Children's home run by Kelwel Care Homes Limited

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2794620 1 Registered provider: Kelwel Care Homes 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 registered with Ofsted in October 2024 and is one of a group of privately owned homes run by an independent provider. It offers care for up to three children with complex needs who require specialist support.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager since August 2025.

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Information about this children’s home

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, 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: 2794620 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.

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Findings from the inspection

This inspection took place in response to a serious incident at the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Three children were living at the home at the time of this inspection. No children have moved in or out of the home since the last inspection. Two children spoke with the inspector, and the other child was not present during the inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Children said that they are happy and felt safe; they identified staff they would talk to if they had worries or concerns. Children said that they would not change anything about the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Positive and warm interactions were observed throughout the inspection. Children were relaxed and content in the company of the staff. Staff enable children to take part in activities and hobbies and support their leisure interests. The staff support children to maintain links with those who are important to them.

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Findings from the inspection

The home, including the garden area, is tidy, well maintained and nicely decorated. The home is spacious and provides children with areas to relax in and have some downtime.

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Findings from the inspection

Feedback from a professional and a parent was positive. A social worker said that they were happy with the progress their child was making and the care they received. A child’s parent said that communication was good, and they could not fault the home.

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Findings from the inspection

There have been incidents of children going missing from the home. When children go missing, staff are quick to respond. Partnership work with the police is effective, and staff actively ensure that the children return home as soon as possible.

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Findings from the inspection

The registered manager left recently. The home is led by a manager who has applied to register with Ofsted. They were present during this inspection, supported by the senior managers.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have not always consulted with external agencies or challenged and escalated concerns about children’s health. This means opportunities to help children understand their own needs and promote healthy lifestyles have been missed.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers generally have good oversight of the home. However, there has been a lack of consistency with their oversight of staff practice. Poor staff practice is not always addressed appropriately, leaving children at risk of harm. Furthermore, there has been an incident of child-on-child harm. Despite a staff Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2794620 3 member being aware that this was going to happen and reporting it to their colleague, a lack of a response from the staff led to a child being harmed.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers are committed to learning from these incidents. During the inspection, the responsible individual was able to show the inspector a system created in response that will monitor staff practice and performance and therefore quickly identify and address staff practice concerns. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2794620 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/04/2025 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2794620 5

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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

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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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 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)(iv)(v)(vi)(b))

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Requirement Due date

ensure that leaders and managers address and manage poor staff practice that places children at risk of harm; and

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff recognise when children are at risk and take action to protect them from harm. 1 December 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2794620 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should take the initiative in engaging with relevant people proactively, advocating for the children in their care. In particular, they should ensure that they work with relevant health services to support the child to live a healthy lifestyle. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 12, paragraph 2.7) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2794620 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Kelwel Care Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Regus, Jubilee House, 3 The Drive, Warley, Brentwood, England CM13 3FR

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Inspector

Anver Rose, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2794620 8 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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Inspector

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