Children's Home run by Nova Childcare Services Ltd in Walsall

Inspection report for children’s home: 2828269 1 Registered provider: Nova Childcare Services Ltd

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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 owned by a private organisation. It provides care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2025 and is suitably qualified.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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inadequate

There are serious and widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded, and the care and experiences of children and young people are poor, and they are not making progress.

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inadequate

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2828269 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

At the time of the inspection, there were no children living at the home. Since the home was registered, one child has moved into the home and then moved out after 15 days to a specialist residential home. Serious and widespread shortfalls in safeguarding practice and the leadership and management of the home had a detrimental impact on the experiences, progress and protection of the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Care planning and assessment processes for the child’s move into the home were poor. Leaders and managers did not use professional curiosity or take the time to learn about the child’s needs and vulnerabilities before they moved in. For example, they did not speak to the important people involved in the child’s life as part of their care planning process. This meant that the child moved into the home with no analysis of their needs or the staff team’s capacity to meet those needs. Consequently, these shortfalls led to the child moving on from the home after a short time as staff could not safely meet their needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff did not have the necessary skills or knowledge to provide safe and structured care for the child. For example, they failed to establish consistent routines for the child’s bedtimes and did not support the child’s visits with family members effectively. Staff said that they were not given the opportunity to learn about the child’s needs before they moved in or to understand the support required. As a result, the child experienced a disorganised and unsafe living environment, which did not help them to feel safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

There are areas of the home that are damaged and have not been repaired. For example, the child’s bedroom window was boarded up during the time they lived at the home. Also, some areas of the home lack personalisation and warmth, with the games room unfurnished and without heating. This did not support the child’s well-being or help them to feel nurtured and safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Despite the shortfalls, the manager and staff understood the value of the child having the opportunities to participate in activities. For example, the child enjoyed playing pool and going go-karting with staff. However, the location of the activities was not always appropriately assessed and, on one occasion, poor planning of an activity and communication with the local authority resulted in the child being left vulnerable and at risk of harm.

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

Safeguarding practice is poor. Staff did not always use physical intervention appropriately or proportionately when the child was in crisis. For example, during one incident, staff raised concerns that the child was having breathing difficulties. However, they did not release the hold until they had been told to do so by a health professional. Furthermore, leaders and managers did not consistently monitor, review or evaluate the use of these Inspection report for children’s home: 2828269 3 interventions or their impact on the child. This poor practice compromised the child’s safety and left them vulnerable to harm.

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

The child was not consistently provided with opportunities to share their views, wishes and feelings. When the child did share their feelings, these were not reviewed and reflected on by the manager and staff. As a result, support plans were not updated to reflect the child’s needs. Staff said that they were not aware of the child’s support plans and had not read them. These shortfalls led to the child experiencing unsafe and inconsistent care.

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

Leaders and managers did not work effectively with external professionals to review and support the child’s needs. This lack of communication did not enable informed decisions to be made for the child’s care following significant incidents, including episodes of self- harm and police involvement. This approach does not ensure that children receive coordinated and responsive support from all relevant agencies.

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

Staff understand procedures to follow when a child goes missing. For example, when the child went missing, staff supported their safe return and worked effectively with the police. However, staff do not have the skills or confidence to help children understand the risks associated with going missing. As a result, the child did not receive the guidance or support needed to reflect on the risks and share their views about these.

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

Allegations raised by the child were managed appropriately. The manager and responsible individual liaised with the local authority designated officer, ensuring that safeguarding procedures were followed. In addition, complaints raised by the child were responded to in a timely and considered manner. On these occasions, leaders demonstrated a commitment to listening to the child and taking their concerns seriously.

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

Leaders ensure that children are protected by the organisation’s effective recruitment practices. Staff are vetted and assessed as suitable before any appointment is confirmed. This helps to prevent unsuitable adults working with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Poor leadership systems and a failure to take effective action to improve the quality of care in the home for the child had a significant impact on the child’s safety, experiences and progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders have failed to adhere to the conditions set out in the home’s planning permission. As a result, the number of staff working in the home since it registered has exceeded the approved limits. This breach of planning regulations reflects poor management oversight and does not provide reassurance that leaders have oversight of the safe and lawful operation of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers’ oversight of the home is ineffective. Since registration, there have been no reviews to evaluate the child’s experiences and safety, and staff practice. Inspection report for children’s home: 2828269 4 This lack of monitoring and quality assurance prevents shortfalls being identified and improvements implemented.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff did not have the skills to nurture the child and to keep them safe. Staff described feeling overwhelmed in their efforts to keep the child safe. Leaders and managers have not provided staff with supervision, regular team meetings or opportunities to reflect on their training and practice. Consequently, staff are not supported to develop their safeguarding practice and improve the care children receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Despite the challenges, staff speak positively about the manager’s efforts to check in with them following serious incidents. This provides reassurance that the manager cares about their welfare and well-being.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The management team has reflected on their decision-making since the home registered. The responsible individual and manager developed a plan during the inspection to offer reassurance that action will be taken to improve the care a child living in the home will receive. Inspection report for children’s home: 2828269 5

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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 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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must comply with and adhere to the conditions set out in the home’s planning permission. Any variations must be approved by the appropriate planning department. 16 November 2025

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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

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; 16 November 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2828269 6 ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

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)(b)(c)(e)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff receive suitable training, supervision and support to enable them to have the necessary skills to provide consistent care to children and protect them from harm. Also, monitoring systems must be implemented to review children’s experiences and progress and staff development.

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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

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; 16 November 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2828269 7 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)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure children’s support and risk plans are regularly reviewed, read and understood by staff. Also, all staff must receive the necessary training and support to understand children’s evolving needs and the support they require.

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs;

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans; and

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Requirement Due date

seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5 (a)(b)(c)(d)

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure there is clear planning for children moving into and out of the home, which includes liaison with all relevant professionals and receipt of all necessary documentation. 16 November 2025

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; 16 November 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2828269 8 use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure staff have the necessary skills to provide children with personalised care. Also, all necessary repairs in the home must be completed promptly and all areas of the home must be appropriately decorated and furnished.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

injury to any person (including the child);

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff are suitably trained and understand how to use physical interventions safely. Also, the registered person must ensure that children and staff are spoken to following these interventions. 16 November 2025

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Inspection report for children’s home: 2828269 9

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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: 2828269 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Nova Childcare Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 77 Holyhead Road, Birmingham, West Midlands B21 0LG

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Christopher Taylor

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Inspector

Siân Heffey, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2828269 11 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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