Children's home run by D & J Care Services-Residential Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2557141 1 Registered provider: D&J Care Services - Residential Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run home provides care for up to three children with learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered with Ofsted in July 2020. The manager was registered in June 2025.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, three children were living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 18 February 2025

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2557141 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/02/2025 Full Good 26/10/2023 Full Good 28/03/2023 Full Good 10/05/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2557141 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Skilled and compassionate staff deliver exceptionally high-quality, child-centred care. They create a nurturing environment where children make outstanding progress in all areas of their development. Strong leadership, effective communication and a commitment to continuous improvement ensure that children’s individual needs are met with sensitivity and professionalism.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children make exceptional progress in their social skills and independence. They receive high-quality care from stable and consistent staff. Parents feel staff help their children to thrive and settle well. One parent commented that the staff are ‘wonderful’ and that their child ‘adores them’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The registered manager is a strong advocate for meeting the children’s educational needs. All the children consistently attend their schools. The registered manager holds regular meetings with the virtual school and social workers to ensure that educational targets are ambitious and that transitions to new schools are carefully planned. Care plans incorporate these learning targets, supporting children to make exceptional progress, for example, in understanding numbers, counting, sitting and singing.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff are highly skilled in supporting children’s communication. They use picture boards and social stories exceptionally well, enabling children to express their wishes and feelings. Targeted support helps children develop their speech and language; some children are now beginning to speak, and their vocabulary is expanding. Staff know each child in depth, respond with sensitivity and anticipate their needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children benefit from a wide range of well-planned and exciting activities. Outings are communicated through social stories, helping children feel secure and prepared. Children enjoy holidays, visit activity parks and go swimming. The registered manager carefully selects sensory-appropriate experiences, such as trampoline sessions. These enriching opportunities promote children’s confidence, enjoyment and sense of adventure.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Parents are welcomed into the home and supported to spend meaningful time with their children. This helps children to maintain important family relationships. Staff include parents in care planning, ensuring children’s heritage and cultural needs are reflected and supported in their daily experiences. For example, children are supported to celebrate religious festivals. This helps children feel valued and understood and to maintain their identity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff keep detailed records that accurately reflect children’s daily lives and interests. They regularly update care plans and provide consistently positive experiences, offering attentive and meaningful support that helps children improve their health, for example by encouraging regular walks and eating more vegetables. Inspection report for children’s home: 2557141 4

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

Staff know the children exceptionally well, understand their vulnerabilities and anticipate their needs. Since the last inspection, no children have gone missing, and no physical restraint has been needed. Children receive sensitive care that supports their progress and reduces risk. Behaviour management plans are effective; children are listened to, supported to communicate and their positive behaviour is consistently rewarded.

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

Staff are highly skilled in supporting children’s communication. They use picture boards and social stories exceptionally well, enabling children to express their wishes and feelings. Targeted support helps children develop their speech and language; some children are now beginning to speak, and their vocabulary is expanding. This means children experience less frustration and are better able to express when something is wrong, which helps staff to keep them safe.

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

When children experience distress, information is appropriately shared with parents and external professionals. The registered manager thoroughly reviews each situation and provides reflective guidance to staff, helping them learn from their practice and develop strategies to better support children in the future. As a result, staff respond with greater confidence and consistency, helping children feel understood and reassured.

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

Medication is administered safely and with care. When needed, staff seek advice from health professionals to ensure the best outcomes for children. The registered manager is proactive in reviewing medication, ensuring children receive only what is necessary. Staff have supported one child to successfully reduce their medication, as part of a carefully monitored plan.

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

Staff help children attend dental appointments and understand the importance of caring for their teeth. The registered manager ensures each child has a health passport that clearly sets out their health needs. This means children’s health is closely monitored, and they are supported to develop lifelong healthy habits.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Since the last inspection in February 2025, leaders and managers have continued to provide exceptionally high-quality care for children. Children benefit from the nurturing environment created by committed and passionate staff and managers. The leadership team fosters an open culture, encouraging staff to continuously improve.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has a thorough understanding of the home, maintaining a strong child-focused approach. She develops the quality of care children receive, using feedback from children, their families, staff and professionals. Team meetings effectively communicate the high professional standards expected, promote learning opportunities and provide essential support to staff. Staff say they enjoy the team ethos and describe the team as working exceptionally well together. Inspection report for children’s home: 2557141 5 The registered manager collaborates closely with schools, social workers and parents to strengthen relationships. Managers provide information to the children’s networks through video diaries, regular messages and photos, helping children and families maintain a clear record of progress. This effective communication ensures children’s progress is celebrated and supported by all who care for them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff benefit from sessions with a clinical psychologist, deepening their understanding of the children’s needs. Managers are ambitious for staff to excel and use supervision and appraisals effectively to support their professional development. For example, managers plan to commission bespoke training for staff to deepen their understanding of children’s trauma experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff take great care to ensure the home is decorated to a high standard and personalised with pictures of the children. When repairs or maintenance are needed, they are carried out promptly to maintain this high-quality environment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

No requirements or recommendations were made at this inspection.

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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: 2557141 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: D&J Care Services - Residential Ltd

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Ellen Osei-Ansah

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Inspector

Naintara Khosla, His Majesty’s Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2557141 7 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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