Children's Home run by Blue Kite Children Care Limited in Manchester

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2718067 1 Registered provider: Blue Kite Children Care Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in September 2023 and is owned and managed by a private provider. It offers care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, two children were living at the home.

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Inspection date: 10 December 2025

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

Following serious and widespread concerns found at the assurance visit on 22 August 2025, two compliance notices were issued under Regulation 12, the protection of children standard and Regulation 13, the leadership and management standard.

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspectors evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2718067 2 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2718067 3

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Findings from the inspection

Children have not benefitted from well-planned moves in and out of the home. Furthermore, care provided has not always been delivered in accordance with the home’s statement of purpose. Leaders and managers have not conducted a thorough assessment prior to accepting children into the home, which considers staffing sufficiency, children’s needs and their known behaviours and risks associated with the local area. As a result, there have been several significant safeguarding incidents which have led to a child leaving the home prematurely, without adequate planning and support.

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Findings from the inspection

Attempts were not made to develop relationships with one child prior to moving into the home. Furthermore, when the child refused to interact with staff and managers, no action was taken to directly communicate or develop a relationship with the child for a prolonged period following their move into the home. due to. Leaders and managers were aware of concerns around the child’s poor intake of food and previous risks regarding suicidal ideation. However, appropriate arrangements were not in place to ensure that the child’s immediate safety, wellbeing and basic needs were effectively monitored and supported.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have not shown effective leadership in the home. Concerns regarding the lack of care and attention provided to one child and the associated safeguarding risks, were initially identified by the independent visitor. Until this point these issues had not been recognised by leaders and managers. Positively, following these concerns being raised, some arrangements, albeit minimal, were made to monitor the child in the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Concerns were identified with the home environment. A broken mirror had been left in the kitchen and a dining table with significant damage had not been removed. The damage resulted in visible sharp edges, which posed an obvious risk to children.

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Findings from the inspection

Several areas of the home were not well presented, providing little incentive for children to take pride in their surroundings or view the home as a comfortable and homely environment. Blind slats were missing from windows in different areas of the home, several mop buckets overflowing with water had been left outside and debris from work undertaken on an internal wall remained on the floor, despite the work being completed several days prior to the inspection. Decoration in a child’s bedroom was unfinished; some doors were visibly dirty and there was a hole in the hallway wall.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have not been provided with the relevant training in ADHD and autism, to ensure that they are able to conduct their roles and responsibilities effectively and meet children’s individual needs.

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Findings from the inspection

Risk assessments identify children’s current risks and although there is an effective response when incidents occur, the quality of direct work and debriefs with children Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2718067 4 and staff following incidents varies. These are not always relevant to the incident, which reduces the opportunity for reflection and learning.

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Findings from the inspection

One child who has recently moved into the home was observed to have a positive and warm relationship with staff. The child said they were happy and had been supported to begin personalising their bedroom.

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Findings from the inspection

During the visit, inspectors observed staff supporting the child’s learning and development, through encouraging and supporting them to attend school.

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Findings from the inspection

Following the assurance visit, it was agreed at a case review on 17 December 2025, that there are serious and widespread concerns at the home. Three compliance notices under Regulation 12, the protection of children standard, Regulation 13, the leadership and management standard and Regulation 14, the care planning standard were issued.

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Findings from the inspection

The requirements raised at the full inspection were not considered as part of this visit. These will be reviewed at the next inspection. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2718067 5

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/04/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 05/06/2024 Full Good 20/11/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 05/07/2023 Full Inadequate Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2718067 6

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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;

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(b)(d)).

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that damaged furniture is removed immediately. 25 January 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2718067 7 Leaders and managers must ensure that there is a clear plan that sets out how children’s known risks will be effectively managed. This includes ensuring that whilst living in the home children are seen daily, and their safely and wellbeing appropriately managed in accordance with their associated risks.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders, managers and staff must ensure that they understand their roles and responsibilities to safeguard children. This includes ensuring that leaders, managers, and staff have renewed their safeguarding training. The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who— engage with them; and take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— ensure that staff— ascertain and consider each child’s views, wishes and feelings, and balance these against what they judge to be in the child’s best interests when making decisions about the child’s care and welfare; help each child to express views, wishes and feelings; help each child to understand how the child’s views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child

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Requirement Due date

reasons for decisions in relation to the child; and regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home’s care. (Regulation 7(1)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)) 22 September

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans; 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; understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers; 22 September Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2718067 8 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

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Requirement Due date

as possible; help each child who is above compulsory school age to participate in further education, training or employment and to prepare for future care, education or employment. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(vii)(ix)) The health and well-being standard is that— the health and well-being needs of children are met; children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff help each child to— achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans; that each child has access to such dental, medical, nursing, psychiatric and psychological advice, treatment and other services as the child may require. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(c)) 22 September

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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;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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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

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to 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 25 January 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2718067 9 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.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13(1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(c)(e)(f)(h)).

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that without delay, staff receive the relevant training needed to meet the needs of children living in the home.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that safeguarding incidents include the relevant direct work and debriefs with staff and children.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that they have good oversight of the day to day running of the home and the quality of care provided to children. Furthermore, where children’s needs are not being met, they must ensure that swift and effective action is taken to improve the care that children receive. * The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

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.

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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

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

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home;

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Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority;

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 14(1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)). 25 January 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2718067 10 Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that prior to accepting children into the home, a thorough assessment is completed that considers the children’s needs, staffing sufficiency and possible risks to the child associated with the local area.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that children are effectively supported to make progress whilst living in the home. This includes ensuring that their basic care needs are met. The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who— understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— ensure that staff— ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to— meet the needs of each child; and enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that furniture is in a good state of repair. In addition, that internal and external areas of the home are well-maintained. 25 January 2026

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2718067 11

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Blue Kite Children Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: West Midlands House Ltd, Gipsy Lane, Willenhall WV13 2HA

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Inspectors

Chibuzo Otache, Social Care Inspector Michelle McGrath, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2718067 12 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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