

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff keep clear records of medication given to children.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 31 October 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

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child —

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or 31 October 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2594233 9 there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

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Requirement Due date

must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to the registered person informing Ofsted of serious incidents, including the hospitalisation of children and allegations made against staff, including when staff are suspended.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit ("the independent person’s report") which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being. (Regulation 44 (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to the registered person ensuring that the independent visitor includes in the report their opinion of whether children are effectively safeguarded and their well-being promoted. 31 October 2025

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that when a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority provides an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2594233 10  The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff provide a nurturing environment that is welcoming, supportive and which provides appropriate boundaries for children in relation to their behaviour. Homes must also meet children’s basic day- to-day needs and physical necessities. Staff should seek to meet the child’s basic needs in the way that a good parent would, recognising that many children in residential care have experienced environments where these needs have not been consistently met – doing so is an important aspect of demonstrating that the staff care for the child and value them as an individual. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.7) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2594233 11

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Children & Adolescents Placement Provisions Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Barratt House, Office G3a, Kingsthorpe Road, Northampton NN2 6EZ

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Inspectors

Ellen Monk, Social Care Inspector Chris Haines, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2594233 12 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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