Children's Home run by Keystone Staffordshire Ltd in Stoke-on-Trent

Inspection report for children’s home: 2773571 1 Registered provider: Keystone Staffordshire Ltd

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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 an independent provider. It offers care for up to three children who experience social and emotional difficulties and are likely to have experienced trauma.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living at the home. The child was happy to be involved in the visit and share their views.

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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: inadequate

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: yes

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good

Following the previous full inspection, a compliance notice was issued under Regulation 13 of the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015, alongside a restriction of accommodation notice. A monitoring visit was conducted on 20 August 2025. This found that the steps in the compliance notice had been met and following the visit the restriction of accommodation notice was lifted. Inspection report for children’s home: 2773571 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/06/2025 Full Inadequate 28/08/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2773571 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has made significant progress since the last full inspection. Staff demonstrate a strong understanding of their individual needs and respond to them with care and consistency. Staff prioritise building and maintaining nurturing relationships, which provide the child with emotional security and a stable base. These relationships are central to staff’s practice. The child reports report feeling happy, settled, and well listened to by staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s physical and emotional health is well supported. Staff respond effectively to the child’s identified needs and practical measures have been put in place to support their development. These include resources to assist with motor coordination and daily functioning. This reflects the staff’s commitment to delivering personalised care and promoting the child’s overall well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Although there has been limited progress in the child’s education since the last inspection, staff are proactive in advocating for the child’s educational needs. Interim education arrangements are in place and staff have appropriately challenged professionals regarding the suitability of the proposed placement. The child is also supported by an advocate to ensure that their voice is heard. Staff demonstrate a strong commitment to securing the best possible outcomes and ensuring that the child’s wishes are central to decision-making processes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff recognise the importance of family relationships in the child’s life. Staff help the child to enjoy meaningful time with family members, including re-establishing contact with their father. Staff work sensitively and effectively to maintain and strengthen these relationships, which contributes positively to the child’s sense of identity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is supported to engage in a wide range of activities that reflect their interests and passions. Staff regularly facilitate attendance at football matches and encourage participation in community-based charitable events and volunteering. These opportunities promote the child’s social development, self-esteem, and sense of belonging within the wider community

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

The child has made significant progress in their safety and behaviour since the last full inspection. There has been a significant reduction in incidents. This reflects the effectiveness of staff’s behaviour management strategies and highlights the strong, trusting relationships they have built with the child. In addition, the child benefits from regular one-to-one sessions as part of a multi-agency approach to their care. These sessions are tailored to the child’s individual needs and risks, helping them to develop protective strategies and understand how to stay safe. Inspection report for children’s home: 2773571 4 Staff create a culture of openness and care, where the child experiences stability. As a result, there have been no complaints or allegations raised. The absence of concerns indicates that the child feels listened to, valued and respected.

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

There have been no incidents of the child going missing from home since the last inspection. This is a marked improvement which suggests that the child feels settled and secure, and is positively engaged in the routines and boundaries established by staff. The consistent presence and support of staff contributes to a safe and structured environment that reduces risk.

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

Staff are skilled in managing behaviour through positive and preventative approaches. Since the last inspection, there have been no incidents requiring physical restraint. This reflects the success of staff in recognising and responding to the child’s emotional needs before situations escalate. The child benefits from a calm and nurturing environment which promotes emotional regulation, reducing the need for restrictive interventions.

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

Consequences are used appropriately and sparingly. The manager advocates for a restorative approach to promoting positive behaviour, encouraging reflection and voluntary accountability. This promotes emotional insight and supports the development of respectful relationships.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager provides purposeful and child-centred leadership. He is highly motivated and committed to securing positive outcomes for the child. Since the last inspection, he has reflected on areas for development and implemented meaningful changes to improve practice. He demonstrates a strong understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for growth, and maintains an open, learning-focused approach that continues to drive improvement across the service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff turnover has been minimal since the last inspection, contributing to stable and consistent care. This continuity has enabled the child to settle well and benefit from care provided by familiar staff who understand their individual needs. The consistency in staffing has supported the development of trusting relationships, which are central to the child’s emotional well-being and progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from a structured induction and access to a wide range of training opportunities. Managers prioritise trauma-informed practice, ensuring that all staff receive both initial and ongoing training aligned with this approach. Additional training is tailored to meet the specific needs of the child. As a result, the child receives care from staff who are confident and well-equipped to meet their emotional, behavioural, and developmental needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff report feeling well-supported and valued. They speak positively about the quality of supervision and guidance they receive, and describe the manager as approachable and supportive. Supervision is structured and reflective, enabling staff to develop their practice and maintain a focus on the child’s needs. This contributes to a positive team Inspection report for children’s home: 2773571 5 culture where staff feel confident, motivated, and empowered to deliver good-quality, child-centred care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have a good understanding of multi-agency working. Feedback from professionals is consistently positive, highlighting effective communication and strong relationships between staff and external agencies. Professionals report that children feel supported and listened to, and that staff maintain regular and proactive communication. This promotes joined-up working and ensures that the child’s needs are met through coordinated support. Inspection report for children’s home: 2773571 6

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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: 2773571 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Keystone Staffordshire Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 24 Brookside Business Park, Stone, Stone, Staffordshire, ST15 0RZ

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Inspector

Carl Wilton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2773571 8 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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