Children's home run by Gratia Cura Residential Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2802199 1 Registered provider: Gratia Cura Residential 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 provides care for up to three children who experience social and emotional difficulties. At the time of the inspection, one child was living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and the manager have been registered with Ofsted since March 2025.

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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

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2802199 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the home opened, one child, who previously lived in one of the organisation’s other homes, has moved in. The child’s move was thoughtfully planned to cause minimal disruption for them. The child had familiar staff caring for them at the new home, and they were slowly introduced to the local area and then to the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have worked collaboratively to create a nurturing environment that promotes the child’s emotional well-being and sense of safety.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is not currently attending an education placement, but managers have worked closely with the child’s placing authority to arrange for them to receive bespoke education at the home. During free time, staff arrange structured activities that are supporting the child to be ready for reintegration into a school setting.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When the child first arrived, they struggled to leave the house. However, with careful planning and sensitive risk management, the child is starting to feel confident about going out into the community. Staff complete social stories to support the child to understand and be prepared before going out. These strategies are helping to improve the child’s resilience, and the child is now being introduced to a local club so that they can spend time with other children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s health needs are supported by staff through careful planning and strong communication with external health professionals. Staff prioritise the child’s voice and well-being, and this has helped to foster a sense of empowerment and trust with the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home’s statement of purpose and conditions of registration do not describe a setting that is appropriate for the specific needs of the child. Nonetheless, the child’s needs are being met well. Managers are aware of the need to amend the statement of purpose and apply for a variation of their conditions.

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

Staff have established a comprehensive risk assessment and behaviour management plan that are suitable for the child’s specific needs. The plans outline adaptive strategies tailored to specific situations. This proactive approach has safeguarded the child and helped staff to competently and confidently care for the child.

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

Staff ensure that the child stays safe online. There are strict filters on social media sites and staff monitor the child’s access to the internet. This approach ensures the child’s safety and supports their overall well-being by minimising exposure to inappropriate and harmful content. Inspection report for children’s home: 2802199 3 Physical restraint is used as a last resort to protect the child and staff from coming to harm. The frequency of incidents is steadily reducing. Following incidents, staff engage in structured debriefs to reflect on their practice and identify areas for improvement. These sessions have led to valuable learning, such as recognising the need for additional reassurance and guidance around the use of physical restraint. Such matters are regularly discussed with the team psychologist and during team meetings, reinforcing a culture of continuous learning.

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

There are emerging concerns regarding the child’s self-harming behaviours, but staff do not keep consistently clear records of this. As a result, there is a missed opportunity to develop targeted support strategies alongside other key professionals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has worked proactively and consistently to monitor the quality of care provided to the child. Plans and risk management are reviewed regularly to identify any emerging concerns and provide guidance to staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Effective management oversight has enabled the manager to establish patterns, triggers and subtle behavioural changes in the child. This has supported the team to develop timely interventions and tailored support contributing to helping the child to feel a sense of safety and emotional stability.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have demonstrated a commitment to reflective practice and professional development by undertaking relevant training to better understand the child’s individual needs. Staff have considered a supportive way to record key-work sessions that links to the child’s goals in the care plan. This ensures that staff and managers can monitor the child’s progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from regular reflective supervision sessions. These provides a structured space to explore staff’s understanding of risk, to review their practice and ensure that care is delivered consistently and safely. This reflective approach contributes to a confident, well-informed team that is responsive to the child’s individual needs. Inspection report for children’s home: 2802199 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 care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s 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 children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(b)) 17 November 2025

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff skills for safeguarding include being able to identify signs that children may be at risk, and support children in strategies to manage and reduce any risks. In particular, when the child self-harms, staff should make a clear record of this and develop targeted support strategies. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.10)

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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: 2802199 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Gratia Cura Residential Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 6 Park Road, Didcot, OX11 8QW

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Inspector

Shaheda Dhandia, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2802199 6 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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