Children's Home run by 5ab Care Ltd in Staffordshire

Inspection report for children's home: 2740650 1 Registered provider: 5ab Care 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 and managed by a private provider. The home provides care for up to three children who may have emotional and/or social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left the organisation in September 2025. However, they have yet to formally de-register with Ofsted. A new manager has been appointed but has not yet applied to register with Ofsted.

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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

Date of last inspection: 27 January 2025

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2740650 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/01/2025 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2740650 3

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improvement to be good

At the time of the inspection, two children were living in the home. Both children were spoken to and shared their views about the care that they receive.

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improvement to be good

Overall, some children have made progress since the last inspection. However, some safeguarding arrangements and management systems require improvement. Shortfalls in these systems have had an impact on children’s overall experiences of living in the home.

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improvement to be good

Children’s care plans are not sufficiently individualised or detailed to guide staff in meeting children’s specific needs. As a result, children have not consistently received care that promotes their welfare or provides appropriate boundaries. This has, at times, contributed to children feeling uncared for and unsafe. Leaders have recognised these shortfalls and are taking steps to improve care planning to ensure that staff are better equipped to provide consistent and tailored support.

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improvement to be good

Staff have developed generally positive relationships with children, and children provided some good feedback. However, since the last inspection, there have been occasions when children have felt uncared for and unsafe. These experiences indicate that relationships are not consistently trusting or emotionally secure for all children.

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improvement to be good

Staff undertake regular direct work with children, which contributes to the support provided. However, the impact of this work is not routinely evaluated, and follow-up actions are not consistently identified. Children’s views on the usefulness of these sessions are not always gathered. As a result, opportunities to review and adapt support in response to children’s evolving needs are limited.

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, one child has moved on to independent living, in line with their care plan. This move was well supported by staff and was a positive experience for the child. Another child moved into the home in an emergency, which limited the opportunity for thorough planning and preparation. Staff provided support to the best of their ability during this time. However, the manager’s assessment of the child’s needs and risks, and the potential impact on the child already living in the home, was inadequate. This poor planning led to an increase in significant incidents that staff have struggled to manage, leading to children not being consistently supported or kept safe.

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improvement to be good

Children engage in education. One child has recently started to attend a new school following a period of non-attendance, which represents progress. Staff are providing the other child with learning opportunities in the home and are working with the relevant professionals to identify a suitable education provision. A social worker commented positively on the progress made, noting that the child had previously disengaged from education but now participates more consistently. Inspection report for children's home: 2740650 4

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improvement to be good

Staff do not consistently assess risks effectively when working with children. This is because staff are not always provided with support or guidance to manage children’s risks and vulnerabilities. As a result, staff responses to safeguarding concerns are not always effective and, on occasions, this has impacted the support provided to children during times of crisis. Positively, children say they feel safe and supported, which reflects recent improvements in management oversight, staff training and mentoring.

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, there have been incidents requiring staff to use physical restraint. On some occasions, the use of restraint has not been appropriate or proportionate. This has contributed to an increase in children’s anxieties and has negatively impacted children’s sense of safety and emotional well-being.

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improvement to be good

During one significant incident, a child sustained an injury. Staff did not respond promptly to seek medical attention or monitor the child’s well-being effectively. Medical assistance was only obtained following the intervention of a senior leader. This delay compromised the child’s safety. Since the incident, leaders have introduced improved protocols to reduce the likelihood of recurrence and to strengthen staff practice in responding to medical concerns.

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improvement to be good

Internal and external door alarms are used in the home as a safeguarding measure. However, this practice is not reflected in children’s support plans, and the manager does not regularly monitor or assess whether they continue to be required. Consequently, leaders cannot be sure that the measures used are always appropriate or proportionate to children’s individual needs. Leaders have recognised this shortfall and plan to implement review processes to ensure the measure is used effectively and in line with children’s assessed risks.

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, there have been occasions when children have gone missing from the home. In response, staff have followed individual protocols and procedures and have informed the relevant professionals and family members. These responses have led to the safe return of children.

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improvement to be good

When children and members of the public have made complaints, these have been responded to effectively. Managers ensure that children and others are spoken to and included in the investigation process, which has led to positive outcomes being achieved. This has supported children in feeling listened to and valued.

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improvement to be good

When there are concerns about staff practice or when children raise concerns about staff, the manager takes prompt action. They have reported to those who need to know, investigated and, when necessary, suspended staff while investigations take place. These actions reassure children that staff and leaders care about their welfare. Inspection report for children's home: 2740650 5

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

The registered manager has recently left the organisation following a period of absence. During this time, senior leaders have provided oversight and support. A new management team has been in place since October 2025, offering consistency for children and core staff. Staff report that the new leadership team has made improvements to practice and has increased their confidence in meeting children’s safeguarding needs.

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

Management oversight of incidents is inconsistent. Following significant incidents, the manager does not consistently ensure that staff and children are provided with opportunities to discuss their experiences. This limits opportunities for reflection, learning and improvements to practice. For children, the absence of regular discussions can affect their sense of being cared for and supported. As a result, opportunities to enhance children’s quality of care are sometimes missed, particularly when children’s needs change or safeguarding concerns arise.

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

At times, staffing levels have not been sufficient to meet the complex and high-risk needs of children. This has resulted in children not being consistently supported in line with their care plans, leading to an increase in incidents and staff feeling ill-equipped to manage these effectively. Senior managers have acted and prioritised an arrangement with a placing authority to increase staffing ratios. This has led to improvements in the quality of care and has enabled staff to provide more consistent support.

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

Staff have not consistently received regular reflective supervision to support them in their roles. This has impacted their ability to confidently and consistently meet the needs of children. Leaders have acknowledged this shortfall and have prioritised supervision, ensuring that all staff are now up to date. Staff say recent supervision sessions have been positive and have supported their development, which has had a beneficial impact on the care provided to children.

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

The home has an induction programme for new staff to support them in meeting children’s needs and keeping them safe. However, this has not always been implemented effectively, resulting in some staff feeling unsure and unsupported in their roles. Leaders have recently taken action to ensure all staff have access to the full induction programme. Probation periods have been extended to allow staff time to receive appropriate support and training.

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

Since the home registered, the manager has not submitted the six-monthly quality of care review to Ofsted. This limits Ofsted’s ability to monitor and evaluate the care being provided and its impact on children’s experiences. Leaders have recognised this shortfall and have put in place new systems to ensure that future reports are submitted on time.

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

Staff develop positive relationships with professionals and family members. One social worker said staff regularly communicate with her to ensure she is fully aware of the care and support her child is receiving. Inspection report for children's home: 2740650 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

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)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children’s safeguarding plans are individualised and specific to each child. They must ensure that staff fully understand them so that they can support and protect children effectively. 30 December 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— 30 December 2025 Inspection report for children's home: 2740650 7 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 the home has sufficient staff to provide care for 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

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)(d)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that they have effective monitoring and review systems in place to ensure that staff are providing individualised care to children consistently, and that children’s wishes and feelings are considered. Additionally, they must ensure that there are enough staff in place to meet the needs of children and keep them safe.

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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 equipped with the skills to use physical restraint practice safely and proportionately, to keep children safe when in crisis. 30 December 2025

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who— 30 December 2025 Inspection report for children's home: 2740650 8 understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

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

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that care plans for children are individualised and include important information, so staff have a full understanding of the children’s needs and how to appropriately care for them.

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Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

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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

ascertain and consider each child’s views, wishes and feelings, and balance these against what they judge to be in the child’s best interests when making decisions about the child’s care and welfare;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to express views, wishes and feelings;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how the child’s views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child;

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Requirement Due date

regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home’s care; and 30 December 2025 Inspection report for children's home: 2740650 9 help each child to understand how the child’s privacy will be respected and the circumstances when it may have to be limited. (Regulation 7 (1)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children’s views, wishes and feelings are gathered and considered to provide them with opportunities to reflect and develop and feel valued in the home.

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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

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; 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) (3)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff and children are spoken to after incidents requiring physical restraint to ensure that they have a full understanding and can consider the impact and further learning to improve practice. 30 December 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months. 30 December 2025 Inspection report for children's home: 2740650 10 In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (“the quality of care review report”).

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed; and

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Requirement Due date

make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that they complete and submit a quality of care review to Ofsted. The review must include and consider feedback from children, children’s family members, staff and external professionals.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that all incidents of control, discipline and restraint are subject to systems of regular scrutiny to ensure that their use is fair and proportionate. In particular, if door alarms are used in the home as safeguarding Inspection report for children's home: 2740650 11 measures, that this is clearly stated in children’s support plans and that the registered manager regularly reviews this to ensure it remains appropriate and proportionate.

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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: 2740650 12

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Devonshire Business Centre, Unit 27 Works Road, Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire SG6 1GJ

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Inspectors

Hayley Booth, Social Care Inspector Sharon Kaur, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2740650 13 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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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