Children's home run by Stepping Stones Care Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2588593 1 Registered provider: Stepping Stones Care Limited Full inspection 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 4 children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, 2 children were living at the home. One child moved out of the home in early January 2026.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in January 2024.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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good

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

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2588593 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/10/2024 Full Good 27/02/2024 Full Good 06/12/2022 Full Good 28/06/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2588593 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home provides a calm, safe and stable base for children to grow. Children live in a supportive home, where managers and staff ensure that the principles of playfulness, acceptance, curiosity and empathy are part of their everyday lives. Staff know the children well and respond to them in a trauma-informed manner, which provides a stabilising environment. One child described staff as ‘really kind’ and ‘very patient’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A strength of the home is the staff’s knowledge and skills in providing a strong therapeutic approach to their work with children. As a result, children are living in a home where they feel accepted and safe. A staff member commented that staff work from a place of seeking to understand children, and this culture of curiosity and acceptance ensures that children feel they can be themselves in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff create opportunities for children to learn responsibility and build empathy. Staff support children in owning pets if they wish. A pet rabbit has become an integral part of the home. The children learn from caring for animals that they have the capacity and ability to be caring and responsible.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff prioritise children’s relationships with their families. Children have meaningful and improving connections with family members, which include overnight visits. Staff and family members maintain effective communication, ensuring a consistent level of care and support for each child. A parent spoken to commented positively about the good communication with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children who are preparing for independence by teaching practical life skills in planned support sessions and through ongoing discussions. Children can see their progress towards their goals and know the areas where they still need to develop. The support from staff helps children grow in confidence as they acquire the necessary skills for independent living. Due to the manager’s ingenuity, young people who leave continue to receive support from staff after they have transitioned to independence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff advocate for children in all areas, including in education. However, children in the home are not participating in any education or formal learning, hindering their confidence in returning to structured education.

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

Children are safe in the home. There is a culture of long-term stability both in the length of children’s placements and with the staff who care for them. As a result, children benefit greatly from being cared for by a consistent team of staff who know them well. A child’s social worker reported that the child says they feel safe in the home and receives good support staff. Inspection report for children’s home: 2588593 4 Leaders and managers ensure that staff receive relevant training in trauma-informed practice and safeguarding concerns. A clinical lead holds monthly reflective practice supervision with all staff to discuss children’s risks and progress. Children participate in therapeutic sessions with an in-house counsellor. Children’s physical and emotional health is prioritised, and their safeguarding is paramount.

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

Managers and staff have a thorough understanding of the known and potential risks to children. Risk assessments, which are updated regularly, are clear and detailed. Frequent key-work sessions are an effective way of speaking with children about their risks. When a new risk is identified for an individual child, staff receive relevant training to help them identify solutions to best support that child.

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

Serious incidents involving children are rare. When they occur, staff follow appropriate safeguarding steps and work closely with other professionals to keep children safe. Leaders and managers ensure that there is an effective system for the vigorous review and oversight of incidents. The managers ensure that learning takes place to help reduce the likelihood of future incidents. One social worker said that staff deal with incidents ‘without judgement or prejudice, from a holistic standpoint’.

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

Leaders and managers implement efficient safer recruitment practices when employing staff. New staff members receive a comprehensive induction. This means that all staff receive consistency in their training and learning about the therapeutic ethos of the home. The ongoing training staff receive on safeguarding topics and trauma-informed practice results in them supporting children in an effective and compassionate way.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is an experienced leader who is ambitious for the home, staff and every child. One member of staff commented on how the registered manager has ‘curated a therapeutic environment where children can be themselves’. The registered manager ensures that the principles of playfulness, acceptance, curiosity and empathy are embedded fully in practice. As a result, every child feels at home, and staff are well supported.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive regular reflective supervision that considers their wellbeing and prioritises children’s needs. Supervision is also an effective space to support and challenge staff to ensure their own professional development. Staff’s annual appraisals are strengthened by including the views of colleagues and children. This demonstrates how well the children’s voices are heard in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has shared her previous knowledge and experience to create bespoke training for staff on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. This training has been rolled out to staff in other homes in the provider’s network. The registered manager is a perceptive and intuitive leader who is committed to using their experience and skills to lead a dedicated team of staff who are also passionate about their work with children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2588593 5 The registered manager’s creativity and passion for supporting young people after they have transitioned to independent living mean that they have an opportunity to continue receiving support after they move out at age 18. The registered manager conceived an idea for the ‘Continued Care Plan’. The approach enables staff to provide additional support to young people after they move out, reflecting the support a parent might

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

provide. One staff member said that this support programme is one of the best things the company has ever done. Inspection report for children’s home: 2588593 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that leaders and managers work closely with the placing authority to ensure that the child is supported and enabled to resume full-time education as soon as possible. In the interim, managers should ensure that staff support the child in sustaining and regaining their confidence in education and participating in suitable structured activities. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.15)

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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: 2588593 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Stepping Stones Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Camomile House, 6 Embassy Drive, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 1TP

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Inspector

Julie Cresswell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2588593 8 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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