Children's Home run by Livingwell Supporting Services Limited in Nottingham

Inspection report for children’s home: 2831781 1 Registered provider: Fast Supporting Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and operated by a private provider. It provides care for up to three children who may have social and emotional needs. At the time of inspection, two children were living at the home. Both children were spoken to as part of the inspection so that their views could be sought.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in July 2025. There has been a registered manager in post from the point of registration for the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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inadequate

There are serious and/or widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded and the care and experiences of children and young people are poor and they are not making progress.

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inadequate

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2831781 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children raise concerns about not being able to relate to staff and feeling ignored by them. Children state that this is partly due to staff being on their phones or in conversation with one another in a different language. As a result, children spend excess time in their bedrooms if their peer or preferred member of staff is not home. One child stated, ‘It’s so depressing living there.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff support children to personalise their bedrooms. However, the communal areas are lacking in home comforts. Several repairs are outstanding throughout the home, including the front door having significant damage to the bottom panel. Staff hang their coats on picture hooks in the dining area and keep record-keeping books on the table. This detracts from the house presenting as a home for the children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Neither child currently attends school. Staff do not create structure or routine to prepare children for future education. Children often determine the day’s activities depending on how they have slept. They spend time awake throughout the night and in the early hours of the morning. This has led to children being loud at unsociable hours. In turn, this has affected relationships with neighbours, with two complaints being made. Staff encourage children to have hobbies, such as go-karting or horse riding. Children enjoy these activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff do not successfully challenge children when they use derogatory names towards one another or staff. On one occasion a child displayed self-injurious behaviour following their peer insulting them. There is a lack of understanding of how such insults may impact on each child. Staff do not consistently educate children about the meaning or effect of the words. This results in children continuously using them without understanding the impact. The manager does not have discussions with staff to explore if or how this has an impact on them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Some records written about children have children’s names spelled incorrectly. This shows a lack of attention and care to detail by staff. This could impact on children if they choose to read their written records of living at the children’s home. It also shows a lack of oversight by the manager to improve the experiences of children.

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

The manager did not assess children’s risks effectively when they moved into the home. This has had a detrimental impact on the children because it has led to them encouraging one another to cause damage to the property and leave the home. The manager has not ensured that staff appropriately record the steps they take to locate children if children are away from the home without permission. This is of concern as it is deemed unsafe for the children to be alone together. Inspection report for children’s home: 2831781 3 Staff do not appropriately discuss safer sex or healthy relationships with children. This prevents children from learning how to make positive life choices. When staff do give advice to children, it is not always appropriate. The manager has failed to explore how children have spent time alone together. The manager also does not ensure children have an independent return home interview after a period away from the home. The

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

manager’s lack of curiosity and oversight results in safeguarding concerns not being scrutinised to prevent a risk of repetition.

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

There is a lack of professional curiosity by staff and managers. When children share information, staff do not follow this up. For example, when a child returned home with marks on their body, staff did not explore this appropriately. Injuries are not always appropriately recorded by staff or reviewed by the manager. Staff actively encourage children to seek medical advice when needed.

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

Staff only use physical holds of children as a last resort. Where children have medical needs, this has been considered by a professional prior to physical holds being used. However, staff do not include sufficient detail in the written records of when children are physically held by them. On an occasion when a child was held on the floor, the record did not state who was involved or the position of the child. Such incidents are not appropriately reviewed or scrutinised by leaders and managers. Therefore, the safety and proportionality of the use of physical restraint are not assessed.

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

When children make allegations or disclosures, these are not appropriately reported or managed. This has led to children being cared for by a staff member who they have raised concerns about. If children retract what they have said, staff do not explore the reasoning for this.

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

Children who smoke in their bedrooms are not appropriately challenged by staff. Staff show little curiosity about how children obtain tobacco, cannabis and associated paraphernalia. Managers do not show curiosity about why smoke detectors in bedrooms are not activated when rooms smell strongly of smoke. Staff have not assured themselves that children know how to exit the home safely in the event of a fire.

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

When children have caused damage to the home, these broken items are not removed in a timely way. For example, there were broken items such as radiator covers and window frames left in the garden. Managers and staff do not recognise the possible risk of having these sharp items available to children who display self-injurious behaviour.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There are numerous shortfalls in the leadership and management of this home. The manager shows a lack of insight into and knowledge of the care provided to children. This is due to a lack of consistent monitoring systems to support oversight. When the manager has recognised areas for improvement, he has failed to ensure that such corrections by staff have taken place. Inspection report for children’s home: 2831781 4 The responsible individual does not carry out effective supervision of the manager. This means they do not ensure accountability and scrutiny of safeguarding incidents. This has further led to there being a lack of managerial oversight of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Notifications to relevant authorities of some serious incidents have been delayed, although the manager said that all safeguarding concerns have been shared with children’s social workers. Social workers have described inconsistencies in concerns being raised with them in a timely way.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers do not assure themselves of the safe recruitment of staff working at their home. This results in managers being unaware if staff have criminal convictions. Managers have not ensured that all information is present as required under schedule 2 (The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015). This means that management oversight of safer recruitment does not currently meet regulation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

As a result of this inspection, Ofsted issued a notice to suspend the registration of the children’s home, effective from 14 August 2025. This prevents any children from living at the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2831781 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

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

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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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) (v)(vii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that any allegations against staff are managed appropriately and that staff practice is appropriately reviewed and scrutinised. This includes the use of physical holds. If children have an injury, this should be appropriately recorded, escalated and reviewed. This also relates to ensuring that staff respond appropriately to children who smoke in their bedrooms. 5 January 2026

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Requirement Due date

*The care planning standard is that children— receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. 5 January 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2831781 6 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;

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Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should assess children’s needs and risks alongside one another effectively before they live together. Staff should continue to assess how risks between children evolve and change when they live together.

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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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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—

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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 have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of 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

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and 5 January 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2831781 7 use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(f)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the responsible individual must ensure effective supervision of the manager to ensure that there is management oversight, scrutiny and accountability of all safeguarding incidents.

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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 effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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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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has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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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 (3)(a)(vi)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that they have had oversight of all records relating to children being physically held. Such oversight should include ensuring that the staff involved have been spoken to about the use of the measure and that the child has been spoken to. 5 January 2026

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults. 5 January 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2831781 8 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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help each child to understand, in a way that is appropriate according to the child’s age and understanding, personal, sexual and social relationships, and how those relationships can be supportive or harmful;

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help each child to develop the understanding and skills to recognise or withdraw from a damaging, exploitative or harmful relationship;

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strive to gain each child’s respect and trust;

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understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children;

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Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children; understand and communicate to children that bullying is unacceptable; and

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to recognise incidents or indications of bullying and how to deal with them; and Inspection report for children’s home: 2831781 9 that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(ix)(x)(xi)(xii)(xiii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, staff should be confident in how to challenge children’s behaviour appropriately and have the skills to support children to understand their emotional responses. Staff should have the knowledge and confidence to educate children about healthy relationships and to support children to make positive life choices. Staff also need to have regular supervision where they can reflect on their practice and how any incidents may be impacting on them.

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

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ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home.(Regulation 6 (1)(b) (2)(a)(b)(ii)(vii)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, staff should ensure that the communal areas of the house represent a home rather than a work place. This also relates to ensuring that the home and garden are free from broken items and that repairs are completed in a timely manner. 5 January 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2831781 10 The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

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understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

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promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

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help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(viii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, staff should encourage and support children to take part in formal and informal educational activities. This also relates to staff supporting children to build daily routines and sleep patterns that will enhance their ability to engage in education. 5 January 2026

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Requirement Due date

After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

ensure, by means of fire drills and practices at suitable intervals, that persons working at the home and, so far as reasonably practicable, children are aware of the procedure to be followed in case of fire. (Regulation 25 (1)(d)) 5 January 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2831781 11 Staff should ensure that children are aware of how to exit the home safely if there is a fire.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(a)(d))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person should ensure that they are satisfied that all staff are safe to work at the home. The manager should also ensure that staff information provided at the point of employment is correct and verified as per schedule 2. 5 January 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child —

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Requirement Due date

is instigated; or 5 January 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2831781 12 concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

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Requirement Due date

must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should notify Ofsted without delay of any incidents relating to a child that are deemed to be significant. This includes all allegations of abuse.

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

 The registered person must specify the procedures to be followed and the roles and responsibilities of staff when a child is missing from care or away from the home without permission. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.28)  The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child, including their name being spelled correctly throughout. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)  The registered person should ensure that when a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority provides an opportunity for the child to have an independent return

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Recommendations

home interview. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30) Inspection report for children’s home: 2831781 13

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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: 2831781 14

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Fast Supporting Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Quadrant Q117, Nuart Road, Nottingham NG9 2NH

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Inspectors

Ellen Monk, Social Care Inspector Terrianne George, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2831781 15 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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