Children's Home run by Support and Sustain Care Ltd in Wolverhampton

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2603750 1 Registered provider: Support and Sustain Care Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in July 2021 and is owned by a private company. It provides care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home, and they spoke with the inspector.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager is suitably qualified and experienced. They have applied to register with Ofsted and are currently awaiting the outcome of their fit-person interview to determine their suitability for registration.

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Inspection dates: 10 and 11 September 2025

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection dates: 10 and 11 September 2025

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2603750 2

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Findings from the inspection

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

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Findings from the inspection

Safeguarding arrangements in the home are ineffective. Staff and managers do not take timely or appropriate action to protect one child, who is at significant risk of self-harm. Supervision and monitoring arrangements at night are inconsistent and fail to ensure the child’s safety, resulting in a continued risk of harm.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers do not consistently share complete and accurate information with relevant professionals following concerns about harm to children. This lack of transparency undermines independent scrutiny, and allegations are not fully investigated in line with safeguarding procedures. Information shared with the local authority designated officer is, at times, inaccurate. Weak managerial oversight of safeguarding concerns hinders effective learning and increases the risk of ongoing harm to the child.

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Findings from the inspection

Behaviour management practices in the home are inconsistent and contribute to an increased risk of harm to the child. Insufficient staffing levels regularly lead to the use of external agency staff to fill vacancies. However, agency staff do not receive the same level of training as permanent staff, particularly in relation to de-escalation techniques and physical intervention. These inconsistencies result in varied approaches to behaviour management and have led to incidents that have caused harm. Incidents of unwanted behaviour are becoming less frequent and de- escalating more swiftly.

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Findings from the inspection

Managerial oversight of the quality of care provided to the child is insufficient. Quality assurance processes related to safeguarding are ineffective, and managers fail to notify safeguarding partners of all allegations and complaints raised. This lack of action and ineffective oversight allows unsafe practices to go unnoticed, placing the child at ongoing risk of harm.

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Findings from the inspection

The home provides a welcoming and homely environment that reflects the child’s identity and interests. Despite serious shortfalls in the quality of care, the child has positive relationships with some staff.

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Findings from the inspection

The child is supported to participate in a wide range of positive community activities, including swimming, cinema visits, and trips to the arcade. These opportunities promote the child’s independence and enjoyment. Family time is actively supported, helping to strengthen the child’s sense of identity.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers advocate to ensure that children access suitable education provision. While education is being sought, staff provide learning opportunities in the home and the community. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2603750 3 While the child has made some progress, their experiences have been affected by managers’ inconsistent responses when they report safeguarding concerns. Leaders and managers and leaders have addressed staffing levels to ensure that only permanent staff are used to support children. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2603750 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/05/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 22/07/2024 Full Good 24/05/2023 Full Good 04/10/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2603750 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

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

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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered person ensuring that prompt and effective action is taken when children report being harmed by staff during incidents. The manager must also ensure that accurate information is provided to the local authority designated officer and the social worker so that the outcome of any investigation is not compromised. 2 November 2025

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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 2 November 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2603750 6 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 have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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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

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

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)(c)(d)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered person ensuring that: a consistent approach to behaviour management is implemented by both permanent and agency staff; there are sufficient staff in place to provide consistent care for the child, particularly during routines at night; and monitoring and review systems provide effective oversight of the quality of care and the safety arrangements in place for children.

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Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered person ensuring that, when children raise concerns, their views are actively sought, they are provided the opportunity to share their concerns with someone independent of the home, such as 2 November 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2603750 7 their social worker, and they receive feedback about the outcome of the concerns they have raised.

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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 an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40 (4)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered person ensuring that the regulator, along with other relevant professionals, is notified without delay when an allegation of abuse is made against a person working in the home. 2 November 2025

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2603750 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Support and Sustain Care Ltd

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Inspector

Nateisha Cardoza-Evans, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2603750 9 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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