Children's Home run by JN Healthcare Group Limited in Sandwell

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2672241 1 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Registered provider: JN Healthcare Group 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 is privately owned and provides care for up to three children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, three children were living at the home. The children were spoken with, and they shared their experiences with the inspectors.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has not had a registered manager since November 2024. A new manager has been in post since June 2025 and is not yet registered with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

The inspection started on 24 September 2025. Inspectors returned on 13 November 2025 to gather additional evidence in line with ‘ Ofsted inspections and visits: deferring, pausing and gathering additional evidence ’ policy.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection date: 24 September 2025 and 13 November 2025

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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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: 2672241 2 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Information about this inspection

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: 2672241 3 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Children benefit from a warm, welcoming and well-presented home. The atmosphere is calm and nurturing, which helps children feel safe and secure. Since the last inspection, there has been further investment in the home, and children now have access to an additional conservatory space.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders took prompt action during this inspection when inspectors identified that children could access a flat roof at the rear of the property.

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Findings from the inspection

Children make good progress from their individual starting points. Risks have reduced for one child, and they are no longer subject to a deprivation of liberty order. There have been no incidents of children going missing. These outcomes reflect the positive impact of the care and support provided.

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Findings from the inspection

One child, who experienced a difficult transition into the home, has now settled well. All children are actively engaged in a range of activities and clubs that reflect their individual interests and preferences. Examples include participation in cadets, trampolining, and indoor obstacle courses. These opportunities promote children’s confidence alongside their physical and emotional well-being.

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Findings from the inspection

Safeguarding practice is good. The manager’s response to allegations is detailed and well recorded. Risk management processes are clear and regularly reviewed. Multi- agency working is strong, and staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities, ensuring that risks are understood well and managed effectively.

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Findings from the inspection

A new manager has made a positive impact since being appointed. There is a clear commitment to continuous improvement. She has strengthened monitoring systems, which are now more effective in evaluating the quality of the care children receive. A review of the quality of care has been carried out since the last inspection. Leaders and staff demonstrate a good understanding of each child’s journey and the strengths and weaknesses of the service.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager is child focused and provides good support to the staff team. She recognises the home’s strengths and development areas and takes action to improve the care that children receive. For example, staff have recently completed attachment and trauma training, as well as a refresher in physical intervention training. Furthermore, the manager has ensured that this training was tailored to meet the children’s specific needs in the home. This supportive culture promotes a stable and motivated workforce, which in turn is improving the care for children.

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Findings from the inspection

Feedback from professionals is highly positive. One social worker commented that a child’s progress had been ‘better than anyone expected.’ Another social worker told Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2672241 4 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Findings from the inspection

inspectors that communication with the home has been excellent and that regular multi-agency working is supporting care planning for the child. In addition, a child’s tutor described her experience of the home as ‘safe and nurturing’. This feedback highlights the effectiveness of the care and support provided.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff’s relationships with children are mostly positive and nurturing. However, some staff members do not yet have sufficient understanding to respond to children’s behaviours in the context of their lived experiences and trauma. As a result, children do not consistently receive trauma-informed responses to their care. The manager recognises this as an area for staff

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Findings from the inspection

Children experience safe restraint practice that is only used as a last resort. After incidents, children are helped to reflect on what happened. Staff discussions following incidents were taking place in group settings only, and individual debriefs were not offered. This limits opportunities for staff to reflect on their own practice, evaluate the appropriateness of interventions, and identify learning to improve future responses. However, the manager has recently started to strengthen systems to ensure robust management oversight of restraint practice. Also, following recent incidents, staff have been given opportunities to discuss their learning independently with the manager.

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Findings from the inspection

The front door of the home is kept locked, preventing children from leaving without staff assistance. This restriction limits children’s freedom of movement, and the implications for their rights have not been sufficiently reviewed in line with their risk management plans. Furthermore, children are confused about these restrictions and do not understand the rationale behind this practice.

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Findings from the inspection

The home has met all previous requirements, and leaders have taken swift action to address identified areas of concern. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2672241 5 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/04/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 11/12/2024 Full Inadequate Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2672241 6 OFSTED USE ONLY

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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 positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(ix))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, managers and staff must understand how to respond to children while remaining sensitive to their lived experiences and trauma. 9 November 2025

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Requirement Due date

the privacy of children is appropriately protected;

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Requirement Due date

children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises. (Regulation 21 (a)(b)) 9 November 2025

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that records of restraint are maintained so that they and staff can review the use of control, discipline and restraint to identify effective practices and respond promptly to any issues or concerning trends that may arise. The review should provide an opportunity for amending practice to ensure that it meets the needs of each child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 19.59) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2672241 7 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: JN Healthcare Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 36 Navigation Street, Art Court Building, Walsall, West Midlands WS2 9LT

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Inspectors

Natasha Skinner, Social Care Inspector Dean Wilton, Regulatory Inspection Manager Mark Dickinson, Regulatory Inspection Manager Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2672241 8 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Inspectors

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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