Children's Home run by WPS Care Ltd in Wakefield

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2812360 1 Registered provider: WPS Care Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

This home is owned by a private company. It provides care for up to five children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

No children were living in the home at the time of this visit.

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Information about this children's home

The home registered with Ofsted in March 2025. The registered manager post is currently vacant. The visit was supported by a newly recruited manager, a senior leader and the provider's business manager.

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Information about this children's home

The registered provider has recently appointed a new responsible individual, and Ofsted is currently checking that this person has the relevant capacity, experience, and skills to carry out the role.

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This monitoring visit

This children's home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 2 and 3 July 2025. Inspectors found several regulatory breaches that impacted children's safety and welfare. In response to these serious and widespread concerns, Ofsted immediately suspended the service on 3 July 2025. Ofsted also issued two compliance notices under regulation 12, the protection of children standard and regulation 13, the leadership and management standard.

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This monitoring visit

On 19 August 2025, a visit was carried out to monitor the suspension notice and review the action taken by the provider to address the compliance notices. The compliance notices were not met, and the suspension notice remained in place.

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This monitoring visit

On 23 September 2025, a visit was carried out to further monitor the suspension notice and to continue to review the effectiveness of the action taken by the Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2812360 2 provider to address the compliance notices. The compliance notices were not met, and the suspension notice was reissued and therefore remained in place.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was carried out to further monitor the suspension notice and to continue to review the effectiveness of the action taken by the provider to address the compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has recently appointed a new manager. The manager has applied to Ofsted to be the registered manager. An application has also been submitted to Ofsted for a senior leader to be the responsible individual for the home. An action plan was submitted to Ofsted that detailed the improvements that were made in the home in response to the compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has taken action to ensure that the home is a suitable and welcoming environment for children. Health and safety hazards have been addressed. Children's bedrooms and communal areas have been refurbished and provide a safe and homely environment. Risks to children, including the need to maintain their privacy, have been reviewed and managed. The ongoing review of these improvements is not yet embedded.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have introduced a range of audits to support oversight of the home. The documents that are in place should enable the manager to maintain an overview of what is happening for children. Additional monthly audits should ensure that children's risk assessments and plans remain relevant and are regularly updated and implemented by staff. Support is in place for staff to understand the children's needs and follow their risk assessments and plans. However, this is not yet embedded into practice as no children are living in the home.

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This monitoring visit

Staff recruitment is ongoing. A small, but experienced, core team of staff has been recruited and appointed. There is a focus on recruiting additional experienced staff who have the necessary skills and knowledge. Documents are being introduced to support the development of staff's skills and enable a regular review of their competencies. There is a schedule of regular staff meetings and staff supervisions, in line with provider expectations. An online training platform has been commissioned, and staff are completing the provider's mandatory training. Additional face-to-face and bespoke online training are planned.

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This monitoring visit

Staff and managers have the necessary experience and skills to keep children safe and demonstrate a good understanding of their roles. Staff have access to the provider's policies and have external support to highlight any whistle-blowing concerns. One staff member talked confidently about how they would manage any concerns about allegations, exploitation, and safeguarding.

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This monitoring visit

The manager is confident that their oversight, meetings, and competency reviews will allow them to effectively manage the home. Implemented systems will enable the manager to recognise any practice concerns with staff and be assured that Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2812360 3 children are protected from harm and helped to fulfil their potential. This is reinforced by the creation of 'speak up' cards. These are a visual reminder for staff and visitors to report any concerns. These systems are at the infancy of being used and are not yet embedded.

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This monitoring visit

The manager discussed their intention to be present in the home and build trusted relationships with children. The newly developed children's guide offers clear support for children to raise concerns. The effectiveness of these improvements will be reviewed at future inspections. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2812360 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/07/2025 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2812360 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

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

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

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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;

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished, and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child's health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(b)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This breach of regulation was previously subject to a compliance notice. 31 December 2025 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2812360 6 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;

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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

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))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that there is a suitably appointed manager and senior management arrangements in place in order for the home to operate in line with regulation.

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Requirement Due date

This breach of regulation was previously subject to a compliance notice. 31 December 2025

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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

develop positive relationships with them;

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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— 31 December 2025 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2812360 7 ensure that an explanation is given to each child as soon as reasonably practicable after the child's arrival about—

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Requirement Due date

the children's guide. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(d)(i))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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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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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 31 December 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they reduce unnecessary police involvement for children. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,' page 47, paragraph 9.40)  The registered person should ensure that a child's bedroom is generally not entered without their permission. Usually, a child's room should only be searched if the child has been informed or asked for their permission. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,' page 17, paragraph 3.20)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children's home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2812360 8

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: 10 Cliff Parade, Wakefield WF1 2TA

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Inspector

Jo Cansfield, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2812360 9 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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