Children's home run by Aegis 24/7 Limited

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2706377 1 Registered provider: Aegis 24/7 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 owned and managed by a private provider. It provides care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties and/or who may have drug and/or alcohol dependence.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered in June 2023. The manager post has been vacant since 5 June 2025. A new manager has been appointed and has applied to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children have lived in the home since the last inspection. At the time of this inspection, one child was living in the home. They were spoken to by the inspectors.

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Inspection date: 9 October 2025

Date of last inspection: 9 and 10 June 2025

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Inspection date: 9 October 2025

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 9 October 2025

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspectors evaluated:  the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have 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, 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: 2706377 2

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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. However, shortfalls were identified in relation to the safety of children and effectiveness of leaders.

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Findings from the inspection

This assurance inspection was brought forward to address specific concerns or allegations received by Ofsted.

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Findings from the inspection

There has been a lack of stability in the management of the home. After the registered manager resigned, an interim manager was appointed. They have since resigned and left the company. The newly appointed manager has not been in post long enough to effect change. Therefore, the pace of improvement in the home has been slow. The previous requirements have not been met and are restated. A new requirement and two recommendations have also been issued.

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Findings from the inspection

Previous interim management arrangements were not effective. Supervision sessions have not been completed on time, and leaders have not completed staff appraisals. There is a lack of consistent management oversight of children’s records.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the full inspection, a child has moved out of the home, and another has moved in. Leaders did not take full account of staff’s skills and experience when assessing the risks for the child moving in. Staff supported the child moving out to make this as easy as possible for them.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have developed a generally good understanding of the needs and vulnerabilities of the child now living in the home. Leaders have ensured that risk assessments and plans have been updated. Staff try to build positive relationships with the child. They have discussions with the child on topics relevant to their needs.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff are not consistent in their use of boundaries and responses to children. Some staff say that they feel unsure about how to manage incidents of challenging behaviour safely. Leaders have not ensured that all staff receive the training necessary to support them in their role.

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Findings from the inspection

Consequences for children are not restorative, and their effectiveness varies. Staff do not reward children for their achievements enough.

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Findings from the inspection

The responsible individual is open and reflective about the areas needing improvement. The new manager appears child focused and has a realistic understanding of the challenges that the management team faces. Staff generally feel that managers support them well. Leaders have dealt with a child’s complaint and staff practice issues in a robust way. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2706377 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/06/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 25/09/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 27/06/2023 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2706377 4

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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

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;

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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

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(iii)(v)(vi)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 18 December

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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— 18 December Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2706377 5 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;

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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

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)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)(c)) 18 December Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2706377 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that any consequences used to address poor behaviour are restorative in nature, to help children recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves, other children, the staff caring for them and the wider community. In some cases, it will be important for children to make reparation in some form to anyone hurt by their behaviour, and the staff in the home should be skilled to support the child to understand this and carry it out. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, pages 46, paragraph 9.38)  The registered person should ensure that staff understand the system for rewarding and celebrating positive behaviour and recognising where children have managed situations well. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, pages 47, paragraph 9.39) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2706377 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 12 Store Street, Sheffield S2 4DA

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Inspectors

Sam Saxby-Brown, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Ladean Wilson, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2706377 8 regulates 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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