Children's Home run by Aston Children’s Care Ltd in Birmingham

Inspection report for children’s home: SC453726 1 SC453726 Registered provider: Aston Children’s Care Ltd Full inspection 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 with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

A new manager is in post, who registered with Ofsted in June 2025 and holds a level 5 qualification in leadership and management.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children have moved in and two children have moved out during the inspection period.

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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: SC453726 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/07/2024 Full Good 18/07/2023 Full Good 30/05/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/11/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: SC453726 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from living in a home that is warm and welcoming. Improvements made since the last inspection create a homely atmosphere. Children’s achievements are celebrated, promoting a sense of pride and belonging. Bedrooms are personalised to reflect children’s individual interests. Staff provide children with opportunities to take on age-appropriate responsibilities, such as caring for the pet fish.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of this inspection, three children were living in the home and are making progress from their starting points. Two children were spoken with, and both say they enjoy living in the home and feel supported by the staff who care for them. Children feel safe and are confident in expressing their views. Their opinions are actively sought through regular discussions with staff. They receive feedback about their requests to ensure they feel heard, and their views are valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to maintain positive relationships. This practice supports children’s identity and provides opportunities for them to enjoy time with people who are important to them. They enjoy participating in community-based activities such as Brownies and gymnastics. This helps them build peer relationships that develop their social skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff demonstrate a strong understanding of children’s educational needs. Where children are not in formal education, staff provide structured home learning activities tailored to individuals’ abilities and interests. When a child did not attend education for a period, staff worked effectively with professionals to support the child’s reintegration. This demonstrates the staff’s commitment to promoting educational engagement and achievement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager explores children’s needs and considers clinical guidance when making decisions about a child moving into the home. Staff ensure that children are welcomed. They receive an innovative children’s guide about the home that is narrated by a mascot.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child’s move from the home was unplanned due to escalating local risks. The other child benefited from a planned move to live with foster carers. Both moves were sensitively handled, with staff ensuring positive endings. For example, one child’s departure was marked by a celebration involving staff and peers, promoting a sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are understood and supported by staff. They attend routine health appointments and are in good health. Leaders make appropriate referrals to specialist services when needed, and children benefit from regular sessions with therapists, which support their emotional well-being. Inspection report for children’s home: SC453726 4

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

Staff understand children’s needs and associated risks. They are supported by detailed risk management plans that provide clear guidance and promote therapeutic approaches to managing behaviour.

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

Allegations are taken seriously and investigated appropriately. However, there have been delays in sharing concerns, including late reporting to the manager, delayed contact with the local authority designated officer, and on one occasion, Ofsted was not informed. These shortfalls have been acknowledged by the current manager, who has taken steps to improve practice through additional staff training and upskilling.

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

Children know how to make complaints. Leaders and managers manage these swiftly and effectively, and they provide child-focused responses to children. When concerns have been raised by others, the manager has demonstrated strong multi-agency working to resolve issues raised.

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

Peer conflicts have occurred, including one incident where a child was harmed by another. Staff work to rebuild relationships and promote positive interactions. However, on one occasion, records were inconsistent, and the manager did not identify this. As a result, the concern was not fully explored.

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

There have been times when children have been held. These interventions are used appropriately and only as a last resort in line with individual children’s care plans. Following any incidents, both children and staff are spoken to, with reflective practice used to inform and improve future responses. Since the last inspection, the number of incidents has decreased.

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

There has been a reduction of missing-from-home incidents. When children go missing from home, there is an effective and collaborative approach to ensure children return home safe.

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

Safer recruitment procedures are firmly in place and followed, ensuring that only suitably vetted individuals are employed to work in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Following the last inspection, the previous manager left. The deputy manager assumed the role and registered with Ofsted. She is an experienced and committed leader who is focused on empowering the staff team. She is developing practices to ensure children receive higher standards of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children benefit from been cared for by a stable, qualified and experienced staff team. This has been particularly effective for two children, who have lived in the home for several years. Staff demonstrate a warm and playful approach to caring for children, fostering positive relationships and emotional security. Staff members say they feel well Inspection report for children’s home: SC453726 5 supported by leaders and are encouraged to develop both in their roles and in their broader professional growth.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular and effective supervision from leaders and managers who are suitably trained. The introduction of personal development plans supports staff to reflect on their practice, identify areas for improvement and develop their skills. Staff attend training to support them to meet the individual needs of children who live in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have strengthened oversight and monitoring arrangements since the last inspection. These systems are now effective in identifying and addressing areas for development. Enhanced monitoring by senior leaders further strengthens oversight and scrutiny. All requirements from the previous inspection have now been met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Communication with professionals is effective. There is strong partnership working and a shared commitment to promoting positive outcomes for children. However, the manager does not consistently ensure that staff can access children’s current plans. In instances where placing authorities fail to take effective action, the manager has not escalated through the appropriate channels to ensure children’s plans are prioritised and addressed without delay. Inspection report for children’s home: SC453726 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

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

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure safeguarding procedures are followed consistently and in a timely manner to ensure children’s safety and well-being are prioritised, particularly when allegations are made. In addition, they must ensure that Ofsted and local designated officers are notified without delay. 30 November 2025

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that where the placing authority or another relevant person does not provide the input and services needed to meet a child’s needs during their time in the home, the home must challenge them to meet the child’s needs. In particular, the registered person should ensure that escalation occurs when responses from external professionals are delayed, when care records are not obtained following reviews, or when there are delays in care planning for children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 12, paragraph 2.8) Inspection report for children’s home: SC453726 7

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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: SC453726 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Aston Children’s Care Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 147 Stamford Hill, London N16 5LG

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Manasapriya Manivannan

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Inspector

Joanne Humphreys, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC453726 9 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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