Children's Home run by Family Care Associates Limited in Herefordshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2837229 1 Registered provider: Family Care Associates Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is registered to care for two children who present with complex behaviours following adverse childhood experiences and trauma.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home has a registered manager who registered with Ofsted in June 2025. He holds a diploma level 5 in leadership and management.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This was the home’s first inspection after registration in June 2025.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

requires improvement to be good

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

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

p.1

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.

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2837229 2

p.1

improvement to be good

At the time of this visit, one child was living at the home. The child was seen and spoken to.

p.2

improvement to be good

In advance of the child moving to the home, the manager completed an assessment of their needs based on the information provided by the placing authority. The assessment was clear, and the manager concluded that the home could meet the child’s needs.

p.2

improvement to be good

The child is beginning to develop some positive relationships with staff. Staff demonstrate attentiveness to the child’s needs and adopt a nurturing approach to their care. However, staff have not been able to encourage the child to fully engage in the placement. In addition, staff have at times struggled to manage the child’s behaviours. This has resulted in the manager giving notice to the placing authority to end the placement.

p.2

improvement to be good

Staff do not consistently provide structure or routine to the child’s day, particularly on school days. This lack of consistency has contributed to poor school attendance and limited engagement with staff.

p.2

improvement to be good

Staff have not fully considered the implications of the child’s health condition. They have not consulted with the child’s hospital consultant and therefore have limited understanding of the child’s health condition and its impact. While staff encourage the child to attend health appointments, they have not undertaken focused work to help the child understand the importance of attending all health check-ups.

p.2

improvement to be good

Staff promote the child’s participation in social activities. For example, they have supported the child to attend a local youth club and a football match. This helps provide the child with a variety of positive and enjoyable experiences.

p.2

improvement to be good

Staff ensure that the child maintains relationships with family and friends. The child has regular visits to friends and family, which include overnight stays. This helps ensure that the child is maintaining relationships with those who are important to them.

p.2

improvement to be good

Staff do not demonstrate all the skills and knowledge required to fully support the child living at the home. While the child has not experienced significant harm, staff responses do not always help the child to understand the risks associated with their behaviours and, therefore, help the child to reduce these risks. Inspection report for children’s home: 2837229 3 Risk management plans have been developed by staff. However, these plans do not include all known risks or provide clear guidance on the actions staff should take to manage them. This lack of detail means staff may not be fully aware of the risks to the child or how to respond consistently.

p.2

improvement to be good

When the child has left the home without permission, staff have not always acted proactively to follow the child’s plan or enforce boundaries in a way that reflects good parenting practice. For example, staff have not always checked in on the child at the required frequency or gone to where the child is staying to encourage the child to return.

p.3

improvement to be good

On occasions, staff have conducted room searches when they believe the child may have items that could cause harm. While these are intended to keep the child safe, there is no guidance in place for staff about when or how these searches should be carried out. Furthermore, the child has not been informed that staff may search their room.

p.3

improvement to be good

Allegations made by the child have been taken seriously by the manager. The manager and senior leaders have reported concerns to relevant agencies, investigated appropriately and, where necessary, stopped staff from working at the home. This has helped ensure that the child is kept safe while investigations have been ongoing.

p.3

improvement to be good

The manager has allowed staff to prop open fire doors. This practice compromises safety, as the doors may not close automatically in the event of a fire.

p.3

improvement to be good

The home is well presented and homely. Any damage is promptly reported and repaired.

p.3

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

The manager has applied to cancel his registration with Ofsted and intends to leave his role in December 2025.

p.3

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

Recent staffing changes, including the departure of the deputy manager, have affected the manager’s ability to maintain effective oversight of the home. As a result, monitoring has not always been effective in identifying shortfalls.

p.3

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

Feedback from staff and professionals is mixed. Some are positive about the manager and the home, while others identified areas for improvement. Consequently, for some staff, morale is low.

p.3

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

The manager has implemented a training programme for staff that includes mandatory and child-specific training. Additional training needs to help upskill staff have been identified, and most staff have completed these courses. However, the manager is not up to date with all of his own refresher training, including fire safety and health and safety. Records do not confirm that all staff responsible for supervising others have completed the relevant training, and one team leader has not undertaken the home’s secure base training. Inspection report for children’s home: 2837229 4 Staff receive supervision, but not all sessions occur with the frequency expected by the organisation. This limits opportunities for staff to reflect on their practice.

p.3

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

New staff are subject to a probationary period. This helps to ensure that they are supported through their initial time in the role and their practice is assessed. However, for one staff member, the probationary period ended without a formal review being completed. Inspection report for children’s home: 2837229 5

p.4

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(a) applies to the home—

p.5

Requirement Due date

the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home. (Regulation 25 (2)(b))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that fire doors are not propped open. 10 November 2025

p.5

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

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;

p.5

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

p.5

Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

p.5

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that children’s plans clearly outline risks to children and strategies to manage these risks, and that staff work with children to help them understand risks and how to keep themselves safe. 23 December 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2837229 6 The health and well-being standard is that—

p.5

Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

p.6

Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding;

p.6

Requirement Due date

take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well-being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff seek necessary advice and information about a children’s health condition, and help children understand health conditions as well as the importance of regular health check-ups. 23 December 2025

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose; 23 December 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2837229 7 ensure that staff—

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

p.7

Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

p.7

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;

p.7

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect;

p.7

Requirement Due date

help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iv)(v)(vi))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that children are supported to have positive routines that help them make progress.

p.7

Requirement Due date

ensure that each permanent appointment of an employee is subject to the satisfactory completion of a period of probation.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

p.7

Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

p.7

Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (1)(b) (4)(a)(b))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff have their performance assessed at the end of their probation period and that they are provided with regular supervision. 23 December 2025

p.7

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—

p.7

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

promotes their welfare. 23 December 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2837229 8 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.7

Requirement Due date

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;

p.8

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

p.8

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;

p.8

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)(c)(f)(h))

p.8

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that managers have effective oversight of the quality of care provided to children and that staff complete the training necessary for their roles.

p.8

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: 2837229 9

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Family Care Associates Limited

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: First Floor Offices, The Unit Berry Way, Euxton, Chorley, England PR7 6RA

p.9

Inspector

Debbie Bond, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2837229 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.

p.9

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.10

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.10

Inspector

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

p.10