Information about this children’s home

Inspection report children's home: 2858767 1 Registered provider: KD Residential Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children's home

This home provides care for up to 3 children who experience social and emotional difficulties. One child was living at the home at the time of this inspection.

p.1

Information about this children's home

The home and the manager registered with Ofsted September 2025. This is the first inspection.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

p.1

inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

p.1

inadequate

There are serious and widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted, safeguarded and they are not making progress.

p.1

inadequate

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

p.1

inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

p.1

inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report children's home: 2858767 2

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

This inspection was brought forward to address specific concerns received by Ofsted. The inspector identified serious and widespread failures in the quality of care and protection provided to the child.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The home was registered in September 2025. One child currently lives in the home and moved into the home in November 2025. The child spent time with the inspector and contributed to the inspection.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Leaders and managers did not fully consider how the new and inexperienced staff team could meet the child’s complex needs. Admission planning by the manager did not consider the child’s diagnoses and vulnerabilities, and what measures could be implemented to reduce any risks and to effectively support the child’s needs. As a result, the child has made limited progress and has frequently spent prolonged periods of time away from the home. Risks for the child have not reduced.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Although day-to-day care is offered, the manager and staff have failed to engage the child in meaningful and sustained daily routines and education. The child spends long periods of time in their bedroom. Staff are not proactive in supporting or developing the child’s strengths.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Relationship building with the child has not been prioritised, and interactions between the child, manager and staff are limited. The manager and staff have not demonstrated they have the skills to build positive relationships with the child.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff have not supported the child to engage in meaningful activities. The child has only been shopping as an activity since moving in. Records do not demonstrate that the child has been encouraged to regularly engage in new experiences and activities. As a result, the child has not been supported with the opportunity to explore interests, skills or positive routines.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The child does not have a suitable education placement in place. The manager and staff have not ensured that the child’s time is used constructively, which limits opportunities for learning and development.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff have supported the child to visit the dentist, opticians and GP. In addition, the child has been supported to receive support for substance misuse from professionals.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff have provided the child with food that supports their heritage. Recipes have been sourced from the child’s parents, and the child has been encouraged to cook these dishes. This approach helps to support the child’s identity and culture. Inspection report children's home: 2858767 3

p.2

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

The child is not effectively safeguarded. Leaders and managers did not show that they have sufficient knowledge and understanding of the child’s vulnerabilities. This has prevented adequate safeguards from being put in place to protect the child from harm.

p.3

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

The child spends prolonged periods away from the home at places unknown to staff. On each occasion the child has gone missing from home, it has been when the child has been taken to the local town centre with easy access to a train station. This factor has been overlooked by leaders and managers despite the significant history of missing- from-home episodes. Leaders and managers have not demonstrated sufficient professional curiosity to prevent the child being away from the home without staff knowing their whereabouts’

p.3

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

When the child goes missing from home, staff look for the child, contact the relevant professionals and encourage the child to return home. However, leaders and managers have failed to advocate for the child to have return home interviews. Additionally, conversations with the child about their time away from the home are limited. This does not promote the child’s safety and support them to understand the associated dangers.

p.3

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

Leaders and managers have not ensured that staff have the knowledge and skills to identify the risks the child faces. Staff spoken to were unable to explain the current risks to the child or how these risks were being managed. This does not give assurance that risk assessments are understood or embedded in practice and therefore leaves the child at risk of significant potential harm.

p.3

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

The child spends long periods of time on their computer and mobile phone, often until the early hours of the morning. Staff are not fully aware of who the child is in contact with. Indicators of child criminal exploitation are present for the child, and it is a known risk they face. The child’s local authority has asked leaders and managers to have conversations with the child about monitoring software being installed on their devices. The police consider that the child is at high risk of child criminal exploitation and that monitoring of devices should be in place to support the child. Despite the advice from professionals, leaders and managers have failed to ensure appropriate monitoring of the child’s devices and have not had the relevant conversations with the child.

p.3

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

During the inspection the child had electronic cigarettes, a lighter and drug paraphernalia in their bedroom. The manager failed to remove these items during the inspection. Staff are not alert to the indicators of substance misuse and are not supporting the child to understand the risk to their health and wellbeing. This fails to safeguard the child.

p.3

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

The environment is clean and tidy. However, the home’s fire prevention measures are not robust. During the inspection, 3 fire doors were propped open, and the safety mechanism on 2 doors did not work. The child and the new members of staff have not taken part in a fire drill. Additionally, the inspector was not informed of the home’s fire Inspection report children's home: 2858767 4 evacuation process. This has the potential to leave the child and staff members at risk of harm in the event of a fire.

p.3

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

When incidents have occurred, staff have taken action to ensure the child has been kept safe. On one occasion, the police were called to support the staff due to the child’s behaviour. During a conversation afterwards, one member of staff stated that they did not feel confident using physical intervention. The manager did not support this staff member to receive additional training.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager has not yet enrolled on the level 5 qualification and has been unable to produce the relevant level 3 qualification. The responsible individual left their role at the end of December. A new responsible individual has been employed; however, they have yet to submit an application for Ofsted to assess their suitability.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered manager is inexperienced in managing the significant risks associated with the child. Additionally, he fails to demonstrate that he inspires a culture that helps children to reach their full potential. This lack of experience and understanding is something that is present throughout the staff team.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers do not have sufficient oversight of staff training. During the inspection, the manager was unable to provide details of staff training specific to the child, including in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism and child criminal exploitation. This does not ensure that staff have the required skills and knowledge to effectively respond to the child’s needs.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff have not received regular supervision or team meetings. The manager was unable to locate team meeting minutes and supervision records for a number of staff. When supervision sessions and team meetings have taken place, issues raised by staff have not been followed up by leaders and managers. For example, staff raised concerns about the child’s engagement levels. Leaders and managers have not ensured that effective action has been taken to address staff concerns or support them with regular avenues to discuss practice improvements.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff morale is low. Staff have varying views on the support they receive from the manager. One member of staff detailed positive support, and many reported they feel unsupported. The manager lacks presence in the home, and concerns raised are not listened to or acted on. This has contributed to low morale and a lack of cohesion among the staff.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Feedback from the child’s local authority was negative, reporting concerns about communication from leaders and managers, timely information sharing and staff engagement with the child. This limits effective partnership working and reduces confidence in the home’s ability to meet the child’s complex needs. Inspection report children's home: 2858767 5

p.4

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

*The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.5

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;

p.5

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

p.5

Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child's welfare; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home's child protection policies;

p.5

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. (Regulation12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(vi)(b)) 22 February 2026

p.5

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—

p.5

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and 22 February 2026 Inspection report children's home: 2858767 6 promotes their welfare.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.6

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;

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

p.6

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;

p.6

Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(f)(h))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

p.6

Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child's placing authority effectively in the child's care, in accordance with the child's relevant plans;

p.6

Requirement Due date

seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children's home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5 (a)(d)) 22 February 2026

p.6

Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.6

Requirement Due date

that staff— 22 February 2026 Inspection report children's home: 2858767 7 help each child to achieve the child's education and training targets, as recorded in the child's relevant plans;

p.6

Requirement Due date

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;

p.7

Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

p.7

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

p.7

Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v))

p.7

Requirement Due date

If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(1) applies to the home—

p.7

Requirement Due date

the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home. (Regulation 25 (2)(b))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must undertake regular checks to ensure the effective maintenance of fire doors.

p.7

Requirement Due date

Children, visitors and newly appointed staff must be informed of the home’s fire evacuation procedures. 22 February 2026

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

p.7

Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)) 22 February 2026

p.7

Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Inspection report children's home: 2858767 8

p.7

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 children's home: 2858767 9

p.8

Children's home details

Registered provider: KD Residential Care Limited

p.9

Children's home details

Registered provider address: Unit 3 e/f Suffolk House Business Park, Ashwells Road, Brentwood, Essex CM15 9SG

p.9

Inspector

Syvanna Matthew, Social Care inspector Inspection report children's home: 2858767 10 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.

p.9

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.10

Inspector

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

p.10

Inspector

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

p.10