Children's home run by Pinewood Residential Care Services Ltd

Inspection report children's home: 2841219 1 Registered provider: Pinewood Residential Care Services LTD

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

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

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Information about this children's home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2025.

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Information about this children's home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living in the home.

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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 good

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report children's home: 2841219 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the home opened one child has lived there. Staff have supported the child to settle into the home very well. They understand the child’s needs and provide good quality care. As a result, the child has made significant progress from their starting points, which is noted by the professionals in their network. For example, the child’s independent reviewing officer, who has known the child throughout their care journey, said they were ‘amazed’ by how well the child is doing in this home. The social worker wrote to the registered manager to acknowledge the child’s ‘exceptional care and support,’ and noted the progress made in the child’s confidence and self-care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote the child’s education well and as a result they fully engage with their tuition. Their physical health needs are well met. Staff arrange for them to see the GP when health needs arise, and they are supported to attend all their health appointments. The child has opportunities for healthy exercise, including weekly swimming lessons, playing football, and recently attended an induction to the local gym with a plan for regular visits. Staff make home-cooked dishes, and the child particularly enjoys the home’s meals which reflect their cultural heritage.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff consistently provide clear boundaries for the child and are proactive in encouraging positive behaviours using rewards. Manager oversight ensures that when consequences are given, they are proportionate and are reviewed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is given opportunities to participate in a wide range of enjoyable activities. These are individualised to the child’s specific interests and include trampolining and tenpin bowling.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Physical interventions are effective and proportionate. They are only used when incidents present a significant risk to the child or others, or there is significant property damage. The child and staff are debriefed following incidents, and managers provide oversight to support ongoing improvement in this area of practice.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that the child’s wishes and feelings are heard. Managers offer ‘golden time,’ so the child has dedicated time to share their views directly with them, and house meetings regularly take place in which menus and activities for the week ahead are discussed. However, the records of the meetings are limited in their content and do not capture the child’s voice.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is clean, tidy, and well maintained. The child’s bedroom is personalised, and photos of the child’s choice are on display in the home. There is a spacious, safely enclosed back garden for activities. Inspection report children's home: 2841219 3

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

The child has made good progress in the home, which includes a significant reduction in incidents. The child feels safe living in the home and finds the staff helpful. They feel there are staff they can talk to if they are worried about anything.

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

When incidents do occur, staff manage them well. They understand how to apply the home’s therapeutic approach for developing safe relationships with the child and de- escalating situations when their emotions are heightened. Manager oversight is in place, and this has enabled the registered manager to give guidance on areas where staff practice can be improved upon.

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

Staff support the child to be safe and well. They provide regular key-worker sessions which are sensitively delivered and demonstrate insight and understanding of the child’s lived experiences. Key-work sessions address subjects aimed at promoting the child’s emotional and social development, including managing difficult feelings and respecting personal boundaries.

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

One allegation has been made against staff which was managed well. Following the allegation made by the child, their views were listened to and a referral to the local authority designated officer (LADO) was made. Following LADO advice, a proper investigation was carried out by the registered manager. The response ensured that the concern was explored and helped the child to understand that their views are important, and that staff take effective action to keep them safe.

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

The child has not been missing from the home. Staff attend training so that they know what to do when children are missing from the home and understand the procedures to follow. However, the home’s policy does not include the local police information or protocols or give guidance on who should request an independent return home interview.

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

Safe recruitment practice in the home is not robust. Although all the relevant checks are completed and references are verified, gaps in applicants’ employment history are not accounted for. This shortfall could increase the risk of unsuitable adults working with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers know the child well and speak about them with warmth and pride. The responsible individual has a good knowledge and understanding of the home and knows its strengths and areas for development. Together, the leadership team has a shared focus on achieving the best outcomes for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff like working in the home and feel well supported by managers, who they say are easily available to them. They feel the team is dedicated and works well together to help the child feel settled and valued. Staff have the relevant training to meet and promote the child’s needs. All of the home’s staff are permanently employed and agency workers Inspection report children's home: 2841219 4 have not been used. This provides stability for the team, and consistency for the child which has helped them to settle into the home well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Communication with external professionals is effective. Staff keep them well informed about the child’s progress and develop good working relationships with them. An education professional said, ‘It is very fortunate that I get to work with the deputy manager and registered manager, the working relationship is so positive, and this helps [the child’s name].’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers provide staff with regular supervision. However, the quality of supervision is variable, with some lacking reflections on practice. This limits the staff member’s ability to understand their manager’s expectations and any areas for practice development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The child’s case records do not consistently contain all necessary information. This includes a restraint incident which did not explain the full circumstances leading up to the decision to physically intervene, and a phone call to seek medical advice when medication was refused. This lack of detail means events may be misrepresented and compromises manager oversight. Inspection report children's home: 2841219 5

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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, 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 registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children's safety.

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that they obtain complete information from staff about their employment history, and that all gaps in dates are accounted for. 27 February 2026

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home's procedures take into account the views of appropriate local services and have regard to police and local authority protocols for responding to missing person's incidents in the area where the home is located. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 45, paragraph 9.29)  The registered person should have systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 61, paragraph 13.2)  The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home's policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear

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Recommendations

recording. Records, including house meetings, restraint reports and medical advice, should be maintained clearly and consistently to support oversight, accountability, and effective care planning. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 62, paragraph 14.4.) Inspection report children's home: 2841219 6

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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 children's home: 2841219 7

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Pinewood Residential Care Services LTD

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Floor 3 Sunley House, Bedford Park, Croydon, CR0 2AP

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Children's home details

Responsible individual: Scott Hampshire-Jones

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Inspector

Jo Mitchell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: 2841219 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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