Children's Home run by Country Homes For Children Ltd in Staffordshire

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2804883 1 Registered provider: Country Homes For Children Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home registered in January 2025 and provides care for up to three children with social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Since the last inspection, the registered manager has left. A new manager has been in post since September and has applied to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered provider has recently appointed a new responsible individual, and Ofsted is currently checking this person has the relevant capacity, experience and skills to carry out the role.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, there were two children living in the home. Both children were spoken to and shared their views.

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Inspection date: 8 October 2025

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 8 October 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 out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2804883 2 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: 2804883 3

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, there have continued to be shortfalls in the quality of care provided to children. On occasion, poor staff practice has negatively impacted children’s experiences. However, senior leaders have acted promptly to address these concerns, and demonstrate a clear understanding of the areas requiring development. Actions taken following internal audits have led to progress in some areas, and leaders responded immediately to issues identified during this inspection. There are well-considered plans in place to continue improving the home and the care children receive.

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Findings from the inspection

Two children have moved out of the home since the last inspection, both due to staff being unable to meet their needs. One child’s move was unplanned and immediate. Two children have subsequently moved in. Staff met with the children before they moved in, which helped reduce their anxieties. One child was initially settling well and beginning to make positive progress. However, the timing of the second child’s move, shortly after the first, was unsettling for both children. Staff have struggled to manage some resulting incidents. The new manager recognises the importance of allowing children time to settle and build relationships and has made this a priority.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s educational needs are not being met effectively. Staff were unable to support the children who moved on to engage meaningfully with education. The children currently living at the home do not yet have agreed education placements. Staff have held meetings for one child. They engage children in basic tasks such as CV writing and discussions about aspirations. However, this does not yet constitute a robust educational offer.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are supported to explore their interests and enjoy a range of activities. Staff have arranged voluntary work for one child that aligns with their interests. Another child enjoyed a holiday to Cornwall, and children regularly participate in activities such as bowling. There are positive relationships between children and staff, for example, shared laughter when playing games together. These experiences contribute positively to children’s emotional well-being and help them build social skills and confidence.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff regularly consult with children, and records of these discussions clearly capture children’s views. Staff respond warmly to children, who say they feel happy and safe in the home. Both children said they have trusted adults to speak to and feel listened to.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s plans and risk assessments, including those relating to risks of children going missing from the home, provide staff with clear guidance. Staff are proactive and incidents of children going missing are well managed. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2804883 4 Physical intervention has not always been used proportionately or as a last resort. Leaders and managers have investigated staff practice and taken appropriate safeguarding action. Children were supported to raise concerns and were kept informed of the outcomes.

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Findings from the inspection

Children and staff are routinely spoken to after incidents to explore their views and identify learning. However, children are not always spoken to by someone independent of the incident. Records do not consistently capture when these discussions have taken place. Furthermore, while incident records are comprehensive and detailed, the language used is not always clear. The manager has not consistently identified this in post-incident evaluation. This limits opportunities for children to reflect safely and for managers to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions.

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Findings from the inspection

Senior leaders have increased their oversight of the home since the last inspection. Managers say they feel well supported. Leaders have worked alongside managers to complete comprehensive audits, identifying areas for development. As a result, targeted actions have been implemented, and there are now plans for audits to be conducted routinely to maintain momentum. A new manager has been appointed and is committed to driving further improvement.

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Findings from the inspection

There has also been a planned change in the responsible individual. A clear handover was completed, and the new responsible individual has submitted their details to Ofsted for suitability assessment.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff say they receive regular supervision and feel well supported. They are positive about recent leadership changes and reassured by the new manager’s approach. However, staff raised concerns about staffing levels, describing feeling ‘burnt out’ and ‘tired’. They felt this affected the quality of care and their ability to keep children safe. Leaders responded immediately during the inspection, increasing staffing levels and implementing ongoing rota reviews.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers maintain positive relationships with external professionals. Social workers report good communication and describe staff and managers as committed to children. One social worker said they ‘can’t fault’ communication following incidents and said their child ‘loved it’, when speaking about their move into the home. Children benefit from strong partnership working.

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Findings from the inspection

This inspection considered all requirements and recommendations set following the previous inspection. Following this inspection, one requirement and one recommendation were deemed to have been met, four requirements and one recommendation were reinstated, and one new requirement has been raised. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2804883 5

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/06/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2804883 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

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

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;

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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)(a)(i)(ii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that staff understand the home’s policies and approach to behaviour management and that physical intervention is only used proportionately and as a last resort.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement has been reinstated. 5 November 2025 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2804883 7 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 have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for 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

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)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that their evaluation after incidents captures all learning.

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Requirement Due date

This also refers to ensuring that there are sufficient staff on duty to meet children’s needs and that staff feel confident to perform their roles and responsibilities.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement has been reinstated. 31 December

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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 arrangements are in place to— 31 December Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2804883 8 ensure the effective induction of each child into the home;

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Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and

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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. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(i)(ii)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager must ensure that children are supported to settle into the home and the impact of moving any more children in is well considered.

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Requirement Due date

This also relates to the manager ensuring that children’s moves on from the home are positive and planned.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy ("the behaviour management policy") which sets out—

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Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must keep the behaviour management policy under review and, where appropriate, revise it.

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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")—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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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 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(i)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager must ensure that staff and child debriefs are held within timescales after incidents and that children are spoken to after any incident requiring physical intervention by someone who is independent. 31 December Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2804883 9 This requirement has been reinstated.

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(viii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that children have an education plan for weekdays which suits their ability and needs.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement has been reinstated. 31 December

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Recommendation

The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact and opinion. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2804883 10 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2804883 11

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Country Homes For Children Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Manor House Farm, Hall Lane, Hilderstone, Stone, Staffordshire ST15 8SQ

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Inspector

Laura Norcop, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2804883 12 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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