Children's home run by RCS Operations Ltd trading as Cumulus Care Services

Inspection report for children’s home: 2838528 1 Registered provider: RCS Operations Ltd trading as Cumulus Care Services Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home registered with Ofsted in August 2025 and is owned by a private company. It provides care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This was the home’s first inspection. At the time of the inspection one child was living at the home, and that child spoke with the inspector.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

A suitably qualified and experienced manager is in post.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers Outstanding

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2838528 2

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is welcoming and well presented. Communal areas offer the child large, comfortable spaces in which to relax and enjoy themselves. Their books, toys and games are all accessible, contributing to a homely feel. These factors enhance the child’s enjoyment of the home, with the child scoring it a 9 out of 10.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child enjoys positive relationships with staff. The staff regularly have conversations with the child to help them be safer and healthier and to develop the social skills they will require in later life. As a result, they are making progress. They have successfully moved to a new school and are developing their ability to understand and manage their emotions.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is receiving individualised care. Staff are building positive relationships with the child. Their approach is well informed by the home’s therapeutic leads, who promote a culture of reflection and professional curiosity. This approach by staff is supporting the child’s good progress. The child is better able to express their feelings in a positive way, is beginning to trust staff and is engaging with education. Education is treated as a priority. Regular communication between staff and the child’s education professionals supports the child to meet their academic potential.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child regularly enjoys spending time with people who are important to them, including family members. Staff and the manager have formed positive working relationships with the child’s family. This promotes the child’s understanding of their identity, contributes to them feeling settled at the home and strengthens the network of support the child has access to.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child enjoys a range of activities of their choosing. They go to parks, to the cinema and trampolining. These experiences provide the child with enjoyment and allow them to develop skills and confidence, as well as providing opportunities for them to make friends and memories.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s physical and emotional health needs are well met. Staff work in partnership with health professionals to ensure the child gets the support they need quickly.

p.2

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

The child feels safe. Safeguarding incidents are rare because staff have good relationships with the child, and the child enjoys living at the home. Since the home opened, there have been no incidents of the child going missing from home.

p.2

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

Staff have a good understanding of the risks to the child and how to keep them safe. They are supported in this by clear and detailed plans and assessments, which are Inspection report for children’s home: 2838528 3 regularly reviewed to ensure they accurately reflect the child’s needs. This supports a consistent and well-informed approach to keeping the child safe.

p.2

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

Staff are skilled in supporting the child to calm when they are upset or worried. The use of clear routines and boundaries helps the child to feel safe and supports their progress. Staff only use restraint when it is necessary to keep the child or others safe. The manager’s oversight of the use of physical intervention is robust, ensuring it is only used when necessary and is proportionate.

p.3

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

The child feels listened to and has a range of ways to influence the care they receive, so they rarely complain. Since the home has been open, there has only been one complaint. Leaders and managers took this seriously, undertook a prompt investigation, and kept the child informed throughout. Any shortfalls in staff practice are addressed swiftly, and work is carried out to repair the relationship between staff and the child. This helps the child to feel listened to and safe.

p.3

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

The child’s achievements are recognised and celebrated by staff. This builds the child’s self-esteem and supports their progress. The use of financial rewards and praise support the child in developing the skills they will need for later life.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers are inspirational, confident, ambitious and child focused, and they are building a strong ethos of reflection and learning in the home. They have high aspirations for children and are strong advocates for them. The advocacy of leaders and managers is leading to improved outcomes for the child. One professional said of the manager, ‘She advocates for [name of child] as I would for my own children. She will ask challenging questions……. You can tell she has their best interests at heart.’

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers work closely with each other and maintain a strong presence in the home. Oversight of the home is constant and ongoing. Various monitoring systems are used, allowing managers and staff to carry out effective reviews of the quality of care children receive. This contributes to a culture of learning in the home, which, in turn, helps the child feel safe and supports them to make progress.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers provide staff with high-quality training on topics relevant to the child they care for. Supervision sessions with staff are regular and of high quality. They help staff reflect on their practice and focus heavily on children’s experiences and progress. As a result, the child is receiving care from skilled and knowledgeable staff.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have created a positive culture in the home. They talk passionately about the importance of valuing and supporting staff so that they can provide the best care for children. Staff are overwhelmingly positive about working at the home. One staff member said: Inspection report for children’s home: 2838528 4 ‘ I could not have chosen a better company to work for in terms of support, guidance and encouragement…. I feel very supported, valued and confident in my role, which enables me to provide the best possible care for the child.’

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Another said, ‘I rarely come into work without a smile on my face.’ The positive culture created by leaders and managers ensures that the child is cared for by staff who are highly motivated.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers are skilled at building effective working relationships with children’s key professionals. Feedback from professionals has been exclusively positive. They highlight effective partnership working, communication, advocacy and adaptability as key strengths. One professional said of the manager, ‘She is great. She is my favourite person from any residential provisions because the communication and information sharing is so good. It is such a high standard.’

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

No requirements or recommendations were made at this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: 2838528 5

p.4

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: 2838528 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: RCS Operations Ltd trading as Cumulus Care Services

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Cheylesmore Ltd, Unit 7, Edison Buildings, Electric Wharf, Coventry CV1 4JA

p.6

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Louise Ashe-Crowe

p.6

Inspector

John Tomlinson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2838528 7 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.6

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.7

Inspector

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

p.7

Inspector

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

p.7