Children's Home run by United Children's Services Limited in Leicestershire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC489970 1 SC489970

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Registered provider: United Children’s Services Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private organisation. It provides care for up to four children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, four children were living at the home. The inspector observed all the children and spoke with two of them.

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Information about this children’s home

The inspector was aware during this inspection that serious child protection allegations were being investigated by the appropriate authorities. While Ofsted does not have the power to investigate allegations of this kind, actions taken by the setting in response to the allegations were considered (where appropriate) alongside other evidence available at the time of the inspection to inform the inspector’s judgements.

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Inspection date: 23 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 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC489970 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: SC489970 3

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Findings from the inspection

We identified the following 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

Staff did not take timely action following a child’s disclosure of a safeguarding concern. There was a delay when the information was shared, and the manager failed to notify all relevant agencies. The manager has reviewed actions taken and identified areas for improvement. However, emphasis was predominantly placed on enhancing children’s understanding of how to keep themselves safe rather than strengthening staff practice to ensure that children are safeguarded effectively.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager did not advocate for a child who lacked access to sufficient education. In the absence of appropriate education, staff did not provide the child with structure and routine. Staff did not actively help the child build new friendships, despite the child being far from home and unable to maintain existing ones. The absence of structure, routine and friendships had a noticeable effect on the child’s emotional well-being and behaviour. The manager became aware of circumstances in the local area that could have affected the child’s safety. The manager did not take steps to explore measures to keep the child safe.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager determined that staff could no longer safely meet a child’s needs. Before making this decision, the manager did not consult the home’s therapist to explore better support options for the child. While professionals worked to identify alternative provision, the manager arranged for the child to be moved to a caravan. The manager and staff did not take any steps to support the child in experiencing a positive move. Staff chose not to say goodbye to the child either in person or through another meaningful gesture.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager and staff met to reflect on whether there were lessons to be learned from the child leaving the home. The manager acknowledged their understanding of the child’s needs, compared to those of the children already living in the home, could have been better. However, staff reflections focused primarily on the child’s perceived shortcomings, rather than considering how their practice could have been improved. After the child moved to alternative provision, the manager received information indicating that the child had misused substances while living in the caravan during their time in the community. The manager spoke to staff who were caring for the child at the time; however, no robust investigation was carried out.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff do not demonstrate curiosity or understanding when speaking to children about behaviour. Staff imposed a consequence for a child’s behaviour that removed their opportunity to earn rewards for positive behaviour. Staff told another child they were tired of them when they spoke about their behaviour. The staff’s approach to helping children with their behaviour is corrective and consequence-driven rather than reflective and supportive. The manager has not recognised the staff’s behavioural approaches when reviewing the care provided to children. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC489970 4 The plans in place for staff to help children with their behaviour are not up to date. The plans lack the detail needed to guide staff when responding to children. The manager had agreed with one child that mealtimes and activities would be structured around their individual interests. However, a staff member was unaware

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Findings from the inspection

of this arrangement. As a result, the staff member formed a negative view of the child for not joining in at mealtimes. The manager has failed to recognise when a child has complained about the care they received and the support from professionals. Therefore, the child’s complaints were not acted on.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has not taken effective steps to ensure that children’s cultural identities are understood and reflected in the care provided. Therefore, staff do not demonstrate a sufficient understanding of children’s cultural needs. Staff have not developed plans to ensure that these needs are acknowledged and supported in the care they provide.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers have sourced therapeutic support for children. To access this support, children need to travel a considerable distance. For some children, this has created a barrier to accessing the support they need. Managers have not taken effective action to resolve this issue. This means that some children cannot access essential therapeutic support.

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Findings from the inspection

Before a child moved in, the manager explained that staff may offer physical comfort, such as handholding, during emotional distress. After the child moved into the home, the manager and staff felt they would not be able to offer the physical comfort the child requested. The child has said they feel upset and confused by the change of approach from the staff. Despite this, the manager has not taken steps to meet with the child and relevant professionals to explore how the child’s need for physical comfort can be safely and effectively supported by staff.

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Findings from the inspection

During the previous inspection, the manager was made aware that the visitors’ sign- in book did not record the purpose of each visit. Despite this, the issue remains unresolved.

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Findings from the inspection

Following a medication error in the home, the manager carried out a review and identified key lessons learned. As a result, staff have received additional training, and new procedures have been introduced. Positive practice around medication management is now well established and embedded into daily medication routines. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC489970 5

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/04/2025 Full Good 25/06/2024 Full Good 21/11/2023 Full Good 29/06/2022 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC489970 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 positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child’s respect and trust;

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Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have 2 November 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC489970 7 the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children;

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Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(viii)(ix)(b))

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Requirement Due date

 staff understand children’s behaviour and know how to help them;

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Requirement Due date

 any behaviour management strategies used focus on restorative measures, promote trust and reinforce positive behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

 staff understand children’s cultural needs and how to respond to them;

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Requirement Due date

 staff recognise when children are unhappy with their care and know how to respond.

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Requirement Due date

*The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home;

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Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority;

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Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(c)) 2 November 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC489970 8 In particular, ensure that:

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Requirement Due date

 plans to support children are individualised, identify how children’s needs will be met and reflect the child’s voice;

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Requirement Due date

staff are aware of plans to support children and provide consistent care;

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Requirement Due date

 staff have the knowledge and skills to implement developed plans for the care of children;

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Requirement Due date

 admission planning is carried out in collaboration with the child, and plans of care reflect the child’s views;

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Requirement Due date

 any review of plans is carried out in collaboration with the child, and changes made reflect the child’s needs and views;

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Requirement Due date

 children identified as requiring therapeutic support are able to access it;

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Requirement Due date

 staff have the knowledge and skills to provide children with meaningful endings when leaving the home.

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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

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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

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’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child; 2 November 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC489970 9 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)(c)(e)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

 care provided to children aligns with the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

 manager oversight identifies the impact of care provided to children, identifies learning and leads to improvement in care.

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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; 23 December Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC489970 10 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)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii))

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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.

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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

that each child has access to such dental, medical, nursing, psychiatric and psychological advice, treatment and other services as the child may require. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement has been restated. 23 December

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Requirement Due date

the privacy of children is appropriately protected;

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Requirement Due date

children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises; and

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Requirement Due date

any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home;

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Requirement Due date

is necessary and proportionate; 23 December Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC489970 11 is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and

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Requirement Due date

allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21 (a)(b)(c)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4. (Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the record of all visitors to the home and to the children includes the names of visitors and the reasons for the visit. 23 December

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC489970 12

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: United Children’s Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit J The Quays, Burton Waters, Lincoln LN1 2XG

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Inspector

Laura Copus, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC489970 13 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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Inspector

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