Children's Home run by Surrey County Council in Surrey

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2784702 1 SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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Registered provider: Surrey County Council

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority home provides care for up to 4 children who experience social and emotional difficulties. At the time of the inspection, there were 3 children living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager post has been vacant since 14 January 2026. A new manager has been recruited but they have yet to apply to register.

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Inspection date: 22 January 2026

Date of last inspection: 16 September 2025

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Inspection date: 22 January 2026

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 22 January 2026

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has 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 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: 2784702 2 SENSITIVE-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

Since the last inspection, management arrangements have been disrupted due to absences and the registered manager’s subsequent departure. Senior managers ensured there were suitable interim arrangements in place and recruited a new manager promptly. However, this instability has impacted on the consistency of oversight and slowed progress made with previously identified shortfalls.

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Findings from the inspection

Two children have moved on from the home, and one child has moved in since the last inspection. Managers and staff worked effectively with relevant professionals to plan and prepare for the child’s move in so that this was a positive experience. A fourth child is due to move in imminently and this is being well planned.

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Findings from the inspection

One child, who has now left, had a mixed experience living in the home and presented with significant of behaviours of distress. Staff and managers worked intensively to support the child and minimise the impact on others. However, there was a delay in securing specialist support for the child, which may have affected the child’s experience and ability to settle.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff build positives relationships with children and encourage them to express their wishes and feelings. Children are supported to access advocacy services if they choose to do so. Staff provide sensitive individual support and guidance. Managers have taken steps to improve to the frequency and purpose of one-to-one sessions, introducing a monthly planning cycle, but it is too early to see the impact of this.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s plans for family time are understood and implemented. Staff spend time to understand and advocate for children’s wishes about seeing family members. This supports children’s sense of identity and connection.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff understand the importance of maintaining a safe and homely environment. Required repair to fire doors has been completed. Staff have made improvements to the garden and involved children in planning this, although there is still some work to do. Some areas of the inside of the home require repainting due to marks and stains. Although managers recognise this need, there is not a clear plan in place to address it.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff demonstrate a child-centred approach to care that reflects the statement of purpose. They are positive about children and their team. However, not all staff receive regular supervision in line with company policy, and team meetings are not consistently held and recorded. These are missed opportunities to support staff and aid team development. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2784702 3 SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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Findings from the inspection

There have been some staffing changes since the last inspection, and the home is not yet fully staffed. Leaders recruit actively to fill vacancies and use familiar cover staff to reduce disruption for children. Although induction processes are clearly outlined, they are not yet effectively implemented. The newest staff member has not received required probation reviews. Such issues risk affecting staff development and retention and limit management oversight of the progress of new staff.

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Findings from the inspection

Management oversight of safeguarding concerns has strengthened. There is prompt oversight and clear direction following incidents. Day-to-day communication, for example through handover meetings, supports effective sharing of changes to safety plans. As a result, staff show a good understanding of their safeguarding duties and children’s plans, including in relation to specific risks identified at the last inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

The quality of written risk assessments remains variable. They are generally kept up to date with events but do not always contain clear, current guidance for staff. While this has not impacted on children, it gives scope for confusion and indicates the need for more robust managerial oversight.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff receive guidance on de-escalation and use physical intervention only as a last resort. Managers review incidents in a timely manner and ensure that children have opportunities to reflect. However, reflective discussions with staff after incidents are not consistently held, which limits opportunities to strengthen practice.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders have not consistently sought the outcomes of child protection investigations or notified Ofsted of these. Some safeguarding notifications have been delayed.

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Findings from the inspection

Not all requirements and recommendations made at the previous inspection were reviewed in detail during this assurance inspection. Those not yet met will be revisited at the next full inspection. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2784702 4 SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/09/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 03/12/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2784702 5 SENSITIVE-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 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

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(v))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that written risk assessments and safety plans provide clear, current guidance to staff and that the outcomes of child protection investigations are sought promptly. 22 March 2026

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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— 22 March 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2784702 6 SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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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 have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of 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 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

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(f)(g)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all staff receive supervision and reviews of probation in line with company policy, that discussions with staff involved in physical interventions are held in line with regulations, that regular, recorded team meetings are held as detailed in the home’s statement of purpose, and that the regulator is notified in a timely manner about serious incidents and the outcome of child protection investigations.

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect; 22 March 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2784702 7 SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(v)(vi)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that there is prompt attention to maintenance and repair, that children are provided with regular one-to-one support at a pace that meets their needs, and that specialist support is made available to children when they need it.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that each employee receives an appropriate induction and is suitably supported during this period. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)  The registered person should ensure that thorough safer recruitment checks are carried out in line with regulations. This includes ensuring that the reasons for leaving any previous roles with children or vulnerable adults are verified, as far as it is reasonably practical to do so. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)  The registered person should ensure that the independent person makes a rigorous assessment of the home’s arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children in the home’s care. This should include spending sufficient time with children and obtaining the views of the children’s relatives,

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Recommendations

where appropriate. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.5) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2784702 8 SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Surrey County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Surrey County Council, Woodhatch Place, 11 Cockshot Hill, Reigate RH2 8EF

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Inspector

Jacob Robson, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2784702 9 SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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Inspector

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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Inspector

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Inspector

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