Children's home run by Headway Care Services Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2838079 1 Registered provider: Headway Care Services Ltd

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The privately owned home is registered to provide care for two children with social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home and the manager were registered with Ofsted in June 2025.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living at the home, who was spoken to by the inspector.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

p.1

good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2838079 2

p.1

improvement to be good

The child has experienced inconsistent responses to their care needs, which have not consistently aligned with the therapeutic parenting approach outlined in the home’s statement of purpose. On one occasion, the child reported feeling unfairly treated by a member of staff. As a result of this negative experience, and in their own words, the child subsequently harmed themselves. When the child shared the emotional impact of this incident, staff did not provide sufficient support to help the child understand their rights to challenge or make a complaint regarding the professional practice in question. This approach does not support children to feel validated or heard.

p.2

improvement to be good

Staff have supported and facilitated the child to maintain contact with important people in their life. However, a review of one significant safeguarding incident found that family members were not notified in a timely manner. This limits the support available to the child and reduces the ability of key individuals in the child’s support network to independently advocate on their behalf.

p.2

improvement to be good

Since the home was registered, one child has moved in following a well-planned transition. Effective planning ensured that the child was supported and kept informed at every stage of their move. This approach enabled positive relationships with staff to develop at the earliest opportunity.

p.2

improvement to be good

The child has made progress in their education and attends school daily. A weekly planner is created in line with the child’s wishes to support their participation in a variety of social activities. This has helped the child to develop a wide range of new interests and build confidence in accessing new experiences.

p.2

improvement to be good

The home environment is welcoming. The child has been involved in decorating the communal areas and has personalised their bedroom to reflect their individual interests. The child arrived with many items from their previous home that they were no longer using. Staff have worked closely with the child and their therapist to sensitively manage the storage of these belongings. As a result, the child has made progress in developing healthy strategies to manage their possessions.

p.2

improvement to be good

Guidance outlined in risk assessments has not been consistently followed by the staff team. As a result, the child has experienced insufficient supervision, which has compromised the consistent meeting of their safety needs. This has led to occasions where the child has had unsupervised access to the staff’s work mobile phone and to items within the home that could pose a risk of harm. Inspection report for children’s home: 2838079 3 On one occasion, the child’s movements were inappropriately restricted. Staff did not use sufficient de-escalation techniques to ensure that the least restrictive practice was applied. Professionals within the wider network were not informed of the incident in a timely manner. The child experienced a significant delay before being spoken to about what had occurred. When the child was eventually spoken to, they disclosed alleged physical harm. The delay in engaging with the child may have

p.2

improvement to be good

contributed to a delay in them feeling able to share their experience and in appropriate action being taken to meet their safety needs while the matter was investigated.

p.3

improvement to be good

Records of physical restraint incidents lack accurate details regarding the timeframe and the methods used to safeguard the child. This limits the manager’s ability to fully understand the child’s experience and hinders their capacity to identify and address any concerns relating to staff practice effectively.

p.3

improvement to be good

Significant gaps have been identified in staff training, which has impacted on their ability to develop the necessary skills to safely manage the child’s safety needs. This shortfall in training compromises the effectiveness of care and the ability of staff to respond appropriately to risk.

p.3

improvement to be good

There has recently been a reduction in the number of self-harm incidents involving the child living in the home. As a result, certain safety-related restrictions have been reviewed and adapted. For example, the child now has access to metal cutlery and is using liquid toiletries. These changes reflect the home’s commitment to regularly reviewing the environment to ensure it remains as least restrictive as possible, while continuing to meet the child’s individual needs.

p.3

good

The manager’s internal auditing and review systems have not consistently identified gaps in staff training and supervision. The formal offer of support for staff during their induction has been unclear, lacking clarity around the management team’s commitment to appropriately support and develop new staff joining the home. This policy and training gap was addressed by the management team during the inspection. However, the effectiveness of these measures will need to be further evaluated to determine their impact on improving the quality of care provided to children.

p.3

good

When the manager has been on planned leave, there has been insufficient oversight of safeguarding incidents. This has resulted in a significant delay in the child accessing appropriate care and support. It has also directly contributed to delays in professionals from the child’s external network being able to provide timely support.

p.3

good

The manager has covered a significant number of staff shifts to compensate for gaps in the staff team. While this has provided much-needed support and stability for the Inspection report for children’s home: 2838079 4 child, it has compromised the manager’s capacity to maintain sufficient oversight of the service. As a result, there has been a delay in the manager taking appropriate action to address staff misconduct issues.

p.3

good

When staff are directly involved in the physical intervention of a child, they are not consistently spoken to about the use of this measure in a timely manner, or by someone who was not directly involved in the incident. This significantly compromises the ability to critically review the standard of care provided to the child.

p.4

good

Following a period of instability, the management team has sought advice and support from external agencies to review the quality of practice within the home. As a result, a detailed improvement plan has been developed, and the manager has begun implementing changes to address identified shortfalls. An independent psychology service has been commissioned to facilitate a therapeutic assessment and programme for both the child and the staff team. A consultation meeting has taken place with staff, providing guidance on how to improve the consistency of care delivered to the child. Inspection report for children’s home: 2838079 5

p.4

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.5

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)(b))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the guidance provided to staff is clearly understood and that processes to keep children safe are consistently applied by all staff members. 7 November

p.5

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—

p.5

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child; 7 November Inspection report for children’s home: 2838079 6 use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(d)(e)(h))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that all staff have the relevant training and skills to meet the needs of the children in their care. Monitoring and review systems must evaluate all safeguarding incidents effectively and address any shortfalls in practice without delay.

p.6

Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child is only permitted for the purpose of preventing—

p.6

Requirement Due date

injury to any person (including the child);

p.6

Requirement Due date

serious damage to the property of any person (including the child); or

p.6

Requirement Due date

a child who is accommodated in a secure children’s home from absconding from the home.

p.6

Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate. (Regulation 20 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff follow relevant guidance and that the use of physical intervention is both necessary and proportionate. 7 November

p.6

Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

p.6

Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

p.6

Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

p.6

Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

p.6

Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure; 7 November Inspection report for children’s home: 2838079 7 the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

p.6

Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

p.7

Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

p.7

Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)(iv))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that, following any measure of control, relevant individuals receive appropriate support in line with statutory guidance and regulations.

p.7

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: 2838079 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Headway Care Services Ltd

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Integritax Accountants, 68 Yardley Road, Birmingham B27 6LG

p.8

Inspector

Charlotte Tippett, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2838079 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.

p.8

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.9

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.9