Children's Home run by Warwickshire County Council in Warwickshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2785006 1 Registered provider: Warwickshire County Council

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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 by a local authority and opened in May 2024. The home offers care for up to two children with emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2024 and is appropriately qualified. There was one child living at the home at the time of this inspection, and they were given the opportunity to speak with the inspector.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2785006 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/08/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2785006 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home. One child has moved out of the home and no children have moved into the home since the last inspection. Children receive consistent and well-planned care that has helped them to feel valued and secure. As a result, children make good progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff working at the home invest time and care in building a trusting and supportive relationship with children. For one child, who was initially resistant to this, staff have been patient and consistent. As a result, they have created a safe and reassuring environment where the child has been able to begin to form attachments and has increasingly been able to participate in daily activities. This progress reflects the staff’s commitment to the child’s emotional well-being and development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff and managers are committed to supporting children’s individual educational needs. They seek children’s views about education and share these with the wider professional network to ensure that their views are heard. Because of this, a child who has not been in education for a prolonged period has now been attending college, which is a significant achievement given their starting point.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from a wide range of opportunities to engage in activities that support their personal development and enjoyment. This includes spending time with friends. One child has, at times, asked a friend to join them on an activity with staff. This reflects the value and trust they hold in relationships with adults working at the home and has supported them with their social development. Children are given opportunities to make positive memories, for example, one member of staff arranged to take a child for a driving experience, knowing that this would be special for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff and leaders have a strong focus on developing children’s independence in a way that is tailored to their individual needs and abilities. Through guidance and encouragement, children are supported to build on life skills such as budgeting and preparing simple meals. This approach empowers children to believe in their own abilities and prepares them for greater independence in the future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

While the home has successfully created a warm and nurturing environment where children feel safe and valued, the use of door alarms in some areas has not been subject to review. As a result, there is a risk that their use may detract from the otherwise positive and homely atmosphere and may not be in line with children’s individual needs. Inspection report for children’s home: 2785006 4

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

Staff respond to children’s behaviour in a positive and encouraging way, using praise and recognition to help children understand and build on what they are doing well. This helps to create a nurturing environment where children feel motivated to engage positively.

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

When children’s whereabouts are not known, staff take swift action to locate them. Managers ensure that clear plans are in place to support staff in locating children. Staff actively search the local area, contacting known friends and their families and working closely with the relevant professionals. These efforts reflect a strong commitment to children’s safety and well-being. On the child’s return, staff speak with them in a calm, non-judgemental and nurturing manner, allowing the child to feel supported while also exploring any underlying issues. This approach helps to build trust and reduce the likelihood of repeat episodes.

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

Staff use education as a key tool to help children understand and reflect on their behaviour. Through planned and informal discussions, and personalised learning opportunities, children are encouraged to explore the impact of their actions and develop healthier, and in some instances, improved coping strategies. This helps children to build insight, take responsibility and make meaningful progress in managing their behaviour over time. However, there has not yet been a robust enough approach to address one child’s smoking habits and the wider impact that this may have on their health and well-being. This is an area for improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is dual-registered and so manages another home within the same organisation. He is supported by an experienced deputy manager and responsible individual; together, they create a strong leadership team. Managers are highly regarded by staff and professionals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Monitoring systems are effective. There are regular internal audits that are well documented and support managers to ensure that they are compliant with regulation and promote improvement across the service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home benefits from a full and consistent staff team, which significantly limits the number of unfamiliar staff working with children. This consistency helps build meaningful, trusting relationships and contributes to a sense of security for children. Staff speak positively about their roles and express that they enjoy coming to work.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular, purposeful supervision that provides them with space to reflect on their practice, raise concerns and discuss professional development. These sessions are described by staff as supportive and constructive. Regular team meetings are held, providing further opportunities for open discussion and promoting consistency in care approaches. Inspection report for children’s home: 2785006 5 There is a strong training and development offer in place, ensuring that staff are well equipped to meet the complex needs of children. Additional training is delivered in response to emerging themes in care practice. This supports a confident and skilled workforce. Inspection report for children’s home: 2785006 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 health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that proactive steps are taken to address the risks associated when children smoke or use e-cigarettes. 29 December

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that any modifications to the environment of the home are only made where this is intended to safeguard the child’s welfare. All decisions should be informed by a rigorous assessment of that child’s needs, be properly recorded and kept under regular review. This specifically relates to the use of door alarms. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.10)

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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: 2785006 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Warwickshire County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Warwickshire County Council, Shire Hall, Warwick CV34 4RL

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Inspector

Chrisoula Contoyianni, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2785006 8 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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