Children's home run by Kennet Care Limited

Inspection report for children's home: 2523027 1 Registered provider: Kennet Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

The home is privately owned and provides care for up to 4 children who experience social and emotional difficulties. At the time of the inspection, 2 children were living in the home.

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Information about this children's home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 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 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: 22 January 2025

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2523027 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/01/2025 Full Good 05/12/2023 Full Good 13/09/2022 Full Good 28/03/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children's home: 2523027 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy positive and caring relationships with the staff in the home. They make steady progress through the nurture they receive, meaning they are settled in the home, often after experiencing extremely turbulent times prior to moving in.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are central to the planning in the home, and their views are taken very seriously. Children feel heard, and this helps with their engagement with staff and improves their outcomes. Social workers are positive about the progress children make, and one child's school has noted a significant change in the child's ability to settle and be focused in the classroom.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to enjoy a wide range of activities to broaden their experiences, including a wide range of Christmas-themed activities in the local community during the festive period. Children's confidence grows through access to the range of new experiences, and one child was particularly keen to demonstrate their singing skills from the school carol concert they had been in that day. Several staff went to see the child perform, and the child was excited to see them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are helped to understand their health and how to improve this. Those who are at risk of substance misuse are supported to understand the risks through targeted sessions and links with specialist services when needed. Help with stopping smoking is offered through a network of professionals. Children are helped to understand the risks of smoking and vaping, and an understanding of healthy relationships is supported.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to understand their emotional wellbeing and their responses to them, through spending time with the organisation's therapist. Additionally, the therapist helps staff to understand the children's experiences and how to respond in a consistent way.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are well supported when moving into or on from the home. Transition planning has been significantly improved since the last inspection, and staff progress at the child's pace whenever possible. Since the last inspection, several children have moved on to homes that are more suited to their needs or to semi-independence. Staff remain in contact when the child has said they would like to.

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

Children are confident in their home and feel safe and protected by staff. Staff have an excellent understanding of each child's risks and vulnerabilities. Plans are clear, directing staff on how to respond to varied issues when children are at risk, and staff talk confidently about how they act to protect children. Inspection report for children's home: 2523027 4 Joint working with partner agencies is a strength in the home. Children are protected as far as possible from risks associated with exploitation in all forms. Strong links with the local police, social workers and a range of specialist services mean staff can share information and seek guidance on how best to support children at risk. Children learn how to keep safe through discussions with staff.

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

Staff are well versed in how to respond when children are missing from home or have not returned home when expected. They support children effectively to understand the risks they are at when staff do not know where they are. Younger children have made 'stranger danger' posters and stuck these to the inside of the front door as a reminder if they are upset and are thinking about leaving the home without staff.

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

Staff understand that all behaviour is a form of communication. They respond calmly and respectfully to children when they are upset or distressed. Staff are quick to calm children, allowing them to share how they are feeling.

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

Children are protected from avoidable risks through regular checks of the home and firefighting equipment. The organisation's maintenance person is quick to respond and repair any damage that happens, ensuring that the environment remains homely and well maintained.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager was away during the inspection. The home was well run by the deputy manager with support from the responsible individual in his absence. The management team is aspirational for the children living in the home, and staff are motivated to ensure that children have good outcomes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are well supported and can approach the managers at any time. The team is cohesive, despite several changes in staffing and a change in manager. Those who have worked in the home longer carry the culture and ethos, ensuring that new staff feel welcomed, supported and know the best approach to supporting children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers know each of the children well, and their progress and development are clearly monitored. They ensure that there is support as needed and that staff have additional training to meet the children's needs should this be required.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers and staff advocate well for children, clearly sharing children's views and professionally challenging others if they feel agencies are not working in the child's best interest.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Monitoring of children's plans and progress is sound. Managers make good use of their own evaluation of the service and the reports provided by the independent person. However, there are some inaccuracies in the statement of purpose, and it does not demonstrate the positive approach to supporting children, particularly through the omission of vaping cessation support. Inspection report for children's home: 2523027 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 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)) 30 January 2026

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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: 2523027 6

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Kennet Care Limited

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Goringe Accountants Waterside, 1650 Arlington Business Park, Theale, Berkshire RG7 4SA

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Children's home details

Responsible individual: Dennis Austin-Visser

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Inspector

Jennie Christopher, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2523027 7 regulates 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 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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Inspector

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