Children's Home run by Homecare Unique Limited in Kent

Inspection report for children's home: 2821645 1 Registered provider: Homecare Unique Limited

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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 operated by a private provider. It provides care for up to three children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

The home was registered on 24 April 2025. The registered manager was also registered at this time.

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Information about this children's home

There were no children living at the home at the time of the inspection; one child had recently moved out.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

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

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be 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.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

The children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 23 July 2025. As a result, compliance notices were issued in relation to regulation 12, the protection of children standard and regulation 13, the leadership and management standard. Inspection report for children's home: 2821645 2 A monitoring visit was carried out on 3 September 2025, at which significant concerns remained, and compliance notices were reissued.

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

At a case review following this inspection, it was agreed that the compliance notices issued were deemed to have been met. Inspection report for children's home: 2821645 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/07/2025 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children's home: 2821645 4

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improvement to be good

One child has lived in this home since it was registered. This child has recently moved on. The transition planning was weak, despite records stating that the child needed planned and sensitive moves. The manager provided the child’s new home with information to support with the continuation of care.

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improvement to be good

The child was not receiving formal education. Staff successfully supported the child’s attendance at an interview with a local college. However, this was completed without consultation and agreement with the placing authority and was not suitable to meet the child’s needs. When the child was informed of this information, it resulted in a serious incident taking place.

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improvement to be good

It was identified that the child required support to understand the impact of their medication and to encourage them to comply with its administration. However, no work was completed with the child to enhance their understanding.

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improvement to be good

The manager adapted approaches to seeking the child’s views, acknowledging that traditional forums, such as children’s meetings, were not appropriate when providing care for a single child. The child’s views were sought through natural conversations. However, these were not captured effectively and clear processes for recording their views were not put into place.

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improvement to be good

The children’s guide contains relevant information that is mostly accessible and child focused. Some information does not accurately reflect the care and/or services provided in the home.

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improvement to be good

Children living in this home are cared for by a stable and permanent staff team, and this provides a level of consistency.

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improvement to be good

The manager has ensured that all repair work in the home has been carried out following substantial damage. A calming room with sensory resources is a positive addition to the home.

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improvement to be good

The recording of physical interventions has improved. However, recording remains inconsistent and some key information is not routinely captured or recorded. The manager had not identified this shortfall before the inspection.

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improvement to be good

Risk assessments have been reviewed and the manager has devised a more user-friendly format. These now provide staff with a clear overview of risks, agreed responses and Inspection report for children's home: 2821645 5 strategies for risk reduction. On one occasion, following a significant incident, emerging risks were not clearly identified, staff were not effectively trained and no plan was devised in response. This had the potential to leave a child vulnerable to further harm.

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improvement to be good

There have been inconsistencies and a lack of confidence by staff in responding to the child’s complex health needs. On one occasion, there was a significant delay in the child accessing medical intervention. This delay created further instability in their health condition, requiring a hospital stay.

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improvement to be good

Sanctions are rarely used in this home; when they are used, they are not clearly documented.

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improvement to be good

The manager has taken steps to improve the organisation’s response to allegations. Allegations are well managed and the manager ensures that external professionals are informed and consulted regarding any issues raised. The manager consults appropriately with the local authority designated officer. This provides some external scrutiny of the home’s safeguarding practices.

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improvement to be good

Managers have ensured that staff are familiar with safeguarding processes, through discussions during team meetings and supervisions.

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improvement to be good

The manager has reviewed the use of surveillance and has removed all internal closed- circuit television. The home’s policy has been revised accordingly.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, the manager has completed work to ensure that the previous compliance notices that were issued have been met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The home has experienced a period of instability, and a high number of incidents have taken place. The home has appointed a deputy manager to strengthen the leadership team. Some positive progress has been identified. However, some shortfalls remain, and management oversight remains weak.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The home’s revised statement of purpose now better reflects the home and its approach to care. However, some aspects are more aspirational than realistic and require further review. Nevertheless, the manager is beginning to develop a shared ethos and culture in the team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Feedback from professionals and family members is inconsistent. However, the emerging theme is that staff did not have the required skills to meet the child’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Case records for the child are stored in different places. The manager does not have a clear process in place to ensure that these are centralised for archiving, following a child leaving the home. Inspection report for children's home: 2821645 6 The staff team lacks residential childcare experience. They have access to a variety of relevant training and are making progress with completing the provider’s training programme. All staff have also commenced the relevant diploma course.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff now receive regular supervision. Records of these meetings are detailed and reflect a range of discussions, including children’s progress, staff development and well-being. Supervision is also used as a space to reflect on practice and reinforce safeguarding procedures, ensuring that staff are clear on processes. Staff report that they feel supported and noted some improvements in staff morale.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The workforce development plan has been reviewed and now meets the relevant regulation. Inspection report for children's home: 2821645 7

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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 registered person must ensure that the home is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose. (Regulation 16 (5))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the home provides the support and services outlined in the statement of purpose. 2 January 2026

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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—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and 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 has signed the record to confirm it is accurate. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(iii)(iv)(vi)(vii)(b)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement has been restated. 2 January 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2821645 8

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the children's guide helps children to understand what it is like to live in the home, in line with the home’s statement of purpose. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 24, paragraph 4.22)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff encourage children to take a proactive role in looking after their day-to-day health and well-being. Where children have specific health needs or conditions, they should be supported to manage these, subject to their age and understanding. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 34, paragraph 7.10)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 42, paragraph 9.5)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should actively make best use of information from independent and internal monitoring to ensure continuous improvement. They should be skilled in anticipating difficulties and reviewing incidents. They are responsible for proactively implementing lessons learned and sustaining good practice. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 55, paragraph 10.24)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that transitions for children are well planned. The home has an important role in supporting each child leaving the home in the period immediately before their departure. The registered person should work with the placing authority to ensure that each child's transition is planned and to help each child to prepare for leaving, both practically and emotionally. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 57, paragraph 11.9)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children's case records are kept up to date and stored securely. Children's case records must be kept for 75 years from the date of birth of the child. Files should be archived in a way that makes them accessible to children in the future. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 62, paragraph 14.3)

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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: 2821645 9

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Homecare Unique Limited

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Children's home details

Responsible individual: Olumide Akinfaderin

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Inspector

Cassie Martin, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2821645 10 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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Inspector

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