Children's home run by Affinity Childrens Care Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2819428 1 Registered provider: Affinity Children’s Care Limited

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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 is a privately run children’s home. It provides care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home. The child was spoken with as part of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered in July 2025. This was the first full inspection since the home was registered with Ofsted in July 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 requires improvement to be 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: 2819428 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The quality of care is highly individualised, and the child has made progress relative to the short period they have lived at this home. The child has settled in very well. Staff are consistent in the care they provide and are effective role models. This has allowed the child to feel a sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has established positive relationships with all the staff. The child feels listened to and can ask staff to support them in finding better ways to express their emotions, including how they speak to others. The child said, ‘This is my home and where I want to stay.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Communication is regular and meaningful with other professionals. Staff have worked collaboratively to find the right learning environment for the child. They listen to the child’s views and advocate for them. The well-being and voice of the child are central to all decisions made.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Activities, both in the home and in the community, are plentiful. Many are educationally focused, and the child enjoys photography, macrame, gardening, hiking and going on day trips to places of interest. Staff encourage the child to broaden their horizons and aspire for their future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Family time is very important for the child, and this is promoted and supervised by staff. Re-establishing relationships with people that are significant in the child’s life is being supported.

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

Risks are clearly assessed, identified and recorded. There are strategies in place to reduce risk-taking behaviours, and the child is living in a safe and nurturing environment. The child feels safe and articulates this and is confident in sharing any worries that they may have with staff.

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

Assessed risks are minimal. The child does not go missing from the home, and this is an indication of the child’s sense of security. Trust is a two-way process. The child can have unsupervised time in the community. If they choose to use this, staff carry out regular welfare calls to ensure their safety and well-being.

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

On occasion, the child has been frustrated and upset. Staff are consistent in their response, using the provider’s therapeutic framework for building safe relationships. The child can express their emotions safely, and when calm, they can freely talk to staff about what was causing the outpouring of emotions. Inspection report for children’s home: 2819428 3 Risk assessments and behaviour management plans are well documented and regularly updated to reflect the child’s current risks and vulnerabilities. Liaison with the multi-agency network informs future planning, ensuring that decisions about the child are not made in isolation. The child is involved in all decision-making, and their voice, wishes and feelings contribute to all aspects of their care.

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

The child’s move into the home was carefully considered and planned. Managers carry out detailed assessments to fully explore the compatibility of the home for the child. The child has been given time to settle before another child’s move into the home is considered.

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good

Despite the home being recently registered, the manager and staff have worked hard to establish a home where children can thrive and flourish. The manager is actively involved and has established a good understanding of the child. This has contributed to the child’s successful move into the home.

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good

Care planning is very child centred and captures the views and opinions of the child. The child is supported to attend all of their meetings and reviews. The child has an independent advocate who will actively challenge when decisions made by others are not felt to be in the child’s best interests.

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good

The deputy manager supports the manager in all operational tasks and contributes to the day-to-day running of the home. Staff receive daily support and guidance. The manager has struggled to embed some of the organisational tasks alongside leading and developing a newly established home. This results in an overreliance on the deputy manager to fulfil this role.

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good

Safer recruitment practices are in place. However, the recruitment of one member of staff did not demonstrate the necessary level of scrutiny. Concerns that arose were not addressed through a suitably thorough decision-making process. A risk assessment to ensure that any risks could be mitigated was not carried out, and this could potentially compromise the safety and well-being of the child.

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good

Training is available both face to face and online to support staff development. The manager capitalises on staff’s skills and experience and tailors training to the needs of the child. This is providing the child with diverse opportunities and learning. Inspection report for children’s home: 2819428 4

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 persons must comply within the given timescales.

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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—

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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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered provider must uphold safer recruitment practices, ensuring any concerns identified during the recruitment process are formally assessed and documented.

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Requirement Due date

Also, the registered manager must demonstrate effective leadership by ensuring that staff are supported through clear direction, regular team meetings and a collaborative team culture. 19 December

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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: 2819428 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Affinity Children’s Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Azzurri House, Walsall Road, Aldridge, Walsall WS9 0RB

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Inspector

Cath Sikakana, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2819428 6 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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